Presidential Profile
The Board of Trustees of the College of Lake County invites nominations and applications for the position of President.
About Lake County
Located along the shores of Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois, Lake County is one of the most dynamic and prosperous regions in the Midwest. As part of the greater Chicagoland metropolitan area of nearly 9.4 million residents, the county combines economic vitality, cultural diversity and an exceptional quality of life.
Home to more than 700,000 residents, Lake County offers a unique blend of vibrant urban centers, welcoming suburban communities and scenic natural landscapes. Its numerous lakes, rivers, forests and preserves provide abundant recreational opportunities, while regionally renowned destinations such as Ravinia Festival, the Genesee Theatre and Six Flags Great America contribute to a rich cultural and entertainment environment.
Lake County's highly educated and diverse population is among its greatest strengths. Nearly half of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher—well above national averages—creating a deep talent pool that supports innovation and economic growth. Lake County is home of the second largest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in the Midwest including AbbVie, Abbott, W.W. Grainger, Baxter International, CDW and Discover Financial Services. The county's business community benefits from a broad range of industries, cultures, languages and perspectives, fostering an environment that values collaboration, entrepreneurship and workforce development.
As a regional hub for business, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and professional services, Lake County is driven by a robust workforce ecosystem supported by the College of Lake County and numerous educational, civic, and industry partners. These partnerships create opportunities to address workforce needs, expand economic mobility and strengthen the region's competitiveness.
Lake County is highly accessible, with four Metra rail lines and 32 stations connecting residents to downtown Chicago, an extensive Pace suburban transit network and more than 550 miles of trails and bikeways. Three international airports—Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Midway and Milwaukee Mitchell—provide convenient access to destinations around the world.
For the next president, the College of Lake County offers an extraordinary opportunity to lead a nationally recognized institution at the center of one of the Midwest's most dynamic regions. As the county's comprehensive community college, CLC serves as a catalyst for educational attainment, economic mobility, workforce development and community vitality. The next president will join a college with a strong foundation, engaged stakeholders and a clear strategic vision, while helping shape the future of Lake County by strengthening partnerships, expanding opportunity and advancing student success for generations to come.
Learn more about Lake County at Lake County Partners and Visit Lake County.
Sources
About College of Lake County
College of Lake County (CLC) Community College District 532 provides residents with equitable, high-quality education, cultural enrichment and workforce partnerships. The district covers more than 1,300 square miles in Lake County, Illinois.
CLC spans three campuses in Grayslake, Waukegan (Lakeshore), and Vernon Hills (Southlake), and two specialty centers, the Advanced Technology Center (Gurnee) and Prairie at Brae Loch, a Student-Managed Restaurant (Grayslake).
CLC enrolls more than 23,000 students in college programs, adult education, English Language Acquisition (ELA), dual credit and workforce training, offering 41 associate degrees and 116 career certificate programs. Affordable in-person and online college credit classes, as well as a wide range of non-credit classes, help students achieve academic, career and personal goals.
Dual credit is delivered across 24 high schools to more than 5,000 students who save time and cost on their degree completion. Transfer opportunities to universities are supported by more than 30 Guaranteed Transfer Admission agreements and hundreds of transfer guides and articulation agreements. Additionally, CLC provides community programming for elementary school students through centenarians, non-credit and professional development classes, and incumbent workforce training. More than 500 individuals representing more than 350 businesses are engaged as advisory members for programs.
CLC has robust programming that engages students outside of the classroom, including 13 intercollegiate sports and e-sports teams and 36 student clubs and organizations. Financial, academic and emotional resources, including an estimated $26M in financial aid, were awarded to students in FY2026. In addition, CLC offers food and supplies distributed through its SHARE Market, free tutoring, a laptop loan program and free wellness and mental health services. Personalized and culturally relevant support is provided from student onboarding through graduation via academic, career and personal advising.
CLC’s vision is to be a leader in providing innovative education and workforce solutions. The College has achieved multi-year records in three-year graduation rates, improved outcomes across every student group and experienced enrollment growth across all programs. CLC is designated as a Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream, recognized as a top 200 U.S. community college by the Aspen Institute and received the 2026 Talent Advancement Award from Lake County Partners.
In addition, CLC is a leader in sustainability and innovation. The Lakeshore Campus Student Center meets LEED Silver requirements, and the Grayslake Campus Science building is rated LEED Platinum, the highest sustainability rating in Illinois. An Urban Farm Center will open at the Lakeshore Campus in Fall 2026.
CLC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. CLC employs more than 1,500 faculty and staff members and maintains strong partnerships with P20 educational institutions, community organizations focused on workforce development and associations that support the work of community colleges in Illinois and across the United States.