Current Position and Past Experience
Andrea Lehmacher is the Chief Marketing Officer at Oakton College, where she leads institutional marketing and communications initiatives focused on enrollment growth, brand development, digital engagement, and student success. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education admissions, recruitment, marketing, and communications, she has held several leadership positions, including Director of Marketing at Oakton College, Senior Director of Marketing Strategy at Elgin Community College, Director of Marketing and Creative Services at Joliet Junior College, and Director of Marketing at the University of St. Francis. She also held admissions and electronic recruitment leadership roles at Robert Morris University and served as an adjunct faculty member at National Louis University.
In addition, she has contributed to higher education leadership and professional development through service with organizations including the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR), and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Her work emphasizes strategic marketing, institutional effectiveness, collaborative leadership, and expanding equitable opportunities for students and communities.
Education, Honors, and Achievements
Andrea Lehmacher holds an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice from the College of DuPage, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications and a Master of Arts in Communications and Training from Governors State University, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education and Organizational Change from Benedictine University. Her doctoral research in enrollment management informs her strategic approach to institutional growth and student success.
Throughout her career, she has led teams whose marketing and communications work has earned more than 70 awards. She was also named NCMPR’s Communicator of the Year for District 3. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is committed to mentoring students and emerging leaders through teaching and service on dissertation committees, with a focus on strengthening institutions and the communities they serve.
