our Leadership
GOVERNING BOARD
According to the University Center of Lake County By-laws, the Governing Board acts as the Board of Directors of the corporation and is composed of Up to 8 residents of Lake County, including one member of the College of Lake County Board of Trustees. Up to 6 representatives are from the member institutions including one student. Members shall reflect the diverse regions, groups, and employers that reside in the county. The representatives of member institutions shall include the Chairperson of the Council of Member Institutions and up to four other representatives chosen by the Council of Member Institutions from among its members. Of these four Governing Board positions, only one seat can be held by a representative of a proprietary institution. The student member shall be elected by the Center’s Student Advisory Committee.
2024 Governing Board Members
Julie Dunston - Chair
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Bryan Watkins - Vice Chair
Community Member
Julie Shroka - Secretary
CLC Board of Trustees
Trevor James -Treasurer
CMI Vice Chair, North Park University
​Kathy Johnson
Emeritus, University of Illinois Springfield (Retired)
Gwen Kanelos
CMI, Concordia University Chicago
Marisa Buscaglia
CMI, National Louis University
Melba Rivera
Community Member
R. Shayne Cofer
CMI Chair, Northeastern Illinois University
Rich Anderson
Community Member
Teddy Anderson
Community Member
Vacant
Student Representative
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COUNCIL OF MEMBER INSTITUTIONS
The Council of Member Institutions (CMI) is composed of institutional representatives appointed by the chief officer of each of the member institutions plus the College of Lake County. The CMI elects its chairperson, vice-chairperson, and representatives to serve on the Governing Board. Those elected to the Governing Board represent the CMI itself and not their individual colleges or universities. The slate of Governing Board candidates usually tries to achieve a balance of public university and private university representatives. They cannot serve on the Governing Board for more than three consecutive two-year terms. The Council considers a variety of matters including recommendations from various Center committees, and in turn advises and assists the Board in matters such as:
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facilitating inter-institutional communication.
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identifying needed instructional support facilities and services.
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assessing local needs.
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electing representatives to the Governing Board.
The CMI has significant responsibility for reviewing applications for membership and proposals to bring additional degree or certificate programs to the University Center. They make recommendations to the Governing Board about each program proposal or membership application and the Governing Board (or its Executive Committee) makes the final decision to approve or deny the applications/proposals.
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2023-2024 CMI Members
Shayne Cofer, Chair
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,
Northeastern Illinois University
Trevor James. Vice-Chair
Associate Dean of SPS, Associate Professor/Director of the Business Program/Biblical Studies,
North Park University
Jennifer Davidson​​​
Assistant Vice President Educational Affairs,
College of Lake County
​Gwen Kanelos
Vice President for Enrollment Management,
Concordia University Chicago
Nick DeFalco
Executive Director, Transfer Recruitment & Admissions,
DePaul University
Suhad Tabahi
Director of the School of Social Work,
Dominican University​​
​​Marisa Buscaglia
Executive Director of Enrollment, Community College Relationship Management,
National Louis University ​​
Ron Smith
Director of Community College Partnerships,
Northern Illinois University
Alicia Fleming
Assistant Chief Learning Officer, Academic Operations,
Oak Point University
Andrea Koepke
Dean of Academic Affairs,
St. Augustine College-Lewis University
​​Julie Dunston
Director, School of Applied Engineering & Technology/Director, Technology Off Campus
Degree Programs,
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
​​Elza Ibroscheva
Associate Provost & Professor, Mass Communications,
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Aaron Boettcher
Associate Director Admission,
University of Illinois Springfield
Sophia Gehlhausen Anderson
Assistant Director, University Academic Programs and Services,
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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2024 CMI meeting dates:
February 29
May 16
August 1
November 7