President's Office
Rich traditions and historic events have helped shape Lewis and Clark as a premier institution of higher education, and we continue to pay homage to our unique history.
Our beautiful campus was once home to Monticello College, an institution established in 1838 and focused on providing educational opportunities for underserved people in the region. We have taken great pride in preserving not only the buildings, but also the grounds that once echoed the thoughts and rhetoric of great educators who have helped strengthen education in this region.
This connection to our past fosters an appreciation for the historic figures who made meaningful contributions to higher education in our region such as Captain Benjamin Godfrey, Monticello Principals Harriet Haskell and Philena Fobes, Architect Theodore Link, Artist Frederick Lincoln Stoddard and Philanthropist William H. Reid.
What all these historic figures shared was a vision for what our region could become through higher education. Today we continue to celebrate the achievements of these great historic figures and their boundless aspirations and expectations for our region, which we carry on by preserving Monticello College facilities and adapting them for the noble missions and aspirations of Lewis and Clark.
Dr. Ken Trzaska, President of Lewis and Clark Community College
Dr. Ken Trzaska took office as the sixth president of Lewis and Clark Community College on September 21, 2020. In addition to his role at L&C, he serves as president of the Community College Council of Presidents and co-chair of the System Council of Presidents. He has been recognized with several awards, including a Man of Distinction in 2019 and in April 2020 as Liberal Area Coalition for Families’ Community Champion in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Trzaska is an Eagle Scout and he received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America in 2018 for inclusive leadership and support of the local council. Other awards include Michigan’s annual Governor’s Connect award in 2014 for his work as co-founder of an Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Development. Trzaska earned a Doctor of Education in Education Policy and Organization Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His master’s degree is in English from the College of St. Rose, and he earned an Institute for Educational Management (IEM) Certification from Harvard University’s College of Education and Harvard Program for College Presidents. Trzaska also has a Bachelor of Science in English from the State University of New York College at Brockport. He comes to Lewis and Clark from Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas, where he has served as president since 2015 and brings over 23 years of experience serving in executive leadership and faculty roles at small, medium and large colleges and universities in urban, suburban and rural communities.
Lewis and Clark Community College's rich history and years of growth have been supported by many people within the school and the community, but it is our past leaders that have been a guiding force in striving to forge an institution that empowers people to attain their goals. Learn more about our past leaders.