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Public Relations and Marketing | Published Nov 05, 2021
Kevin Appleton joined College of Lake County (CLC) as the new chief financial officer (CFO) on November 1. He comes to CLC from Washington, D.C. where he served as the Agency Fiscal Officer for D.C. Public Schools, under the Office of the CFO for the District of Columbia.
“I am pleased to join the leadership team at CLC, and I look forward to contributing to the college’s efforts to ensure the success of every student enrolled and helping to advance the goals of promoting access and affordability, strengthening academic and educational programs, developing the workforce, advancing economic development and effectively managing and cultivating public and private resources,” Appleton said.
Appleton has extensive experience as a chief financial officer in higher education, working at a diverse array of colleges and universities during his career, including developing and leading numerous major capital projects at each institution. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wilberforce University and is a graduate of Harvard University Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Educational Management program. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Ohio and Washington, D.C.
Appleton has been a host, speaker and presenter at numerous professional development workshops. He served on the National Association of College and University Business Officers Annual Meeting Advisory Group, planning the national meeting of higher education business officers. He has also served as a board member, and as the inaugural Diversity Coordinator for the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers.
“By maintaining a positive, persevering attitude, and performing my duties with confidence, dedication and enthusiasm, I hope to maintain a standard for fiscal accountability and operational excellence to which students, faculty, staff and the community can look with admiration and pride,” Appleton said.
“During the interview process, he shared examples of transformational work in his career,” said CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick. “His accomplishments are attributable to a leadership style grounded in the values of integrity, professionalism, collaboration, communication and commitment.”
About College of Lake County
College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college committed to equitable high-quality education, cultural enrichment and partnerships to advance the diverse communities it serves in northeastern Illinois. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, college classes are affordable and accessible to help each student achieve academic, career and personal goals. More than 70,000 students graduated with degrees and certificates since the college opened in 1969. College of Lake County is the only higher-education institution ranked among the top 15 best places to work in Illinois by Forbes and is a national leader in many areas, including sustainability and conservation.