George L. Speros, Director of Public Relations
Educated in the United States and in Spain, George L. Speros arrived at Lake Forest College in 1963 to teach Spanish, "to help make the College international," and to chair the Department of Foreign Languages. In 1979, he was appointed Associate Dean of the Faculty and Director of International Studies, adding the title of Associate Provost in 1995, positions he held until his retirement on June 1, 2009, when he became associate provost, dean, and professor emeritus. He and his wife, Ingrid, were named honorary alumni of the College at Homecoming in the fall of 2007, shortly before her death. Among Professor Speros's numerous other honors and awards over the past 45 years, he was decorated Knight of Civil Merit of Spain in 1968 for his dedication to the dissemination of Spanish culture in the United States and abroad. Since joining Lake Forest Symphony in June of 2009, Speros has concentrated on building donor support for the classical concert season as well as planning for the Symphony's future. Speros observed, "Music is my second passion, the first being international education, but they do go hand in hand, don't they? Having the opportunity to work with Lake Forest Symphony, a cultural gem I have admired for nearly fifty years, is both an honor and a challenge, especially in these difficult economic times. Investment in this professional orchestra, the only one in Lake County, pays immeasurable cultural dividends, not only for subscribers but also for area youth who otherwise might not have occasion to hear classical music."