Effective November 1, 2021, C. Myra Gaytan-Morales, Ph.D., will become the new Executive Director and Dean of the University Center of Lake County, announced Luis Fuentes, Chair of the University Center’s Governing Board. “Many of you may already know Myra, who currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Academic Services and Programs at the University Center. She started working for the University Center in 2007 as the Director of the Waukegan Campus. Dr. Gaytan-Morales has over 20 years of experience working in higher education, collaborating with many non-profit organizations, and serving the Lake County Community in many capacities. Her experience spans from developing several programs, to involvement in community engagement, to data analysis, to building and sustaining meaningful partnerships and collaborations with many entities throughout Lake County and the state.”
The University Center of Lake County is a very special place for Dr. Gaytan-Morales. The University Center is where she has spent most of her administrative career, and where she completed her doctoral degree from Illinois State University “Being able to take doctoral courses at the University Center allowed me to spend more time with my family, while maintaining a full-time job at first the College of Lake County and then at the University Center,” she said. From her experience working and furthering her education at the University Center, Dr. Gaytan-Morales knows how important it is to have access to high quality education with a flexible schedule and a convenient location. “My passion is to ensure that all Lake County residents are aware of the many academic options the University Center of Lake County offers; to bring new and innovative programs that meet needs of our community members, while providing the best student experience, and allowing the achievement of educational goals at top-rated universities close to home,” she added.
We invite you to join the University Center team in welcoming and celebrating Dr. Gaytan-Morales in her new leadership role as Executive Director and Dean of the University Center of Lake County.”
The University Center of Lake County is a consortium of 12 public and private colleges and universities from across Illinois that collaborate to bring bachelor completion and graduate degrees and advanced professional development certificates to the Lake County area. Programs are offered in a variety of formats and University Center staff conduct regular information sessions to educate prospective students about their options. Learn more by visiting https://www.ucenter.org/ or calling 847.665.4000.