About the Speaker

Dr. Lorenzo DuBois Baber is Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Education, Organization, Policy and Leadership in the College of Education. He also is the Executive Director for the Office of Community College Research and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Baber's scholarly interest broadly examine equity and social justice in post-secondary education. His research foci include leadership within community college contexts; experiences of minoritized students in post-secondary STEM education; and use of critical theory to inform higher education policies and practices.

Dr. Baber is past president of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC), the largest scholarly organization dedicated to research on community colleges. He has also served as a member of the State of Illinois Equity Plan Advisory Committee for the Illinois Community College Board, a member of the Community College Baccalaureate Advisory Committee for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, and a lead consultant on the Transfer Equity Working Group for the Illinois Deputy Governor for Education. 

Dr. Baber holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy Studies (with an emphasis in Higher Education and cognate in Sociology) from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to rejoining faculty at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, he held tenure-line faculty appointments at Loyola University Chicago and Iowa State University. Dr. Baber has professional experience as a mid-level administrator in Undergraduate Admissions, Multicultural Affairs, and Residence Life. He proudly hails from Greensboro, North Carolina.

2025 Lecture

From the Margins to the Core: The ‘Janusian’ Role of Community Colleges in Public Higher Education 

Community colleges have long been celebrated as gateways to higher education, offering unparalleled access to diverse student populations, including first-generation college, those from low-resource rural and urban areas, underrepresented students of color, and individuals across the neurodivergent spectrum. However, while access remains a cornerstone of their mission, the imperative to ensure student success—measured by completion, transfer, and equitable outcomes—has never been more critical. This keynote explores the evolution of community colleges from institutions of open access for individuals to engines of community-anchored success, addressing the systemic challenges that often hinder student progression.

Drawing on historical context, policy analysis, and contemporary research, the talk highlights the tension between workforce-driven agendas and the democratic ideals of community colleges. Dr. Baber will examine the role of institutional practices, such as culturally responsive pedagogy, faculty engagement, and equity-centered leadership, in fostering environments where all students can thrive. The discussion also critiques the limitations of pluralistic diversity frameworks and advocates for transformative approaches that prioritize holistic student development.

Ultimately, the keynote calls for a "Janusian" vision—one that balances economic and democratic missions—to redefine success for community colleges. By dismantling structural barriers and amplifying localized outcomes, institutions can move beyond access to ensure meaningful and equitable outcomes for every learner from every community.