5/3/10
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5/3/10 |
Jon Astroth Named 20th President of Lincoln College
Lincoln, Ill. –The Lincoln College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Dr. Jon Astroth will become the 20th President of the institution. Effective Aug. 16, he will take over leadership of the institution and its two Central Illinois campuses.
A private, liberal arts institution, Lincoln College was founded in 1865 as Lincoln University. It is the only college or university to be named for President Abraham Lincoln during his lifetime. The college expanded to the Bloomington-Normal area in 1979.
When announcing Dr. Astroth’s appointment as president, John Blackburn, chair of the Lincoln College board of trustees said, “The Trustees were thrilled to find the perfect candidate for the presidency so close to home. The role of President is critical to the ongoing success of an institution. Dr. Astroth’s leadership experience and local relationships make him a perfect fit. We are very confident in his ability to lead us into the future.”
Dr. Astroth has been president of Heartland Community College since 1991. Before that he was president of Rend Lake College. Over a 34 year career in academia, he has worked in a variety of capacities at five different Illinois community colleges. In addition, Dr. Astroth has served on numerous state and national boards related to higher education and was named a visiting professor to Northeast Normal University in Changchun, Jilin, China. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration at Illinois State University.
Dr. Astroth went on to add, “I am deeply honored. I was already familiar with Lincoln College and its reputation for both innovative programs and commitment to the academic success of its students. It is a rare opportunity to take the helm at a historic institution such as this. I am delighted to be given the chance to build on that history. My goal is to honor the rich traditions, while continuing to grow the institution as it works to meet the needs of the students, alumni, faculty, and the surrounding communities.”
Astroth replaces Dr. John Hutchinson, who announced his intention to retire as President of Lincoln College in February. The Lincoln College board of trustees will begin a national search for the 21st President during the 2010-11 academic year.
Lincoln College was founded in 1865 as Lincoln University, the only institution of higher education named for Abraham Lincoln during his lifetime. It is a selective, two-year, private, liberal arts college located in Lincoln, Illinois. Lincoln College is designed to prepare a student for university study through a structured, supportive approach to learning. Approximately 89% of Lincoln College graduates transfer immediately to a four-year school where they succeed as well as or better than the native student. Student-teacher ratio at Lincoln College is 13:1 and the average class size is 16 students.