Gabe Lara

Dr. Gabe Lara joined Dominican University in January 2024 as the Associate Vice President of Student Success & Engagement, serving as the primary Student Affairs Officer at the River Forest campus.

Before his role at Dominican, Gabe served as the Dean of Student Affairs at the College of Lake County, where he championed student engagement and support initiatives. His previous positions include Associate Dean of Students at Harper College, and Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs and Director of Hispanic Latinx Affairs at the University of Florida. Gabe also directed the Casa Latina Cultural Center at Western Illinois University, fostering a vibrant community for Latinx students.

With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Gabe's transition from human resources to student affairs has sharpened his organizational leadership skills. He is committed to fostering team effectiveness and promoting innovative, socially just approaches in higher education.

Gabe lives in the northwest suburbs with his wife Betty, and their three children; Jaslene, Viviana, and Diego.