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“Kevin demonstrates a broad command of the issues facing higher education. He is a highly strategic thinker and a strong communicator who impressed the entire campus community with his candidacy. Kevin will serve as an excellent partner to the President and the entire leadership team in charting a successful future path for Lake Forest College,” President Jill M. Baren said. She announced Howley’s appointment in an email on May 31, 2024.

At the College,  Howley will oversee all business affairs, serve as Treasurer of the College, manage facilities, accounting, budget, business services, human resources, and student financial services. In addition, he will serve as a strategic advisor to the President, the senior leadership team and the Board of Trustees providing key input and leadership on administrative, financial, and operational matters that promote the mission and goals of the College. He will also develop state-of-the-art procedures for multi-year financial forecasting and budget planning.

Howley brings to Lake Forest College a broad and diverse background in financial business affairs, including serving as president of a transition management practice for the past 20 years where he had an impact on many organizations in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Clients served ranged from manufacturing companies to private schools, performing arts venues, regional community centers, and health services providers. His background also includes serving as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a billion-dollar publicly traded company as well as serving in that same role in entrepreneurial environments and medium-sized companies. As CFO for a Native American tribe, he managed governmental and legacy restricted funding sources and provided leadership in new business development efforts and fiscal affairs for the Tribe.

Howley also brings to the College experience in higher education. He was a member of the Board of Trustees and served on the investment, finance, and development committees at Kalamazoo College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics. He has been active with his alma mater’s admissions office since graduation and has served as an adjunct professor in the business department. Howley earned his master’s in public policy in international trade from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and his master’s in business administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

“I’m excited to be at an institution that is laser-focused on making a difference in the lives of its students. While its national ranking among liberal arts colleges is impressive, the College is among the very best in the country at helping students overcome obstacles that might otherwise hold them back from achieving their full potential. Lake Forest College isn’t just changing the lives of its students. The College is changing the trajectory of families for generations to come. That’s a mission I want to be a part of,” Howley said.