LLC Hires Next Vice President for Student Services

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees has appointed Beth Gerl of Westminster, Maryland, to assume the role of vice president for student services effective February 1, 2019.

The board took action following a closed session during the regular monthly meeting Monday. Gerl will succeed Tina Stovall, who will retire in January following a combined total of 25 years at the college.  

Gerl has an extensive background in student services and spent the past 13 years as the vice president for student affairs and dean of students at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Her areas of responsibility included residence life, judicial affairs, Title IX, student conduct, student activities, Greek affairs, orientation, health and counseling services, diversity and inclusion, food service, campus center operations, department of campus safety, career services and the threat assessment and crisis management team.

Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said Gerl’s vast experience in a diverse set of student service areas and her commitment to student success are closely aligned with the vice presidency at Lake Land College.

“We are fortunate to find in Ms. Gerl a candidate who has both the professional experience in student services and the passion for creating opportunities for students to succeed,” Bullock said. “Throughout her career, she has always made time to meet with students and listen to their thoughts, share in their accomplishments and work with them to find solutions. We look forward to welcoming her to campus and to her leadership of a strong student services unit.”

Gerl said she looks forward to returning to Illinois and working at a college with a tradition of putting students first.

"I am extremely honored to have been selected as the next vice president for student services at Lake Land College. I look forward to serving Lake Land College and the local community by building on the many successes that have been achieved. There is so much alignment between my leadership approach and Lake Land College's mission of engaging minds and changing lives. As a first-generation college student who grew up and attended college in Central Illinois, I look forward to returning to my roots," Gerl said.

Gerl has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in counselor education/higher education from Illinois State University.

The Lake Land College vice president for student services position provides leadership and vision for all student services areas and works as part of the leadership team to create and sustain a student-centered learning environment.

Gerl has a breadth of higher education leadership experience spanning more than 30 years that ranges from designing and implementing campus facilities, facilitating new identity and branding opportunities, to creating an identity-safe educational setting that supports low-income, first generation and underrepresented students.

Prior to her work at McDaniel College, Gerl served as the vice president and dean of students at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama where she provided oversight to intercollegiate athletics, recreation and intramurals, student activities, the wellness center, emergency/hurricane operations, food service, residence life and orientation. She has also served in leadership positions at Hendrix College, University of Mount Union, Wittenberg University and Illinois State University