1. Dr. Jonathon Astroth Takes Helm as 20th President of Lincoln College
Lincoln,Ill. –WhenJon Astroth wasappointed Presidentof LincolnCollegethispastAugust,he became
justthe 20th
persontoholdthe positioninits135 year history. Infact,it wasthat storiedhistory,aswell
as the college’s reputationas astudent- centeredinstitution,thatgothimto thinkaboutthe possibility
of delayinghisretirement.Several more conversationsultimatelylefthiminspiredandconvincedthat
LC was indeedthe rightplace forhim.
WhenannouncingDr.Astroth’s appointment,Chairof the Board of TrusteesJohn Blackburn,praisedhis
abilitiessaying,“The Trusteeswerethrilledtofindthe perfectcandidate forthe presidencysoclose to
home.The role of Presidentiscritical tothe ongoingsuccessof an institution.Dr. Astroth’sleadership
experience andlocal relationshipsmake himaperfectfit.We are veryconfidentinhisabilitytoleadus
intothe future.”
Born inSt. Louis,Missouri andraisedinthe suburbsof Chicago,Jonisthe youngestof three children.
Born to a nurse and a school administrator,he grew upina familythatplaceda highdegree of
importance oneducationandathletics.Astroth'sfatherservedasthe Directorof the IllinoisHighSchool
SportsAssociationformanyyears.Despite hismanyaccomplishments,Astrothpossessesthe easy
charm of a Midwesterner.He talksaboutbeinggiventhe opportunitytoleadsucha historicinstitution
and little thingshe'sexcited aboutmostlike beingpartof a residential campusenvironment.
Whenaskedto describe himself, Jontellsstories.He tellsthe storyof a husbandandfatherthat adores
hiswife andthree college-age kids. He tellsthe storiesof hischildhood;includingafirstjobpainting
houses andthe pride that comesfromdoinga jobwell,the storyof a boy that lovedbaseballwithevery
fiberof hisbeing,and a kidfromthe suburbsof Chicago,that became bestfriendswithaboyfrom
Oakland,California. Twokidsfromcompletelydifferentworlds. Stucktogetherascollege roommates,
and the friendshipthatdevelopedastheyrealizedtheyweren’tsodifferentafterall. Andlastly,he tells
the story of a professional baseball player thatdecidedtobecome ateacher.
Astrothknows first-handthataccessto highereducation changeslives.He knowsthatitexpands
horizonsandbuildsbridges.It’sthatdesire toexposestudentstoa worldbeyondtheirown,thatinitially
ledhimto travel toChina,as part of a communitycollege delegationlookingtoestablishrelationships
withChinese universities.The goal wasto facilitate facultyandstudentexchangesbetweenthe host
institutions.Thatinitial tripyieldedmanyfruitful relationshipsthatcontinue eventoday.Hispassionfor
international travelandcultural exchangescontinues.
Aftera successful 34 yearcareerin academia, Astroth,58, hasa well-earnedreputationasnotonlya
visionary,butagreat leader.Humble,he givesmostof the creditforhisleadershipstyletothingshe
learnedearlyonasan athlete.One of the exampleshe citesfrequentlyisalsoone of the simplest.He
describesagreatleaderas beingaware thatthe successful teamismade upof individuals.Each
individualpossessesuniquetalents,butmustworktowarda commongoal if theywantto succeed.The

2. successful leaderrecognizethose individualstrengths,butinspire themtoworktowarda commongoal.
Soundssimple- yes.Inpractice - not so much.
As the foundingPresident of HeartlandCommunityCollegeinNormal,Illinois,Jon'sspentthe last20
yearsbuildingan institutionfromthe groundup.He'susedto hard workand gettingthingsdone.That
Midwesternworkethicservedhimwell because whatbeganasclassesina hodgepodge of rented
spaces, evolvedintoan160-acre campuswitha professional baseballstadium, acommunityeducation
program,international programs,anenrollmentof 5600 student,anda robust alumni base. Ata time
whenmostwoulddeservedlybe thinkingaboutwindingdown,Astrothiseagerlygearingupforthe next
chapterof hislife.He smileswhenhe talksaboutthe future of LincolnCollegeandhisfuture aspart of
the institution.
As we make our waythroughthe hall of the Main AcademicBuilding onthe LCN campus,Dr. Astroth
stopsoccasionallytosayhellotoa studentor chat witha facultymember.Iask himwhathe meansby
"the future?"He immediatelystartsdescribingthe storiedhistoryof the institution,the amazing
connectionbetweenLC alumni andthe College because of thatstudent-centeredapproachtolearning.
He talksaboutthe strong enrollmentnumbersonbothcampuses,despitetougherenrollmentstandards
beingputintoplace.
As ourtime drawsto a close,Iask “whatdrew him toLincolnCollege?”Towhichhe immediately
responds,“Everything!IwasalreadyfamiliarwithLincolnCollege.Infact,Icoacheda women’s
basketball game atthe Lincolncampusback inthe 80s. WhenI begantalkingto(Trustee) JohnBlackburn
aboutthe visionforthe future,the innovate programsbeingoffered,itbecame cleartome that Lincoln
College wasexactlywhere Ishouldbe!"
And, like aman on a mission,he wasoff.Toinspire others.
NOTE: The Board of Trusteeshasretainedthe servicesof anational professional searchfirmtoassistin
the processof identifying Astroth's replacementduringthe 2010-11 academicyear.
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More about Astroth:
After earninga B.A. in Englishwith honors at SouthernMethodistUniversity(Dallas,TX) in 1973, he
continuedhis studiesat IllinoisState University,where he earned an M.S. (1977) and a Ph.D. (1981) in
educational administration.He played MinorLeague baseball for the Texas Rangers for four seasons.
Batting average: XXXX
Astroth is a memberofseveral regional,national and international organizations. For two years, he
chaired the Executive Committee ofthe AmericanCouncil for International/Intercultural Education
and has servedon the International Commissionofthe AmericanAssociationof Community Colleges.
He also is a memberof the International Advisory Committee ofthe IllinoisCommunityCollege Board
and has servedas secretary/treasurer,vice presidentand presidentofthe Presidents' Council of

3. Illinoispubliccommunitycolleges.Inaddition,he was a peerreviewerfor the Higher Learning
Commissionofthe North Central Association.