College of Lake County trustee Amanda Howland recently was elected to a two-year term on the Diversity Committee of the Association of Community College Trustees.
The national committee works on ways to include minority populations in governing activities of the association and advises its board on how to strengthen relations with minority members, according to the association’s website.
Howland, who lives in an unincorporated area near Lake Zurich, already works as the liaison to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Diversity Council.
She also recently spoke on “Aligning Governance with Innovative Student Success Strategies” at an Illinois Community College Trustees Association conference.
Q. How is diversity promoted at College of Lake County?
A. As a college, we’ve been recruiting students from all over Lake County high schools. People go out and talk to these people, letting them know College of Lake County has opportunities for them. We also actively recruit faculty who are diverse, and we encourage faculty to be aware of the different ethnic groups here and to maximize opportunities for them.
Q. Why have you devoted so much time to increasing diversity in education?
A. I started out as a teacher and was a school administrator, so in that capacity I dealt with students’ backgrounds and capacities. I grew up in Detroit, so I was always sensitive to diversity and minority populations.
Q. Are community colleges making progress in increasing diversity?
A. Yes, it’s been a major focus. Look at the makeup of College of Lake County. We have just about every ethnic group you can think of. Diversity is not just about ethnicity, but encompasses age, socioeconomic status, veterans and any type of disability. We reach out to all those people.
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