Dr. Linwood B. Whitten named Lake Michigan College Vice President, Student Affairs

Lake Michigan College has appointed Dr. Linwood B. Whitten as its new Vice President, Student Affairs.  

Whitten brings nearly two decades of experience, having served in leadership positions at New York College, Alabama State University, and Cleveland State University. 

As Vice President, Student Affairs, Whitten oversees LMC's admissions and recruiting, advising, records and registration, student life, residence life, financial aid, student support services, campus safety and security, athletics, upward bound, educational opportunity center, and start-to-finish program.  

"We are pleased to welcome Linwood to the LMC Family," LMC President Dr. Trevor A. Kubatzke said. "He brings the experience needed to succeed in this key leadership role. He is a staunch student advocate and a champion for community engagement and workforce development." 

Whitten, who recently moved to Stevensville, has a varied background in admissions and recruitment, student affairs, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Before joining LMC, he served as the inaugural Assistant Vice President for Campus Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cleveland State University. He led student conduct, Title IX, institutional equity, student affairs, counseling services, health and wellness, veteran affairs, career services, housing, international students and scholars, and student leadership and engagement.   

Whitten previously served as Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and Director of Diversity and International Affairs/Title IX Coordinator at Alabama State University. He was Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Student Engagement at New York College, Senior Enrollment and Recruitment Specialist at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, and Immigration Partner/Senior Human Resources Consultant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

"I am a student advocate. I believe it's important to create a holistic student experience where students can develop and transition to the workforce or a four-year institution," Whitten said. "That includes ensuring students receive the services they need to succeed and that we, as an institution, are creating a welcoming environment for all students. It means supporting the faculty and staff who report to me to help them provide services to our students and understand their potential as professionals. As Vice President, Student Affairs you are not just managing people, you are here to serve everyone – faculty, staff and students – and I consider myself a servant leader." 

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, to a U.S. Navy family, Whitten calls himself "a global citizen." He attended high school in Birmingham, Alabama, and earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in Huntsville, Alabama. He holds a master's degree in higher education and student affairs from Arkansas State University and earned his doctorate in chiropractic health sciences from Life University. 

Whitten considers himself to be a life learner and has traveled to more than 40 countries and five continents. 

His commitment to service extends outside of campus as well. He is a member of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., and a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He has been a torchbearer for the Special Olympics World Games and a member of the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force. He has served on the boards of Lions Club International, Medical Advocacy Outreach, Alabama Coalition Against Rape, Friends of the Theatre, and Youth of Incarcerated Parents United. 

"Wherever I work, I like to live," Whitten said. "It's important for me to give back and serve." 

To learn more about becoming a student at Lake Michigan College, please visit lakemichigancollege.edu/admissions, email admissions@lakemichigancollege.edu, or call 269-927-8626.