Dr. William M. Griffin | Facebook / College of Lake County
Dr. William M. Griffin | Facebook / College of Lake County
Dr. William M. Griffin, a longtime trustee of the College of Lake County (CLC), has been a strong advocate for the value of community colleges and an active proponent of citizen engagement.
A CLC graduate and professor at Triton College, where he serves as Chair of the Business Department, Griffin has been a CLC trustee for over 25 years and was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1995.
Before entering academia, Griffin served as a general manager at Commonwealth Edison, where he retired after more than three decades in the energy sector.
With his deep roots in both education and business, Griffin is a firm believer in the power of informed voting, especially in local elections, to shape the future of education.
"I’ve always said in Lake County that if you're unhappy with your local school boards, library boards, or whatever they may be, you can’t just sit back," Griffin told the Lake County Gazette. "You need to get involved and do something about it. If you’re dissatisfied with what the school board is doing or the taxes being charged, don’t sit on the sidelines—take action. Run for school board or county council."
His message highlights the importance of local governance and the impact these elections have on the daily lives of residents.
"We often focus on presidential elections, but we tend to overlook municipal races, and that’s wrong,” he said. “These local decisions directly affect our lives.”
Griffin is supporting Jan Gibson and Dawn Abernathy in the April 1 CLC trustee election. In endorsing the pair, he emphasized the importance of having diverse viewpoints when considering the future of higher education.
"It’s important to consider their beliefs and viewpoints, especially regarding the future of higher education with everything that’s happening in the field," he said.
Reflecting on his time as a board member and educator, Griffin noted how crucial it is for communities to have open, respectful debates.
He believes the current environment in academia is one of growing tolerance for differences of opinion.
"I believe the (higher education) environment now is becoming much more open," he said.
He sees voting as an essential act of civic responsibility, not only for shaping the future of higher education but for all aspects of local governance.
"Our job is to help students become productive citizens," Griffin said. "Whether as a professor or board member, I believe we should be teaching students critical thinking—showing both sides of an issue and allowing them to form their own opinions. Our job is not to tell them what to think. We need to respect their ability to make decisions."
Griffin said he's optimistic about the direction of the country and how that optimism will influence education.
"I feel really good about the direction we’re heading in this country,” he said. “For instance, I just watched the press conference with the Japanese Prime Minister and President Trump, where they announced a billion-dollar investment. This is healthy for business, education and society at large."
Having served in various roles throughout his career, Griffin is well-versed in the complexities of decision-making that affect both students and taxpayers.
"The guiding principle I follow in all my decisions is this: Is it the right thing to do for the students, and is it fair to the taxpayers?" he said.
As a trustee, he believes this principle guides all decisions about the future of education, ensuring the balance between serving students' needs and being responsible stewards of taxpayer funds.
As Griffin looks forward to the April election, he remains committed to the principle that CLC should remain a place for all.
"CLC is one of the jewels of Lake County," he said. "As both a citizen and a trustee, I want to ensure that it remains one of the best community colleges in the country, but we still have work to do."
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