Marcos Rodriquez Jr. can shed the interim tag after Ivy Tech appointed him as its Lake County chancellor, the statewide community college announced Thursday.
Rodriquez has been interim chancellor since July, following the retirement of R. Louie Gonzalez who spent six years in the role.
Previously, Rodriquez was site director at Ivy Tech’s Michigan City campus and apprentice manager for the Lake County, Valparaiso and Lafayette campuses.
“I am committed to working with everyone in the community to make Lake County an even better place to live, work, and learn,” Rodriquez said in a statement.
Rodriquez brings 19 years of management experience in higher education and has overseen initiatives in technology, database management integration, budgets, and operations planning.
His focus will shift as chancellor to provide oversight for campus operations to help achieve enrollment, completion, retention and student success goals. He plans to build upon employer and community outreach and partnerships and strengthen fundraising efforts.
Ivy Tech Lake County maintains campuses in Gary, Crown Point and East Chicago.
Rodriquez holds a master’s in business administration degree from Indiana University Northwest and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Valparaiso University.
He’s also been an adjunct faculty member at the College of Court Reporting in Valparaiso, teaching personal finance.
“Marcos is well-known in the Region and brings community connections and a desire to help students build a better every day after graduation in our Lake County communities,” said Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann.
She said Rodriquez is committed to Ivy Tech’s strategic plan which includes producing more graduates, securing more workforce-aligned partnerships and improving the student experience.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
