Message from CLC Board Chair Allena Barbato - Presidential Search, August 10, 2026

Students entering Grayslake Campus building with blooming spring trees lining sidewalk Published August 10, 2026

As Chair of the College of Lake County and on behalf of the Board, today we officially launch the search to identify the next President of College of Lake County. The first step in this search entails the development of a Presidential Profile, which will be compiled by integrating the responses elicited through Public Forums held on Friday, August 21, 2026, and responses to this Presidential Search Survey.

We are fully committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search that will attract a strong and diverse pool of candidates from throughout Illinois and the nation.

The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) has been selected to assist us with the Presidential search process. ACCT’s assistance will include providing support with the development of the Presidential Profile, recruiting highly competitive candidates, and working extensively with the College and the Board of Trustees. ACCT has conducted over 750 community college searches and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our process. ACCT’s mission is to strengthen community college governance through education and advocacy. Keith Miller, Ph.D., will serve as our ACCT Search Consultant and will assist the College throughout this important process.

Presidential Profile Development: Public Forums & Survey

An important step in the Presidential search process is the development of a Presidential Profile. On Friday, August 21, 2026, we will host three (3) Public Forums to listen to your input, which will assist with the development of the Presidential Profile. The entire College community is invited and encouraged to participate in a discussion about the qualities, characteristics, and qualifications we are seeking in the next President of College of Lake County, and the opportunities and challenges facing the College in the years to come. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the Presidential search process. The discussions will be facilitated by Dr. Keith Miller, ACCT Search Consultant.

We invite everyone to attend an in-person Public Forum on August 21, 2026:

Grayslake Campus

Room A013, Building A
19351 W. Washington St.

Public forum times

  • 9 to 10 a.m. - Facilitated by Dr. Miller
  • 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Facilitated by Dr. Miller
  • 2 to 3 p.m.

Lakeshore Campus

Room 34-511
34 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan

Public forum times

  • 9 to 10 a.m.
  • 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • 2 to 3 p.m. - Facilitated by Dr. Miller

Southlake Campus

Room V328
1120 S. Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills

Public forum times

  • 9 to 10 a.m.
  • 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • 2 to 3 p.m.

Each Public Forum will be held simultaneously via videoconference across all three campuses. Dr. Miller will lead the discussion from the campus locations noted above.

Parking:

  1. Grayslake Campus (GLC): Please use parking lots #3 or #4 on the southeast side of campus and proceed to the lower level of Building A to the GLC Conference Center.
  2. Lakeshore Campus (LSC): Please use the CLC parking garage from Sheridan Road and enter the LSC Student Center and proceed to the fifth floor to the Eleanor Murkey Community Center.
  3. Southlake Campus (SLC): Please use the parking lot from E. Port Clinton Road and enter via the campus main entrance and proceed to the third floor to classroom V328.

Please share the forum information with those who have an interest in the College of Lake County and wish to attend. No RSVP is needed.

In addition to the Public Forum, we have developed a brief electronic survey that we hope you will complete if you are unable to attend one of the forums. The anonymous responses to the survey will also be used to inform the development of the draft Presidential Profile. The survey is available using this link: Presidential Search Survey. Please share the survey link with those who have an interest in the College of Lake County.

Please submit your survey feedback no later than 6 PM (Central) on August 24.

The Presidential Search Committee

The Presidential Search Committee will review the confidential applications, interview semifinalist candidates, and identify the final candidates to be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for consideration.

Final Candidates

In January, all final candidates will participate in campus-wide open forums at College of Lake County and the finalists will interview with the Board of Trustees. We anticipate the open forums taking place in late January 2027 and we will provide the dates, times, and location once they are confirmed. All employees, students, and community members will be invited to attend the open forums and complete feedback forums, which will be reviewed as part of the deliberation process.

Recruitment

Our recruitment efforts will involve an open and thorough national search, seeking qualified candidates from all regions of the country. ACCT specializes in one-to-one recruitment of community college leaders. Additionally, to assist with this process, advertisements will be placed in the Chronicle of Higher Education and other major publications and websites.

Presidential Search Webpage

The College of Lake County website will include information on all aspects of the search. The President search webpage will be developed in the coming weeks and will include key information including the timeline, President Profile, and information on how to apply.

We will continue to keep you updated on this important process. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to myself or our ACCT Search Consultant:

  1. Keith Miller, Ph.D., ACCT Search Consultant, at kmiller102561@gmail.com or 864-380-0744 (mobile)
  2. Allena Barbato, Board Chair and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee, Trustee Barbato@clcillinois.edu

I sincerely hope you will consider participating in this search process by attending the President Profile Public Forums on August 21, filling out the survey, and attending the finalist open forums in January. With your help, we will usher in our new excellent CLC President.

Thank you.

Allena Barbato
Chair, College of Lake County Board of Trustees and
Presidential Search Committee Chair