Lori Ragland

Education and Training:

• In Progress: Doctor of Education Degree (EdD) in Educational Leadership
• 2013: Master of Arts in Education, McKendree University
• 2001: Bachelor of Science, Greenville College 
• 2015: Chair Academy: The Academy for Leadership and Development graduate
• 2014: Emerging Leadership Institute at RLC graduate

Positions at RLC:

• 2000 - 2001: Administrative Assistant of Foundation
• 2001 - 2004: Assistant Director of Foundation
• 2004 - 2008: Assistant Director of Community Education & Coordinator of RLC's Institute for Learning in Retirement
• 2008 - 2012: Director of Community Education
• 2012 - 2015: Dean of Community & Corporate Education
• 2015 - 2017: Vice President of Career-Technical Education
• 2017 - 2019: Vice President of Instruction
• 2019 - 2024: Vice President of Instruction & Student Affairs
• 2024 - 2025: Executive Vice President & President Designee
• 2025 - Current: President

Awards, Committees & Service at RLC:

• Association of Career and Technical Education Post-Secondary Advisory Team
• Illinois Chief Academic Officers member
• Illinois Chief Student Services Officers member
• 2024: Illinois Council of Community College Administrators President
• 2021-2024: Association of Career and Technical Education Post-Secondary Advisory Team
• 2018-2025: Illinois Chief Student Services Officers member
• 2016: Illinois Council of Continuing Education & Training Exemplary Leadership Award
• 2015-2025: Illinois Chief Academic Officers member
• 2015-16: Academic Council
• 2013-14: Academic Council
• 2013: 24th Annual RLC Foundation Annual Dinner Guest Speaker
• 2008-09: Academic Council
• 2005: Established the Clayton Ragland Memorial Scholarship to RLC, a part of Challenge Grant II. Co-worker inspires five other employees to designate payroll deductions for the scholarship. Ragland increased her giving toward the memorial two years later. 
• 2004-2007: RLC Community Coordinator (Christopher, Mt. Vernon, Sesser-Valier, Zeigler-Royalton)
• 2003: Outstanding Staff Award
• 2002: Co-Presenter at National Council for Resource Development Conference (Washington, D.C.)
• 2002: Principles and Techniques in Fund-Raising Course at Indiana University

Bio:

Lori Ragland became Rend Lake College’s eighth, full-time President on July 1, 2025. Hired initially in 2000 as the Administrative Assistant for the RLC Foundation, Ragland gained experience working with RLCF Board members and financial supporters. She was involved with all aspects of the not-for-profit, fund-raising organization, including working closely with the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

Rather than losing her to a potential career change – she was considering a teaching position – the administration elevated her to RLCF Assistant Director in October 2001. “She is the right-hand person in the Foundation Office,” according to rationale provided. “The standard Lori sets in the office is very high. She works very well with people.”

While in that role, Ragland was Co-Presenter at the 2002 National Council for Resource Development Conference in Washington, D.C. and completed the Principles and Techniques in Fund-Raising Course at Indiana University that same year.

In 2003, she received RLC's Outstanding Staff Award. A year later she was transferred to the newly created position of Community Education Assistant Director. The Institute for Learning in Retirement - a highly successful program at the time - accompanied her in the move.

Four years later, Ragland succeeded the retiring Dawn Gibson as Director of Community Ed. And four years after that, by then 2012, she was elevated to the position of Dean of Community and Corporate Education.

Ragland was named Vice President of Career Technical Education in 2015, taking over for retiring VP Lisa Payne. Also that year, Ragland graduated from the Chair Academy, an organization devoted to higher education leadership development.

“She has proven herself with her work experience and background in career technical programs and industry trainings, and possesses the skills to succeed,” administrators stated in the rationale.

In 2017 she took over leadership of all instruction at the college as its VP of Instruction. Two years later, she would add student affairs to her list of responsibilities.

She has been heavily involved institutional-level activities such as accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, serving as the accreditation liaison officer to that organization; official recognition with the Illinois Community College Board; an overhaul of the college’s strategic planning process; and more.

Ragland has made a name for herself at the state level and in professional organizations. She was granted the Illinois Council of Continuing Education & Training Exemplary Leadership Award in 2016. She was named president of the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators in 2024 and held membership in the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE), serving on its Post-Secondary Advisory Team, as well as the Illinois Chief Academic Officers and the Illinois Chief Student Services Officers.

Ragland and husband Chuck reside in Sesser. Their two sons, Chase and Nate, both attended the RLCF Children’s Center and both went on to earn associate degrees from the college. Nate graduated from RLC and his high school in the same semester.

QUOTES:

• “Lori has proven herself in every new role she’s been given, every challenge she’s met. She has the respect of faculty and staff and has the advantage and perspective of coming up through the ranks.” - retired RLC President Terry Wilkerson
  
  
• “Lori has earned the trust of the board and the administration. We’re glad to see that she has welcomed the opportunity and the challenge, and we’re confident she will continue to lead the college in the years ahead.” – RLC Board of Trustees Chair Larry Manning.
  
  
• “My vision is to foster an inclusive, innovative, and student-centered environment that continues to strengthen our community. Terry [Wilkerson] and I have a terrific group of people around us. With their support, I am confident we can build on our past accomplishments and create a future where Rend Lake College continues to thrive, providing quality education through enhanced knowledge, relevant skills, and innovative opportunities for success in this ever-changing world.” – RLC President Lori Ragland
  
  
• “I am committed to working closely with the Board, administration, faculty, staff, students, and the broader community to achieve our shared goals. Our students are at the center of everything we do, and I know our team is committed to ensuring our students have the resources, support, and guidance they need to excel academically and personally.” – RLC President Lori Ragland