JUNE 2022
CLC CONNECTS
COVER: International student Saul Rico studies horticulture to bring efficient and sustainable farming practices back to his family farm in Mexico.
table of contents 02
Message from CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick
Collaborative Culture 03
Living Our Values
Community and Workforce Partnerships 04
Road to Success
06
Center Stage
Teaching and Learning Excellence 09
Spotlight on Students
10
Cultivating the Next Generation of Farmers
12
Building the Teacher Workforce of Tomorrow
17
Honoring Accomplished Alumni
18
Promoting Global Citizenship in Lake County
20
Honoring Outstanding Instructors
Access and Success for Students 22
Putting Students on a Path to Success
Equity and Inclusion 24
You Are Welcome Here: Building an Inclusive Environment
26
On the Road Again
28
Hats Off to the Class of 2022
JUNE 2022
01
Message from CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick
T
his time of year, the wonderful signs of vibrant life are all
around – flowers blooming, geese leading their goslings around Willow Lake, people enjoying longer days and warmer weather.
At CLC, vibrant life surrounds us, no matter what the season. This issue of CLC Connects features stories of the students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who energize the momentum of our forward progress. Feature stories highlight how CLC radiates into the local arts community, across the globe with our international programming and through our student athletes as they compete on the regional and national stage. You will sense their enthusiasm for exploring the world together and for building meaningful interpersonal connections through the interactive education they gain at CLC. You will also read how CLC fills critical needs for Lake County’s workforce. With culturally relevant, experiential learning opportunities designed by expert faculty, students prepare to become educators, and talented musicians are nurtured on their way to award-winning careers. Through the generosity of donors, students earn truck driving certifications at no cost to them and then hit the road to achieve a rewarding and family-sustaining career. This past spring, CLC was delighted to welcome hundreds of visitors to experience our updated campus spaces in person. We are eager to help you explore CLC, too. Whether you visit for the first time or have been our friend for years, we extend a warm welcome and invite you to join in our collective energy as we build bright futures together.
02
CLC CONNECTS
V
Angela Norwood
EXCELLENCE | PURPOSE | INTEGRITY | COMPASSION | UNITY | INCLUSION Each quarter, CLC honors employees who demonstrate the college’s core values. Recently, phlebotomy instructor Angela Norwood received the values recognition for compassion. Upon receiving her award, Norwood expressed her gratitude and remarked she anchors to the saying, “walk a mile in my shoes.” She said, “I try to put myself in my students’ shoes and think of their success and what I need to do to help them get there.” Phlebotomy is the art and science of biological specimen collection, handling, transportation and processing for screening, diagnostic testing and therapeutic purposes. This includes taking blood using a needle. Many people have fears of blood and needles, so teaching compassion to her students is an important skill for Norwood to have as an instructor.
In her nomination, Testing Coordinator Adriane Price said, “From the day that I first met Angela, she exhibited compassion and excellence in all that she does. She walks in compassion daily in her relations with students, staff, faculty and community partners. She extends kindness, care and a willingness to help others in all situations. She consistently puts her students above her own personal concerns. Her smile and personality bring warmth to this campus and she is always willing to assist in any situation.” JUNE 2022
03
COLLABORATIVE CULTURE
LIVING OUR ALUES
COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS
ROAD TO SUCCESS TRUCK DRIVING SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPLY LOCAL WORKFORCE Twenty-five lives were changed this spring when the CLC Foundation received a donation to fund truck driving scholarships. That opened the door to opportunity for a group of qualified individuals to complete short-term training to earn their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and join the workforce free of tuition. This full-ride scholarship provided not only professional truck driver training, but also career
04
CLC CONNECTS
counseling, support initiatives and friendly faculty and staff whose goal is to see students succeed. The demand for professional truck drivers increased significantly across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need continues for more people to take on the role. The number of truck driving jobs in the area is projected to increase seven percent by 2025.
“When you drive down the road, some semis are standard, but others are moving giant bulk import shipping containers around the world,” explained Alyssa Siegfried of Zion, a scholarship recipient and Kotra trainer. “Society needs them to function.” Siegfried took classes at CLC sporadically after high school, but quickly fell into the role of employee more often than when she was a student. She jumped at the opportunity to earn her CDL for free. Siegfried completed the safety class and passed her license test within two months.
"IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE THERE WERE NO TRUCK DRIVERS. NOTHING WOULD GET MOVED.” “If you’re thinking about going for your CDL to upskill or change your career, make time and do it,” she said. “It’s a wonderful experience and your field of employability opens a lot more.
Alyssa Siegfried
Like Siegfried, a fresh group of highly qualified Lake County residents will soon hit the road, thanks to a very generous donor who paved the way to fill a workforce need.
To meet the high demand for CDL drivers locally, CLC allocated the $110,000 donation to promote and establish this scholarship that will put students in the driver’s seat. The program takes about two months to complete and usually costs students $4,100. Cost is often a barrier to pursuing this life-changing license. “These scholarships help people earn a family sustaining wage by achieving a workforce credential in a short period of time,” said Manager of Professional Development Laura Asbury. JUNE 2022
05
COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS
CLC partners with Kotra Driving School in Park City to deliver the 160-hour training. And while the typical job is a semi-truck trailer driver, those with the top tier Class A CDL license earned in this program can drive basically any motor vehicle, including dump trucks, school buses and construction vehicles. They learn not only how to operate the heavy-duty vehicle, but how to check more than 80 points of inspection before they even start the truck.
COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS
CENTER STAGE Celebrating 25 Years of Performing Arts in Lake County
S
ince its opening in February 1997, the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at College of Lake County has enriched the cultural life of local communities by offering an outstanding array of student productions, touring shows and educational events. What began as a project spearheaded by the CLC Foundation, this stellar venue and learning space known as the “JLC” has flourished while also providing accessible, affordable entertainment for Lake County communities and the region. “When CLC opened the performing arts center 25 years ago, there was no Genesee or Three Brothers Theatre,” remembers JLC Executive Director Gwethalyn Bronner. “There was very little performing arts activity in the Lake County area, which made our mission so much more important. It helped CLC ‘show’ not just say: the performing arts is something important in our lives.”
06
CLC CONNECTS
The performing arts and academic building, envisioned as an artistic center for all styles and types of live performances, has three stages — the Mainstage Theatre, a 600-seat proscenium; the Studio Theatre, a 250-seat thrust stage; and the 125-flexible seat, black box Harnish Experimental Theatre. Throughout its existence, the JLC has been committed to accessibility, inclusion, diversity and equity through partnerships, staffing, facility scheduling, artistic programming and presentational use. “Its creation brought a professional performance venue within a short distance of where people lived,” said Bronner. “We used the tag line: A downtown experience close to home.” In 2003, the building received its current name, the James Lumber Center, when it was dedicated in honor of F. James Lumber, a founding trustee and CLC’s first board chair. Lumber served on the Board of
COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS
After serving 25 years as the JLC Executive Director, Gwethalyn Bronner reflects on the opportunity she had to lead this performing arts center in Lake County as a professional African American woman. Hired at a time when CLC sought more women and people of color in faculty and administrators, Bronner exemplified CLC’s values in leadership. She dedicated her work at CLC to cultivating and ensuring broad access to diverse programming.
Trustees for 35 years and was an ardent, ambitious and “in the trenches” supporter of CLC since its opening in 1969. His wisdom, insight and arduous work helped shepherd CLC from a small, new community college to the thriving educational institution of today. With Lumber’s fondness and appreciation for the fine arts, it was fitting to name the JLC in his honor, as a testament to his dedication to CLC. His legacy thrives today as the Lumber family, led by James’ brother John, continues to give to the CLC Foundation with endowed scholarships, including the John William and John Joseph Lumber Endowment and the James and Barbara Lumber Endowment. The JLC maintains an impassioned commitment to connect with and give back to the community it serves. Over the years, the JLC has engaged individuals from all walks of life in providing inspirational educational experiences, presenting affordable enriching daytime performances for
school children and offering discounted tickets to students, seniors and underserved populations. The JLC has a history of engagement with school and community groups in Illinois and Wisconsin.
“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together and excited to think how the JLC might grow from here. Striving for cultural inclusion and diversity is critically important, now more than ever.” — Gwethalyn Bronner “We’re a community theatre and we should be accessible to the community, from ticket cost to age, gender and culturally diverse representations on our stages,” Bronner says. Bronner spearheaded 25 years of performances, covering an eclectic array of professional events including dance, music, JUNE 2022
07
COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS
theatre, magic, comedy and shows for young audiences, with annual audience attendance averaging more than 24,000 individuals. The JLC pivoted to present virtual performances during the pandemic, with more than 1,900 viewers taking advantage of this new programming. Home to CLC’s academic performing arts programs, the JLC is more than meets the eye. The building has costume and scene shops, technical, lighting and sound booths, rehearsal space and learning classrooms, to name a few. The JLC hosts student dance recitals, dramatic plays, musicals, choir, band and orchestra concerts and performing art showcases. People are always impressed with backstage tours of the JLC according to Dean of Communication Arts, Humanities and Fine Arts Dr. Sheldon Walcher. “Equally beautiful are the high-quality facilities we provide students for learning,” he says. “Every spot, from the loading dock to the scene shop, the costume shop to the backstage itself, is superb. Students get to learn in top-notch spaces, preparing them to work in professional theatres.” In addition to inviting the community to observe the work of students, community members often become enrolled students to be part of the productions, a true symbiotic partnership. The JLC is more than just a physical space. It’s a center for Lake County arts, engagement and education. “The JLC has a vibrant connection to every community in the district,” said Walcher. “We help guide the arts throughout the community, so we don’t simply bring people in, but we drive connections outward.” Heading into its 26th season, the JLC remains center stage as the premier, multi-functional performing arts venue in Lake County, with a firm commitment to continue making the arts accessible for all. The JLC’s future shines bright as it provides affordable, unique entertainment that celebrates the variety and value of the performing arts. Bronner explains, “Part of CLC’s mission is to provide cultural enrichment to the community. The performing arts productions presented at the JLC reflect the culture of our society and allow patrons to experience how the performing arts influence our culture.” 08
CLC CONNECTS
M U S I C | T H E AT R E | D A N C E Academically speaking, the JLC is host to hundreds of hours of student classes, practices and performances. The stages are filled with developing artists under the leadership of outstanding faculty. Instructors are not only dedicated and talented teachers but they are experienced performers in their respective fields.
“The hundreds of community members in our band and choral ensembles are a vital component in the artistic life of the college. Our performance program allows adult and college aged learners to combine their talents and learn from one another. This comingling of students from all backgrounds creates a rich and fertile artistic environment.”
CLC students take to the stage to further their educational careers and transfer for a four-year degree. Additionally, many performers are non-degree seeking students who enroll for the purposes of belonging to the lively arts community at the college. In many ways, the community benefits from being represented both on the stage and in the audience. The JLC supports students on their academic journey to explore the arts or reach their career goals while also engaging Lake County’s diverse communities through multicultural enrichment.
– CLC Music Instructor Dr. Michael Flack
JUNE 2022
09
TEACHING AND AND LEARNING WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE PARTNERSHIPS COMMUNITY
SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
CU LT IVAT ING
TH E N E X T GEN ERAT IO N
OF FARMERS
Saul Rico is from Mexico, where his family owns a farm where they grow corn and pomegranates. Wanting to learn about growing more vegetables, Rico came to study abroad in the United States. With family in Lake County, he chose to study horticulture at CLC starting at the beginning of 2022. He is also a student worker at the Grayslake Campus Farm. For CLC students like Rico, working on the Campus Farm is a great way to get hands-on experience and serve the community. The horticulture program hosts public events such as the college’s own farm market and seasonal plant sales. Annually, the farm produces nearly 25,000 pounds of produce.
Melanie Bromberek, who began her job as the horticulture lab coordinator last October, is excited to be working her first growing season. She previously worked on numerous farms for the Chicago Botanic Gardens and this year she gets to put all her focus on one. CLC’s farm market offers a diverse array of food that can be bought by those at CLC or in the community. This diversity helps to teach students about all the produce that can grow in Lake County. The market sells mostly vegetables but Bromberek hopes to include even more fruits this year.
Saul Rico (left) with Melanie Bromberek
10
CLC CONNECTS
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
“There’s a little bit of everything,” Bromberek said. “The farm is a great demonstration for what can be grown in the area.” The food grown on the farm is also used at CLC’s Café Willow, part of the college’s sustainability plan.
flowers, grasses, vegetables and herb plants were sold. During the holiday season, community members can buy all varieties of poinsettia plants.
“I CAN COMPARE EVERYTHING I’M LEARNING IN CLASS TO WHAT I DO IN THE GREENHOUSE. I’M ACTUALLY APPLYING MY KNOWLEDGE WHILE I STUDY.”
The Campus Farm grows flowers and plants that are sold throughout spring and summer at events like Mother’s Day, and at the farm stand. The money made from the farm stand goes back into the farm, buying items like equipment and seeds. Proceeds also contribute to student scholarships and internship wages. In early May, the farm held its annual plant sale, where
Student interns and students taking horticulture classes also use the Campus Farm as a lab. They learn how to manage a farming business and to follow natural and organic growing practices. The Campus Farm gives them a place to put their knowledge to work before graduating. Rico has found the combination of classroom and hands-on learning relevant and beneficial to his career.
JUNE 2022
11
Dr. Michelle Proctor
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
Building the teacher workforce of tomorrow “A well-prepared, well-supported, well-compensated and diverse educator workforce is the foundation for student success.” – Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, March 2022
12
CLC CONNECTS
As Illinois grapples with a growing teacher shortage, College of Lake County is pioneering innovative teacher-preparation programs and partnering with early childhood centers, school districts, universities, scholarship organizations, private philanthropists and even NASA to create a pipeline of diverse and dedicated teacher candidates who are passionate about using their skills and talents to lift up the Lake County community. When he first set foot on CLC’s campus to pursue his dream of teaching and coaching young people in sports, Josue Velazquez had no idea how transformative the next two years would be. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Humboldt Park and Logan Square, Velazquez moved to Round Lake with his family at the age of 15 to escape the crime and drug trafficking that plagued these inner-city Chicago communities.
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
Life got better. But two years later, high school diploma in hand, the 18-year-old didn’t have much of a road map for the future. “I was the first in my family to finish high school, so college wasn’t even on my radar,” he confides. So he went to work, installing granite countertops and working at a cell phone store before getting a job in HVAC. But the hours were long and Velazquez, now a husband and father, missed spending time with his family. It was time for a career reboot. He made a life-changing decision to become the first in his family to go to college. CLC—with its affordable tuition and flexible programming— put his dream within reach. After earning his associate degree and transferring to
Elmhurst College to complete a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health, Velazquez is now filling a critical need for well-prepared, culturally relevant educators in the Round Lake school district. “My wife calls me a unicorn because Latino males are not all that common in elementary school classrooms,” he says with a laugh. “CLC’s Diversity in Schools and Society course taught me that diversity and representation matter—and I experience that reality on a daily basis. A lot of my Latino students connect with me immediately because they see themselves in me.” Velazquez still gets emotional when he talks about his CLC experience. “My professors saw more potential in me than I saw in myself. I was exposed to some incredible experiences— from a field study on the Appalachian Trail to a training workshop at NASA for teacher candidates from HispanicJUNE 2022
13
serving institutions. I developed a passion for teaching at CLC and everyone—from my professors to my academic advisors—helped spark that passion.” Michael Crisantos was inspired to pursue a career in education by the teachers who nurtured and enriched him during his formative years. “My folks were busy trying to earn a living, so I didn’t have the privilege of a lot of parental involvement while I was growing up,” explains the Round Lake native. “But my teachers always showed up for the important events in my life and helped me become the well-rounded person and educator that I am today.” The first in his family to earn a college degree, Crisantos worked three jobs to cover his expenses—waking up at 3 a.m. to stock grocery store shelves before his morning classes, staffing the college’s LGBTQ Resource Center after school and working at a sporting goods store in the evenings. “CLC’s affordability made college accessible for me,” Crisantos said. “It also enabled me to take advantage of some really amazing educational opportunities.” One of those opportunities was NASA’s teacher-training program in Cleveland, where he met Velazquez. “Seeing NASA engineers working on robots and other new technologies was beyond anything I could have imagined,” he says. “We saw STEM in action and got hands-on training in STEM teaching techniques. We were the only community college participating in the program, so it was a great opportunity to connect with future educators from four-year universities throughout the country. I feel very grateful for the experience. How many teachers can say they trained at NASA?” Today, Crisantos—who holds a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in special education—is a special education teacher at a Round Lake elementary school. “CLC taught me that, in order to better your community, you need to put resources into your community,” he reflects. “Thanks to CLC, I have the knowledge and skills my community needs.” 14
CLC CONNECTS
Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline Velazquez and Crisantos are living proof that equitable access to a high-quality education can lift up an entire community. At any moment in time, their success stories would be a welcome development. But in 2022—with schools across the nation facing some of the toughest staffing challenges in recent history—the stories of these newly minted teachers are good news indeed. “Last year, more than 2,000 Illinois public school teaching positions remained unfilled,” states CLC Education Professor and Department Chair Dr. Michelle Proctor. “Eighty-eight percent of the districts surveyed by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools reported a shortage of
qualified teachers in 2021—and 96 percent reported a critical shortage of substitute teachers, a staffing crisis that forced many administrators into classrooms to fill the gap.”1
classrooms so they can see the research and theories they’re learning about in their education courses being applied in a real-world context.”
To tackle the teacher shortage and diversify the teacher pipeline, CLC is creating new pathways into the profession, removing barriers to degree completion and preparing teacher candidates to provide effective instruction once they get into the classroom.
In 2019, CLC launched a Future Educators Club to promote the teaching profession and create a community of teacher candidates at CLC. “Club members visit local schools, invite guest speakers to share their knowledge about the teaching profession and conduct research on topics of interest,” Proctor explains. “It’s a great way for our students to network with one another and connect with working professionals in the field.”
“In recent years, we’ve engaged in ongoing curriculum reviews and updates to ensure our course content is culturally inclusive and relevant to the realities our teacher candidates are likely to encounter in Lake County’s culturally diverse classrooms,” Proctor said. “We’ve also partnered with local school districts to get our students into public school
Investing in the educator pipeline also means reaching out to students before they enter college. In 2021, CLC began partnering with several Lake County high schools to offer a dual-credit Introduction to Teaching course. It’s a win-win JUNE 2022
15
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE situation for students and the community. More homegrown talent enters the college-to-classroom pipeline, while high school juniors and seniors earn college credits toward a teaching degree without spending a penny on tuition.
Removing Roadblocks to Success Going forward, Proctor said, CLC’s efforts to support nontraditional students as they prepare to enter the teaching profession will be more important than ever. “In spring 2019, we began making changes to our programs and policies to make it easier for nontraditional students to achieve degree completion,” she notes. “To do that, we’ve created more online opportunities for students to complete their coursework and dropped penalties for late assignments and missed classes. Nontraditional students are often juggling school, work and family responsibilities, so we need to be flexible to help them succeed.” 16
CLC CONNECTS
2021 Illinois Educator Shortage Survey, prepared by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS) and its educational and research partners: https://iarss.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IARSS-2021Educator-Shortage-Final.pdf
1
honoring
accomplished alumni: Joan Hammel Adding to her illustrious career as an Emmy-winning musician, Joan Hammel was recently honored with the CLC Alumni Recognition Award and is CLC’s nominee for the 2022 Illinois Community College Trustees Association Distinguished Alumnus Award. “Thousands of students have come through CLC, so to be recognized is fantastic. I’m happy to represent so many people who took what they learned at CLC and use it to make a difference. Receiving this honor has caused me to take time to reflect on my time at the college,” said Hammel. Born and raised in Lake County, Hammel grew up in a musical family. She studied voice and instruments in school and privately. She transferred from CLC to Columbia College Chicago in 1983 where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She performs at many live music events across the country and has appeared in commercials, on television, in films and on radio. Hammel’s interests in supporting meaningful organizations led her to a role on one of CLC’s advisory boards. She helps with alumni relations, developing ways to get alumni involved and discovering those who are a good fit to help. She also has served as President of the Board of Trustees for the Lake Country Discovery
Museum and as a Trustee on the Board of Columbia College Chicago, the largest liberal arts college in North America. “Students benefit greatly from having alumni involved,” she said. “It’s important for people who went through the same classrooms to come back and share experiences to show how successful they can be.”
“I’ve carried CLC with me in my career around the world.”
Hammel was very involved during her time at CLC. She was part of the choir, band, radio station and newspaper. Hammel was also the chair of the programming board, organizing entertainment on campus. “This award makes me feel grateful for the friends and family who support me and for staying the course when the obstacles and challenges came, trying to move through life with grace, humor and heart,” she said. “We all have those hours we put into our lives and careers that seem to be invisible to anyone. It is lovely to be seen!” JUNE 2022
17
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
Promoting Global Citizenship in Lake County CLC earns national excellence award for campus internationalization No matter what country you call home, you are welcome at CLC. A sign of its commitment to prepare students to be productive members of a global society, CLC is one of five U.S. universities and colleges to receive a 2022 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from the National Association of International Educators (NASFA). Named in honor of the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, this award recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that are making significant, well-planned, well-executed and well-documented progress toward comprehensive internationalization—especially those using innovative and creative approaches. “Global citizenship is important to the College of Lake County,” said CLC Director of Global Engagement Dr. Jacob Cushing. “One of our team’s central goals is ensuring that all CLC students graduate with an understanding of the world and an appreciation for their place in it. We also try to make 18
CLC CONNECTS
our international students feel at home here by offering a welcoming place to study and strengthen friendships.” The Global Engagement team collaborates on collegewide projects that spotlight the diversity, sustainability and global aspects of the CLC community. For example, the college’s digital and physical landscapes are infused with an international spirit, and in 2020, CLC formally dedicated the Global Community Hall at the Grayslake Campus. “The centrally located hallway displays the flags of our students’ countries of origin and showcases a world map where they can find and pin their home countries,” Cushing said. “It also promotes global diversity programs, events and initiatives. We have placed prominent imprints on walls near campus entrances saying ‘Welcome’ in over 30 languages, speaking directly to our students.”
– Nik, a student from Russia “CLC’s Department of Global Engagement is an innovative team committed to thinking strategically and critically to cultivate high-impact internationalization practices that engage people,” said CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick. “They extend enriching experiences out into the diverse communities of Lake County as well as with our partners across the world.” As a result of the Global Engagement team’s work, CLC has strategically invested in international partnerships, purposeful and innovative international programmatic offerings, faculty positions to renew curriculum internationalization efforts and study abroad opportunities.
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
“CLC is a very friendly place, very positive environment. There are people from all over the world. The staff is very friendly, helpful and supportive for everything that we want to do. We’re all friends, like a little family here.”
Did you know... • College of Lake County was included on the list of 2021-2022 Fulbright Program “Top Producing Institutions” of Fulbright U.S. Scholars. • CLC enrolls more than 70-100 international students on the F-1 student visa annually from over 35 countries. • CLC offers incredible and affordable short-term and semester-long study abroad programs to more than 10 countries. • CLC has global partners in the United Arab Emirates, China, Philippines, Japan, Austria, Costa Rica, England, Ireland, France and Spain.
“College of Lake County’s philosophy on local and international partnerships is that we work with our communities through people, not institutions,” said Suddick. “We prioritize partnerships that originate from direct connections with our faculty and staff.”
• CLC offers the Global Citizenship Milestone designed for students who are interested in deepening their understanding of a diversity of cultures, societies and systems within an international, globalized context.
A special focus has been on curriculum integration and faculty development. Two dedicated faculty coordinators own this important collaborative work focused on international education initiatives and the internationalization of curriculum. These coordinators are integral to engaging faculty support college-wide and reviewing curricula in need of a global perspectives update.
• The Department of Global Engagement is a success center for all non-immigrant visa holders on campus, which promotes a true and integrated international community.
JUNE 2022
19
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
HONORING OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTORS
Every year, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) honors faculty across the state who showcase outstanding work. Each college facilitates the selection of local winners, one full-time and one adjunct, which are forwarded to ICCTA for the selection of the state-wide winners for each category. CLC is proud to honor Shane Jones and Dr. Ribhi Salhi as this year’s full-time and adjunct outstanding faculty winners, respectively.
20
CLC CONNECTS
Shane Jones Jones is a biology instructor at CLC, primarily teaching courses on human anatomy and physiology. He started at the college in Fall 2004 when he was just 25 years old. In those nearly 18 years, a lot about his teaching style has changed. “I was so young when I started here, and I had very little teaching experience,” Jones said. “I used to be scared a student would ask me a question and I wouldn’t know the answer to it. It obviously happened, and I found the information for the student. Throughout the years, I continued to accumulate knowledge and have done professional development to improve my ability as a teacher.” Many students in Jones’ classes go on to work in the medical field, so he has high standards and keeps his students’ best interests in mind. Jones is willing to ensure every student succeeds in his class. “I try to be an easy going and approachable guy,” he said. “I’ll have conversations with students at 10 p.m. if that’s what works for them.”
TEACHING AND LEARNING EXCELLENCE
Dr. Ribhi Salhi Teaching is Salhi’s career. Outside of CLC, the political science instructor teaches at numerous other colleges in the area. He believes education is a lifelong effort, and for himself, that also means improving as an instructor. “I’ve been teaching for a long time,” Salhi said. “Every year, I’ve learned something new. Knowledge has no boundaries, and the classroom should be a global one. Every time I finish a semester, or when I finish a certain topic of discussion, I ask myself what I can do better.” Salhi has adopted several ways to create engagement with his students by being available beyond office hours both virtually and in person, using an assessment tool to help understand students’ areas of strengths and weaknesses, introducing students to new techniques in critical thinking and staying current with the way his discipline is taught and with the way students like to learn. “I fully understand the kinds of struggles my students face,” he said. “My job here is not only to educate them, but also to engage with them in a way that makes them understand the material. The strategies I use for teaching should always be evaluated.”
JUNE 2022
21
ACCESS AND SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS
Jordan Esparza
CLC CONNECTS
22
“For a person like me who never had studious habits, it was an introductory class about how to build my student philosophy and help me become a better student,” Esparza said. At CLC, Esparza is pursuing a degree in business and one day hopes to earn a master’s degree in education. Thanks to CLC 120, a two-credit course he took last fall, he’s ready to achieve his educational goals. Esparza is not alone. Over 1,500 CLC students also took one of 75 CLC 120 classes offered during that semester.
From lifeguard, to cook, to bank teller, Jordan Esparza felt like he worked every kind of job after graduating high school. He pursued his creative interests in photography and videography, and even did social media work to help small businesses with marketing strategies. Despite all these different experiences, when looking for a career, Esparza struggled to get even an entry-level position because he lacked official credentials. It was then he decided it was time to return to school.
“I’m mentally prepared now for school,” he said.
“The class helped me understand the things I must do to succeed. It gave me a big bag of tools so when I face an obstacle, I can look at my tools and see what I can do to get through it.”
Back to school for Esparza meant back to CLC. Though he didn’t stay long, Esparza initially enrolled at CLC after high school in 2015. At the time, school just wasn’t for him, and he decided that working was a better route.
Some of the main lessons Esparza learned from his instructor Teresa Filicette included the usefulness of good notetaking, the importance of self-advocacy and where to look for financial aid and scholarships.
Coming back posed a different challenge for him this time: reacclimating to being a student.
“Jordan brought so much to our class as he was passionate about the topics discussed,” Filicette said. “He shared his life experiences and related them to our course so all his classmates could learn from them. Jordan was eager to learn about all the CLC resources we explored, and he immediately started accessing them and benefiting from their services. He soaked up all the techniques, skills and strategies taught and saw how applying them would aid in his success.”
Fortunately, CLC has a plan for that. CLC puts students on a path to success through a College Success Seminar, or CLC 120, an introductory course required for all students pursuing degrees and certificates. CLC 120 helps students learn the necessary skills for succeeding in college.
JUNE 2022
23
ACCESS AND SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS
PUTTING STUDENTS ON A PATH TO SUCCESS
EQUITY AND INCLUSION Jesse Morales
You Are Welcome Here BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT
M eet the new Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion CLC serves the highly diverse populations of Lake County, Illinois. Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) principles is critical to ensuring all students can succeed in college and engage in a global society. CLC invested in expanded resources to support its ongoing college-wide efforts, hiring Jesse Morales as the college’s first DEI director in January. A strategic leader responsible for supporting improved student outcomes through the Equity in Access and Success Plan within the college’s strategic plan, Morales advises and partners with leadership to establish organizational strategies that broadly align people, policies and systems with the college’s DEI statements. Morales was hired from within the institution after a national search. He has demonstrated his commitment to student success through a variety of roles at the college including ESL instructor, administrative roles in Adult Education and Educational Affairs, as well as co-chair of the Diversity Council where he 24
CLC CONNECTS
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
“The thoughts of dropping out had dissipated because of a simple invitation to mingle at a social event with people who looked like me,” Morales said. “That experience transformed my outlook on college and made living away from my family manageable.”
helped implement multiple initiatives to support students, faculty and staff. In his new role, Morales will continue to co-chair the Diversity Council, a cross-functional team of faculty and staff committed to building an inclusive community at CLC. “I am humbled and honored to serve in this new role,” Morales said. “My aim is to align DEI with our strategic plan and other student success initiatives which will ensure we aren’t stuck in mitigative strategies but rather larger, more impactful and transformative initiatives.” When it comes to diversity, Morales wants to help provide an equitable experience at CLC for everyone, and to do that, he wants to make sure no group feels like they aren’t included under the umbrella term “diversity.” “When most people think of diversity, the first thing that comes to their mind is race,” he said. “When we’re talking about DEI, we’re talking about age, accessibility, inclusion, disabilities, gender, sex, sexual orientation and more. We need to think about it holistically and make sure our DEI work doesn’t make anyone feel like they are excluded but also consistently supports marginalized groups.”
“The creation of this position is a bold move for CLC toward propelling its DEI work to be increasingly transformative.” DEI continued to play a role for Morales in his work life. He said CLC is his longest place of employment because DEI made for a positive equitable environment and made him feel included. “I want students, faculty and staff to have positive and equitable experiences at CLC,” he said. “I want us to love coming to campus and know how to interact with each other, even when there’s difficult conversations to be had. I want students, staff, and faculty to feel and be successful at CLC; that our equitable experiences at CLC are such that we become a higher education organization by which others measure themselves. I got into DEI because I experienced how it had transformed a real person, me.”
Morales’ personal goal in his position is to foster a culture in which students, staff and faculty feel comfortable and succeed. This is inspired by his own struggles with belonging. Homesick in his first year of college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Morales constantly thought about dropping out. It wasn’t until his second year when he was invited to events at La Casa Cultural Latina that he made close friends and felt included. JUNE 2022
25
ON THE
ROAD AGAIN
Strengthening connections between teammates through travel For two years, sports at CLC and across the country have endured pandemic-related restrictions and mandates. Travel has been challenging for CLC’s athletic teams, but now teams can resume competing more frequently out-of-state, giving student-athletes the chance to grow as players, teammates and community members.
“Travel is one of those tools we use to benefit our students. Team trips and competitions give them an opportunity to showcase their skills against excellent opponents on the national stage while representing our institution. Traveling together also promotes team building, comradery, discipline and time management. Plus, student-athletes make memories that will last them a lifetime,” said Athletic Director Brad Unger.
“One of our goals in athletics is to provide our student-athletes with a toolkit for personal growth and skills development through real-world experiential learning opportunities.” Athletes who played on teams last year see a big difference in how much more connected they are to teammates now. “Last year we would get food as a team after games, but we couldn’t eat inside the restaurants,” said sophomore softball player Julianna Villalobos. “We had to order ahead and then eat on the bus. This year we can go in and enjoy our meal as a team.”
Villalobos said. “We had the chance to goof around and get to know each other.” Sophomore tennis player Haley Quick is enjoying the chance to travel after limited opportunities a year ago. “Last year we traveled on a school bus with masks on, the windows down and sitting distanced,” she said. This year, the team had fewer restrictions and more time spent traveling to competitions. “As a team, we’ve bonded more this year. It’s harder to talk when you’re distanced.” The players aren’t the only ones who appreciate the bonding. Head coaches can tell what kind of connection their teams have. Like the softball team, CLC’s baseball team took a spring trip. It played at the Jackie Robinson Sports Complex in Vero Beach, Florida. “Team culture is everything,” said head baseball coach Heath Cummings. “You either have it or you don’t. The team bonding and memories these young players gain from the trip are priceless. They will keep them for the rest of their lives.”
WINNING RECORD CLC’s athletic teams had numerous accomplishments to celebrate this spring. Both men’s and women’s tennis were NJCAA Region IV and Illinois Skyway Collegiate Champions. Head coach for both teams, Jim Love, was named both Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year. Men’s golf won its 5th consecutive Illinois Skyway Collegiate Championship. Freshman Eddie Winkelmann qualified for the National Tournament and Coach Chris Wyniawskyj was named the ISCC Conference Coach of the Year.
This year, CLC’s softball team took a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Villalobos noticed being able to travel together brought the team closer together, especially since many of her teammates are first-year students. “Since we were on this trip together, we were around each other more,”
In women’s cross country, sophomore Carly Leonard was the Illinois Skyway Conference and Region IV Champion. Leonard and sophomore Izamar Rodriguez both qualified for NJCAA Nationals. Men’s cross country finished 3rd in the NJCAA Region IV, and first-year student Cody Arenas qualified for NJCAA Nationals. Men’s baseball finished the season 32-18 and had seven players named to the Illinois Skyway All-Conference team. It earned the number six seed in the NJCAA Region IV Tournament.
JUNE 2022
27
f f O s t a HTO THE F O S S A L C 2
2 0 2
28
CLC CONNECTS
The remarkable, resilient CLC Class of 2022 walked the stage and received their diplomas during the commencement celebration this May. Trustees, leaders, faculty and staff cheered on the graduates and welcomed their families and friends. More than
3,000 degrees and certificates were conferred!
19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, IL 60030-1198 CLC Connects is published biannually by the Public Relations and Marketing department. To subscribe, unsubscribe or update an address, email PR@clcillinois.edu or call (847) 543-2094. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to CLC Connects, College of Lake County 19351 West Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030-1198
Volume 2, Issue 1 June 2022
FOLLOW CLC ONLINE:
www.clcillinois.edu
Board of Trustees Amanda D. Howland, J.D. Chair Julie B. Shroka, M.A. Vice Chair Torrie Mark Newsome, J.D. Secretary Gerri Songer, M.A. Matthew J. Stanton, J.D. Robert J. Tomei, Jr., J.D. Paul G. Virgilio, B.S., S.E., P.E. Daniel Blaine Student Trustee Lori Suddick, Ed.D. President
COMING SOON: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER GRAND OPENING DISCOVER THE NEW FACILITY IN GURNEE DURING MANUFACTURING MONTH IN OCTOBER. Built to offer world-class infrastructure for advanced technical training, the ATC will prepare students to fill the high-skill, high-wage and in-demand workforce needs of Lake County manufacturing now and into the future. Be among the first to explore new state-of-the-art industrial technology and welding fabrication labs. Classes begin this fall.
