Dr. Lakes is Director in the Office of Student Success & Transition, where he and his team coordinate initiatives aimed at increasing student academic engagement, achievement, and sense of belonging on campus.

Dr. Lakes graduated from Berea College with a B.A. in Music Education in 1998, after which he attended school at the University of Tennessee where he graduated in 2001 with a M.S. in College Student Personnel. He received his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Kentucky in 2020. His professional and research interests include student development theory in practice, supporting students experiencing emotional distress, metacognition, resilience, and establishing structures and systems focused on student success. He has been a Lecturer in General Studies at Berea College, and a presenter at national, regional, and state conferences across the country for organizations including the National Academic Advising Association, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, American College Personnel Association, National College Attainment Network, Rural Access Summit, and others.

When not at work you can usually find Dr. Lakes hiking along some of Berea's many beautiful trails with his faithful dog Bojo.