The Board of Trustees of Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met Tuesday night, March 17, at Lincoln Trail Community College in Robinson, Ill. During this meeting the Board appointed IECC’s next chancellor. Interim CEO Marilyn Holt sent out the following press release announcing the Board’s decision:

Dr. Ryan Gower has been selected to serve as Chancellor for IECC. The Board of Trustees approved his contract on March 17, 2020, at their regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting at Lincoln Trail Community College in Robinson. Chairman Dr. G. Andrew Fischer announced that Dr. Gower will assume the office on May 11, 2020. Dr. Gower currently serves as the President of Lincoln Trail College.

IECC conducted a national search in the Fall of 2019 following the retirement of CEO Terry Bruce. Mr. Bruce served as the Chief Executive Officer of IECC for 23 years. In addition, Mr. Bruce had previously served as the Attorney for the District and, as a member of the Illinois Senate, was responsible for writing the Illinois Community College Law. His leadership was instrumental to the success of the IECC Colleges.

Dr. Ryan Gower has been the President of Lincoln Trail College since July of 2016. While at LTC, Dr. Gower worked to enhance academic programs, college facilities and community partnerships. Dr. Gower lead the Theater Renaissance project, spearheaded an 11-acre expansion of the College’s campus for the construction of new athletic fields and has raised more than three million dollars from external sources.

Dr. Gower has placed a strong emphasis on academics and student success. As a result, LTC increased their retention and graduation rates, embraced new pedagogy in their classroom, introduced new academic programs, provided fully funded professional development opportunities, reconnected with their alumni and created new opportunities for the community. This April, Dr. Gower will be one of 28 Presidents that will receive the Phi Theta Kappa Paragon Award. This Award is given to college presidents who have shown strong support for student success by recognizing academic achievement, leadership and service among high-achieving students on their campus.

Dr. Gower earned his Doctorate, Masters and undergraduate degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He began his career in higher education at the University of Illinois in 1997, serving as an academic advisor and internship coordinator before joining the specialized faculty in 2005. In 2007, he was the founding Co-Director of the Office of Alumni and Career Services for the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. He later held other positions within the University and his final years at the University of Illinois were spent as the Associate Dean for the College of Applied Health Sciences. Throughout his time at the U of I, Dr. Gower received numerous awards and recognition.

Dr. Gower has been active in the Robinson community, serving as a founding director and Vice-President of the Crawford County Recreation Center and a board member of the Crawford Development Association, United Way of Crawford County and Crawford Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. Dr. Gower is also a Commissioner for the Robinson Police Department.

Dr. Gower and his wife Tracey have three children, Evan, Grace and Adin (AJ) and live in Robinson, Illinois. Four years ago, when Ryan was asked to serve as President of Lincoln Trail College, he was looking to join an organization that cared about its people, was an active and engaged part of its community and demonstrated a true commitment to helping people change the trajectory of students’ lives. As he stated to the Board of Trustees, “I was also looking for a community where my wife and I could raise our children with those Midwest values that are so important to us. I have found these things at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.”

The Board of Trustees is excited to have Dr. Ryan Gower as the Chancellor of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.