John N. Popoli (ex officio)
President and CEO, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Mr. Popoli was appointed the fourth president of Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in June 2001. Since his appointment, he has led the School using an integrated strategic plan based on creating exceptional end-to-end customer/constituent experiences.
Consistent with the School’s strategy to increase visibility and provide educational excellence, the Graduate School opened a new main campus and headquarters in Lake Forest in the fall of 2004. Under his leadership the growth of the School’s (national) award-winning Lake Forest Corporate Education business leadership programs and the adoption of philanthropy as part of the School’s business model have been established as strategic initiatives to advance the School’s mission.
Mr. Popoli joined LFGSM as V.P. and Academic Dean in 1994 and in 1999 was named EVP & Dean, Degree Programs. In these roles he developed the Leadership Learning value proposition and educational philosophy, directed the launch of the international and healthcare specializations, and enhanced faculty relationships and mentoring. He initiated numerous academic quality improvements, notably curriculum benchmarking and mapping and the use of faculty curriculum councils. He also expanded the School’s approach to new student enrollment through business-to-business recruiting strategies and full program delivery at customer sites.
Prior to joining the Graduate School, Mr. Popoli had 22 years of business experience with Moore Business Forms and Systems Division, holding a variety of key staff and line positions in sales and management. He provided sales/program marketing support for over one hundred of the company’s major accounts; was responsible for identifying, developing and delivering performance-driven, competency-based, national education programs; and spearheaded the introduction of company-wide quality education programs and the implementation of best practices and customer-focused process improvement programs.
In addition to his commitments at the Graduate School, Mr. Popoli serves on the Board of Trustees of Lake Forest College, is a volunteer in Menttium 100 (a high-potential employee mentoring program), and serves on the Board of the Providence College Alumni Club of Chicago. He previously served as an officer of the Lake County Community Health Partnership. He is a member of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Rotary Club and the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities.
M.A., Communications, William Paterson College, Wayne, New Jersey
M.A., Teaching, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey
B.A., Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island
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