After graduation from SEMO, Dr. Lane obtained a Master of Arts in political science and government and a Doctor of Philosophy from Pennsylvania State University. He later held senior leadership positions at the State University of New York (SUNY), including vice provost of the SUNY System, deputy director of the Rockefeller Institute of Government and dean of the School of Education at SUNY Albany. He also served as the dean of the College of Education, Health and Society at Miami University.

During his time at SUNY, Dr. Lane founded SUNY’s Academic and Innovative Leadership (SAIL) Institute and has led leadership programs for the American Council on Education, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the National Association of Higher Education Systems. 

Dr. Lane is nationally recognized for his leadership and has served as president of the National Association of Higher Education Systems, as well as chair of the Board of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

Dr. Lane has published over 100 academic papers and 14 books. His numerous accolades include the Fulbright New Century Scholar Award and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to International education research from the Association for the Study of Higher Education for his work with international organizations like OECD and UNESCO.

Dr. Lane is currently a special advisor to the president of the University of Illinois System and a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also currently directs the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance and is co-director of the Cross-Border Education Research team. His work has been featured in several publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR. Dr. Lane is proud to have educated hundreds of individuals, including many current college presidents.

While at Southeast, Dr. Lane served two terms as the president of student government, chaired the Emerging Leaders programs, and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. 

“Southeast allowed me to explore things that I had passion for and led me to a career that wasn’t even on my radar when I went to college. I was able to figure out what the right fit was for me, all within an amazingly supportive environment,” said Lane. “That’s a hallmark of this institution. It has a long-standing focus on the success of its students, preparing them for their future.”

He currently resides in West Chester, Ohio, with his wife Kari and three children, Emerson, Jackson, and Avery.