College of Lake County Board will appoint Dr. Kristen Jones as Interim President

College of Lake County (CLC) Board of Trustees announces its intent to appoint Dr. Kristen Jones as interim president effective May 1 through Jan. 3, 2027 or until a new president is selected. Jones has been CLC vice president of education and chief academic officer since January 2023. The Board will act on the interim appointment at the April 28, 2026 meeting.

She replaces President Dr. Lori Suddick who submitted her resignation March 23 to become president and chief executive officer at Des Moines Area Community College. Suddick’s last day at CLC will be May 1.

Board Chair Amanda D. Howland said, “We thank Dr. Suddick for her eight years of service and accomplishments and wish her well in her new endeavors. The Board is excited to have Dr. Jones continue her leadership in this new capacity, and we are fully confident in her ability to do so. She knows our students, priorities and community.”

Board Vice Chair Dr. William M. Griffin added, “Dr. Jones is an equity-minded, visionary leader committed to advancing student access to high-quality, active and collaborative learning experiences. As interim president, she will help continue to drive success outcomes for CLC’s diverse student body.”

Jones, who has led the dedicated faculty and staff who provide the education and support students need to find their next step in life, said, “I am honored to have been asked to serve as the interim president. CLC’s commitment to teaching and learning excellence and focus on equity and student success inspires me. I’m looking forward to working with the Board to provide leadership for the college over the next several months.”

She previously was provost at Bellevue College in Washington where she provided executive leadership for a broad range of divisions including academic affairs, student affairs, international education, institutional research, continuing education, accreditation and grants.

Jones earned a doctorate of education in community college leadership and a master’s in counseling from Oregon State University, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Oregon.

The new presidential search is underway as the Board has retained the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to lead an executive search. This process will include numerous interviews with key community stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students and the Lake County region, to understand needs and opportunities. ACCT will recruit and vet qualified applicants and identify up to three final candidates for the Board to consider. The Board leadership is in the process of working with ACCT to finalize a timeline for the search process.

About College of Lake County

College of Lake County (CLC) is a comprehensive community college providing northeastern Illinois with equitable, high-quality education, cultural enrichment and workforce partnerships. It is designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2023, CLC was named a Leader College by the nationally recognized Achieving the Dream organization. Each person affiliated with the college is committed to ensuring access, belonging and success for all CLC students. The college offers more than 150 degree and career certificate programs. Affordable in-person and online college credit and non-credit classes help students achieve academic, career and personal goals. CLC has three campuses located in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan. The Advanced Technology Center opened in Gurnee in 2022, and Prairie Restaurant at Brae Loch opened in Grayslake in 2023. Learn more at www.clcillinois.edu or call (847) 543-2000.