Lake Land Board Terminates Dean of Enrollment and Student Success

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Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | May 11, 2026

Article Summary: Following closed session, trustees voted unanimously to terminate the employment of Jamie Corda-Hadjaoui, Dean of Enrollment and Student Success, effective May 11, 2026. The public record gives no reason for the action.

Personnel Action Key Points:

  • The termination was approved 7-0 on the administration’s recommendation, effective the same day as the meeting.
  • The board also approved a human resources report that includes the appointment of a new full-time, tenure-track Ag Power Technology instructor effective Aug. 21, 2026.
  • Closed session was held under the Open Meetings Act exceptions for personnel matters and collective negotiating matters; no formal action can be taken in closed session.

MATTOON — The Lake Land College Board of Trustees on Monday, May 11, 2026, voted to terminate the employment of Jamie Corda-Hadjaoui, the college’s Dean of Enrollment and Student Success, effective that day.

The action followed a closed session called under Section 120(c)(1) and (2) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, performance, discipline or dismissal of specific employees and to discuss collective negotiating matters. No formal action can be taken in closed session; the vote occurred after the board returned to open session and conducted a roll call, with attendance unchanged.

Trustee Gary Cadwell moved to approve the administration’s recommendation to terminate, seconded by Trustee Doris Reynolds. The motion carried 7-0, with Student Trustee Wyatt Draper absent. The minutes record no discussion in open session and give no reason for the termination.

The board then approved the human resources report as presented, on a motion by Vice Chair Denise Walk seconded by Trustee Chuck Deters, also 7-0. According to the minutes, the closed-session discussion on that report related only to the granting of general leave without pay requests for two employees with the Department of Corrections and the appointment of a new full-time, tenure-track faculty member. The report identifies that appointment as Alex Kaufmann, Ag Power Technology Instructor, effective Aug. 21, 2026.

The written report also documents routine personnel activity, including part-time and full-time hires, resignations — among them three full-time correctional program instructors departing in April — and the transfer of John Hendrix from assistant softball coach to Director of Fitness Center and Head Softball Coach effective May 12, 2026.

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