INA, Ill. (Dec. 12, 2023) — Rend Lake College’s trend of growing its own leaders continues with the appointment of Lori Ragland to the role of Executive Vice President, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
The Sesser resident has been named President Designee and will work closely over the next 18 months with President Terry Wilkerson, who has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2025. At that time, Ragland will transition to become RLC’s eighth president.
Executive Vice President & President Designee Lori Ragland
“I am honored and humbled to work collaboratively with President Wilkerson over the next 18 months to build on the foundation of excellence that Rend Lake College has established,” Ragland said.
“Lori has proven herself in every new role she’s been given, every challenge she’s met,” said Wilkerson. “She has the respect of faculty and staff and has the advantage and perspective of coming up through the ranks.”
“Lori has earned the trust of the board and the administration,” said Board Chair Larry Manning. “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.”
Up to this point, Ragland has served as Vice President of Instruction and Student Affairs … and her journey has taken a winding road.
A former freelance court reporter, Ragland joined Rend Lake College in 2000 as the administrative assistant to the RLC Foundation. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College, Ragland became the Foundation’s assistant director. Her path then led her to the assistant directorship of the college’s Community Education Department before becoming its director four years later.
In 2010, Ragland became Dean of Community and Corporate Education, and earned her Master of Arts in Education Degree from McKendree University in 2013. Two years later, in 2015, she became Vice President of Career Technical Instruction at RLC before taking over leadership of all instruction in 2017 and student affairs in 2019.
Ragland said she is excited about the journey ahead.
“My vision is to foster an inclusive, innovative, and student-centered environment that continues to strengthen our community,” she said. “Terry 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.”
Ragland during a tour of the Agronomy Innovation Center on campus
A student of servant leadership, Ragland believes in the power of collaboration. “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.”
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 will be president of the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators in 2024 and currently holds 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 her family have supported RLC students for years with the Clayton Charles Ragland Memorial Scholarship, in honor of her late son.
Ragland is a homegrown RLC leader as well, graduating from the college’s leadership development program in 2014. She was the recipient of the 2003 RLC Outstanding Staff Award, and graduated from the Chair Academy, an organization devoted to higher education leadership development, in 2015. 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 and husband Chuck reside in Sesser and have two sons, Chase and Nate.
