Lisa Stich has a passion for the community college mission, advocating for student access and success, and for organizational structures that promote dialogue and collaboration. She currently serves as Executive Dean, Estherville Campus for Iowa Lakes Community College, a rural multi-campus district in Iowa. In this cabinet level role, Lisa ensures academic vitality and leads operations for the residential campus. In previous positions, she has served as Vice President of Academics and Student Services, and as executive leadership for strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, institutional research, Foundation, Marketing, and Accreditation. Lisa began her career in higher education as a full-time faculty member.

Lisa has been active at national and local levels, and served as President of the Board of the National Council of Instructional Administrators, Director of the Board of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges, and member of the Michigan Community College Advisory Board for Student Success. Local examples include: inaugural board member of the Gateway to Success Charter Academy, executive board member of the local College Access Network, Cultural Economic Development, food bank board, and chamber ambassador.

Lisa holds a doctorate in education from Capella University, a master’s in health administration from Cardinal Stritch College, a bachelor’s in psychology from Ripon College, and another bachelor’s in health record administration from Emory University. She is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission, a past grant reviewer for the Department of Labor, and a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute of the League for Innovation.