Q&A with Jesus Ruiz, Dean, Lakeshore Campus

For Jesus Ruiz, leading the Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan is personal. His passion for education, equity and transformation fuels his mission to ensure that CLC delivers on its promises to the people of Lake County.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started at CLC.

I’ve served as dean of the Lakeshore Campus for the past six years, but my connection to this community began long before that. I moved to Waukegan in the early ’90s as a 10-year-old and saw firsthand both its vibrant spirit and the challenges it faced, including the condition of the CLC campus at the time.

After starting my public service career at the Lake County Health Department, I realized I wanted to help the community through education. I’m passionate about helping Latino and African American students reach their potential. Community colleges are where that journey often begins, and preparing students here at CLC means preparing them to succeed wherever they go next. I know this community, and I know what our students need. That perspective helps me lead effectively with honesty, transparency and trust. When you work for a community like ours, and you have their back, they’ll have yours.

Q: What is a noticeable positive change you’ve seen over the past five years?

Lakeshore Campus is now part of every conversation. I participate in meetings with the park district, the city and the health department, and I hear time and again, “CLC is doing incredible work.”

Students now walk into spaces they’re proud of, that symbolize how much CLC is investing in their futures. That pride changes how they show up. They respect the space. They take care of it. And they feel a deeper sense of belonging.

Q: What is special about how CLC has evolved to meet student needs and challenges?

One of the biggest game-changers has been tapping into equity-focused funding like the Workforce Equity Initiative and Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grants. These programs allow CLC to support students who have historically been left behind, including people who are unemployed and people who’ve been incarcerated. These grants do more than cover tuition. They help pay for daily life expenses like rent, bills and emergencies so students can stay focused on learning.

We’re also breaking down language barriers. Lake County has an increasingly large Latino population, and many community members still face challenges with English. Rather than see that as a limitation, CLC sees it as an opportunity. CLC launched an early childhood education certificate program delivered in Spanish, and more offerings like it are being developed. We’ll teach you the language and the skills at the same time. That mindset is shifting our institution. At Lakeshore, where more than 70% of our students are Latinx, serving them in their language and culture isn’t optional. It’s essential.

We’ve also expanded wraparound supports. When the tutoring center moved into the Student Center, usage jumped from 17 students a week to 70. Our SHARE Market is stocked and well-used. We’re partnering with local organizations to connect students to housing, therapy and healthcare. Engagement outside the classroom is stronger than ever because students trust that we’re here for the whole person, not just the transcript.

Q: What excites you about where CLC is heading in the future?

I’m a dreamer. I love imagining what’s possible and then helping bring it to life. That’s exactly what we’re doing at Lakeshore. We’re building something powerful, a place where students thrive, where our community feels seen and where real opportunities are created. We’re building a legacy of access, equity and transformation. And that’s the kind of dream I’ll always chase.