Dr. Robin
Shaffer Lilienthal

Robin Shaffer Lilienthal, Ph.D. is the provost of Marshalltown Community College (MCC).  Dr. Lilienthal is the MCC campus chief executive officer and oversees its satellite campus, Iowa Valley Grinnell.   Dr. Lilienthal became the founding dean of Iowa Valley Grinnell in 2000 and moved to the provost role in 2010. In her 23-year service to Iowa Valley Community College District, she has focused on the diverse needs of students, faculty, and staff through leadership experience in academic affairs, student affairs, enrollment and retention, distance learning, branch campus administration, financial aid, advising, student life, residence life, library, learning services, athletics, bookstore, and continuing education.

Dr. Lilienthal is an IVCCD executive leader playing a central role in facilitating and executing mission and strategic planning activities, enrollment and student success initiatives, financial management decisions, construction projects, and Iowa Department of Education and Higher Learning Commission accreditation reports.  Dr. Lilienthal promotes collaboration efforts across the district and between the college and community school districts, businesses, and non-profit agencies and serves on various community boards.

Prior to joining Iowa Valley, Dr. Lilienthal held a variety of student affairs positions including advising and admissions at Des Moines Area Community College; student life and residence life at St. Ambrose University; and student life, admissions, and orientation at Iowa State University.  She earned a B.A. in Journalism-Advertising in 1985, an M.S. in Higher Education in 1994, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in 2009 from Iowa State University

Dr. Lilienthal has focused her leadership on developing new academic and student engagement/athletic programs to drive enrollment and address workforce needs; creating efficiencies to improve the student experience through one-stop student services: meeting the diverse needs of students and their families; improving campus academic and housing facilities to enhance learning success; improving the employee experience through communication feedback loops, streamlining processes, and expanding professional development; and leading student outcomes assessment improvements.  She is also a trained peer reviewer with the Higher Learning Commission providing feedback and recommending reaccreditation decisions for member colleges and universities to the governing body.

Dr. Lilienthal’s family includes her husband, Jerry who is a beef, corn, and soybean farmer; and her adult children Jonah and Lucy. She is a fourth-generation agricultural and rural Iowan who takes pride in helping rural communities thrive.

Candidate Details

Dr. Robin Shaffer Lilienthal Resume

Interview and Feedback Information

• Watch the MCC Open Forum Here (September 11, 10:45 am)
• Watch the ECC Open Forum Here (September 12, 9:15 am)
• Candidate Feedback Form - available until September 13, 12:00 pm CST