CLC names Jesus Ruiz as dean of Lakeshore (Waukegan) Campus
The College of Lake County has named Jesus Ruiz, M.A.Ed., as dean of the Lakeshore (Waukegan) Campus.
In his role, Ruiz oversees the short- and long-term planning for the campus, encompassing areas such as budgets, programming, services, and staffing. A Waukegan native, Ruiz previously served as director of community engagement and pipeline initiatives at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago. During his seven years there, his duties included directing the INSPIRE summer research program. He also coordinated a program offering post-baccalaureate students from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to enroll at no cost in a non-degree curriculum track to improve their competitiveness when applying for admission in medical or health programs. Under his leadership, the university tripled the number of underrepresented students accepted into the medical school. He also instituted a university-wide day of service.
Previously, Ruiz served as a research associate at the Lake County Health Department. His community involvement in Waukegan has included leadership roles for United Way of Lake County, Waukegan Public Library, Waukegan Park District Foundation and The Latino Coalition of Lake County.
"I'm extremely honored and excited to be named as dean of the Lakeshore Campus," said Ruiz, a Waukegan native and 2000 graduate of Waukegan High School. "This is an incredibly exciting time for the campus and eastern Lake County, as the $1.5 million Workforce Equity grant provides tuition-free career education for nearly 200 students, and as Lakeshore prepares for a $48 million expansion. I look forward to working with CLC community stakeholders in making this campus a thriving center of community engagement."
CLC President, Dr. Lori Suddick, said, "The College is extremely pleased to have Jesus join the CLC team as dean of the Lakeshore Campus. His experience in engaging underrepresented communities in higher education and his demonstrated leadership in Waukegan and the eastern Lake County communities will make a difference in the College's efforts in improving access and success for every student at CLC."
Ruiz holds a B.S. in biology from Loyola University Chicago and a M.A.Ed. degree in higher education leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Currently, he is a doctoral student at Illinois State University, focusing on educational administration and foundations, with a specialty in equity, inquiry and research.
"The American Dream is alive and well," Ruiz said, citing his own life of growing up in a family of five that shared a one-bedroom apartment and shopped at Waukegan-area thrift stores. "Education truly has changed my life, and through CLC's appeal to all audiences, I look forward to helping others break the cycle of low income, feeling trapped in an unfulfilling job and reach self-actualization."
About College of Lake County:
The College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college that delivers high-quality, accessible learning opportunities to advance student success and strengthen the diverse communities served in the northeastern suburbs of Chicago. The flagship campus is located in Grayslake, with additional campuses in Waukegan (Lakeshore) and Vernon Hills (Southlake). The college also offers online courses. For details on CLC, visit www.clcillinois.edu.