KIRTLAND, Ohio — A new era is set to begin at Lakeland Community College with Friday's announcement that Dr. Sunil Ahuja will become its new president. Ahuja, who will be the sixth president in the college's history, will bring a "wealth of experience and a distinguished record of leadership" with him to Kirtland, according to a release from Lakeland.
Ahuja will replace Dr. Morris Beverage Jr., who announced his resignation this week ahead of his planned retirement this August.
According to a release, Lakeland's board of trustees unanimously voted to appoint Ahuja at their regular meeting on Wednesday. "The board is thrilled to welcome Dr. Ahuja to the Lakeland family," said Lakeland Community College Board of Trustees Chair Ellen Foley Kessler in a statement. "His visionary leadership will undoubtedly propel us into the next chapter of our history."
The college says its search committee comprised representatives from Lakeland faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, the Lakeland Foundation, students, alumni and the community. The executive search firm R.H. Perry also assisted in the process, according to Lakeland.
Ahuja comes to Lakeland Community College after most recently serving as provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio. He has also held the role of associate provost for academic affairs at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania, plus vice president for accreditation relations, institutional change, and research at the Higher Learning Commission in Chicago.
This will not be Ahuja's first educational leadership position in Northeast Ohio. He was also the dean of the Division of Social Sciences and Human Services at Lorain County Community College.
Lakeland says Ahuja is "anticipated to assume his role soon" and also participate in the college's upcoming commencement ceremony on May 11.
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