LAKE LAND COLLEGE
Vice President for Student Services Valerie Lynch and Vice President for Academic Services Ikemefuna Nwosu are both proud Lake Land College alumni as well as enthusiastic employees. Both shared how their Lake Land College experiences helped them develop in their roles and careers within and beyond the college.
I am so glad because I ended up loving Lake Land.” Lynch would go on to take classes at any times or places she was able, spending weekends, evenings and summers completing her degree and even participating in one of the earliest online classes. “I graduated at the same time as my peers and went right on to a university,” Lynch said. “If I didn’t have the support system that I did, I likely would not have finished.”
“Lake Land really showed me what I would want to give to students in the future in terms of support and connection,” Lynch Nwosu expressed a similar said. “I have been a student at sentiment, saying Lake Land three institutions other than Lake was a “springboard” that Land, and I can say that the level challenged him to greater of genuine care heights. A welcoming “I REMEMBER THINKING spirit was the most and comfort I felt during my time as a ‘MAN, THIS IS HEAVEN.' prominent aspect I HAD BEEN TO OTHER Nwosu experienced Lake Land student UNIVERSITIES, BUT topped the charts.” as a student, and he FROM THE BEGINNING AT LAKE LAND THERE said his goal is to give Not only was Lynch back to his students in WAS A WORLD OF a first-generation the same way. DIFFERENCE." college student, she -NWOSU had a child to care “When my students for and no reliable transportation walk into my classroom, my first when she began her Lake Land priority is to make them feel journey. The first day of Lynch’s welcome,” Nwosu said. “My college career may have fallen transition from Zambia to here short of what she had hoped, was a huge challenge. I was able but she was able to persevere to assimilate, but I still had a lot through her first day challenges of other challenges, including to find success. finances. I remember how I would walk through Walmart at “I walked into my very first 10 p.m. just to dream of things I class and tripped over a cord,” couldn’t afford.” Lynch said. “My books went everywhere, and I was mortified. Nwosu was involved in several I just collected them and left the activities and groups, such as class thinking ‘I don’t belong Student Government Association here.’ I was ready to leave, but and tutoring. Upon nearing my dad talked me out of it. completion of his time at 8 LAKE LAND COLLEGE ALUMNI s LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU/ALUMNI
Lake Land, Nwosu asked faculty members for suggestions on how to proceed, eventually leading to his pursuit of a master’s degree. “I remember thinking ‘Man, this is heaven,’” Nwosu said. “I had been to other universities, but from the beginning at Lake Land there was a world of difference. It’s just a very different culture.” As a person of color, Nwosu said he was also deeply appreciative of being made to feel supported, safe and comfortable during his time on campus. “As a black male in 2002, I always felt I was an ambassador in my role,” Nwosu said. “But even when I first came to Lake Land I felt very safe, respected and heard. Because I was related to that way, I feel it is important for us to continue to think about how we all relate to one another as human beings.” Having overcome several barriers as well, Lynch said she has never been made to feel any less than empowered in her position at Lake Land. “I was not expecting to be in this role at this point,” Lynch said. “As a young mom, a first generation student, a woman…I started out with a lot of barriers, and Lake Land taught me that it doesn’t matter. Every time you break down a barrier to success it becomes easier, and the people who supported me during my time at Lake Land and beyond helped me to stay motivated and have confidence.”
