Lake County Gazette

Longtime Lake Forest resident Jan Gibson is running for the College of Lake County (CLC) District #532 Board in the upcoming April 1 election. At 77, Gibson brings a wealth of experience in education, business and community activism, all of which she intends to leverage in her bid to shape the future of the college.

“I’ve always been passionate about education, and when I was asked to run for the board, I thought it would be a great opportunity,” Gibson, who has lived in Lake County for 30 years, told the Lake County Gazette. “My platform is focused on two main points: I want to ensure affordable, high-quality education for everyone attending, and I want to work with the board to ensure that no tax dollars are wasted.”

The seven-member Board of Trustees for the College of Lake County is elected from the local community, with a student representative serving a one-year advisory term. The board holds regular monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Grayslake Conference Center.

Gibson's yard sign. | Jan Gibson

For Gibson, the future of the College of Lake County is about accessibility, fiscal responsibility and fostering an environment of education that supports students of all ages. 

"I want to make sure students are getting the best possible education without being burdened by debt," Gibson said. "That’s why community colleges are so important."

Gibson is a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, recognizing the importance of managing CLC’s significant budget effectively. 

“The college has a large budget, and I want to ensure that money is spent wisely,” Gibson said. “It’s important that we focus on the long-term development of the college while keeping costs manageable for students and taxpayers alike.”

One of the key issues Gibson is passionate about is making higher education more affordable. 

“When I went to school, I attended undergrad, and at that time, the costs weren’t out of control,” she said. “I think college prices are out of control now. That’s why I believe community colleges are perfect for those first few years, where you’re taking basic classes anyway—like science, math, English, political science, and so on. Why not do it at a lower cost? I’m all in favor of that.”

Gibson, a former teacher and entrepreneur, has deep roots in the Lake County community. 

A native of Crystal City, Mo., Gibson moved to the Chicago area to pursue a career in education, teaching college prep English at Township High School District 214, the second-largest school district in Illinois, located in northern Cook County.

"I wanted to be a teacher since I was in sixth grade,” Gibson said “I taught high school college prep English in District 214, focusing on helping seniors write research papers. I also coached debate, which I loved because I think the best teachers teach critical thinking.”

After several years in education, Gibson transitioned into business, founding a company that provided training to school districts on the use of personal computers. “It was a very fulfilling time,” Gibson said. “I grew the company in three months to 50 employees with seven-figure revenues. I was lucky, but it worked out well.” 

She later sold the company and went on to serve as the general manager of the Genesee Theatre, where she helped improve operations and programming at the 2,400-seat regional venue. 

After returning from the Genesee Theatre she worked in the architecture department with Northbrook-based Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Gibson’s extensive background in education, business and community development has led Gibson to become deeply involved in Lake Forest’s civic life. 

Gibson has served on the Lake Forest Library Board where she helped secure a five-year plan and establish a new media lab and oversaw the restoration of library murals. 

She has also volunteered with the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, Women’s Republican Club and President of Friends of the Library where she served as president. 

Gibson’s candidacy reflects her belief in the importance of lifelong education. 

“I love the fact that community colleges provide students with an education for life, which is wonderful,” she said. “We need to create an environment where everyone can continue learning, regardless of age.”

One memorable moment from her campaign effort has been meeting a supporter who embodies this vision of lifelong learning. 

“The first person to sign my petition was an 85-year-old man who still takes drum lessons and plays in a band,” Gibson shared. “It was incredible to hear his story. It reminded me that education matters at every age. That’s what I want to foster at CLC—an environment where everyone can continue learning.”

Gibson herself is currently pursuing a master’s degree in historic preservation from Boston Architectural College, where she is in the midst of writing her thesis. “I’m enjoying the challenge,” Gibson said. “Though it’s been frustrating at times. I didn’t want to sit at home after COVID, so I decided to go back to school. I think lifelong learning is essential, and I understand the goals of people who return to school later in life.”

With six other candidates – Dawn Abernathy, Riaz Yusuff, Torrie Mark Newsome, Francine Zodda, Vaseem Iftekhar and Jesus Gerena – running for a position on the College of Lake County District #532 Board, Gibson is committed to engaging with the community. 

“I didn’t realize there would be seven candidates, so now I’m learning how to campaign,” she said.

Subsequently, Gibson has created business cards, yard signs and other materials to build awareness for her platform.