Jill M. Baren Will Be the First Woman President of Lake Forest College in Illinois

Jill M. Baren has been selected as the fourteenth president of Lake Forest College in Illinois. When she takes office in July, Dr. Baren will be the first woman to lead the college in its 165-year history.

“The unique brand that Lake Forest College has created, with its marriage of a strong liberal arts tradition and exceptional career preparation, positions the college as a leader in higher education,” Dr. Baren said. “This fresh and modern approach to a rigorous liberal arts education resonates strongly with me and made the position at Lake Forest College a very appealing opportunity. Recent investments in state-of-the-art academic buildings and athletic facilities and the recruitment of the largest incoming freshman class in history are clear indications of growth and desirability. They serve as a wonderful platform on which to advance the mission of Lake Forest College.”

Lake Forest College enrolls about 1,600 students. Women make up 59 percent of the student body, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Baren currently serves as provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Earlier, she taught at the University of California, Los Angeles, Yale University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Baren is a graduate of Brown University n Providence, Rhode Island, where she studied biochemistry. She earned a medical doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh. Later, Dr. Baren earned a master’s degree in medical ethics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.