Ian Sharping currently works as a Commissioner for the Illinois Court of Claims and as an Associate Professor of Legal Studies at Harper College. Ian earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Behavioral Science, his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso School of Law and his Master’s Degree in cybersecurity from Brown University. He began his professional career as a litigation attorney serving a variety of clients in various practice areas including low-income individuals as a part of the Public Defender’s Office of Lake County, Indiana, and large corporations as an insurance defense, private practice attorney, in Chicago. In 2012, he transitioned into higher education working in administration and teaching for the City Colleges of Chicago, the 5th largest community college district in the country. In his role as the District Manager of Accreditation and Compliance, he led the migration and consolidation efforts of career-focused programs in order to more efficiently and effectively deliver affordable, quality programs to CCC students. Ian is the former Chief Quality Officer for Instituto del Progreso Latino and as a member of the executive team there oversaw all business operations including legal, compliance, information technology, security, facilities, and finance. In 2022, he returning to teaching at the college level at South Suburban College. He will transition to Harper College in August 2025 where he will be the Department Coordinator and an Associate Professor for the Legal Studies Department.  

​

Ian is passionate about his advocacy work in higher education and service to his community. Currently, Ian provides pro bono legal services and mentoring through the: Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and Attorneys Giving Legal Assistance (AGiLA) legal clinic which partners with FALA Chicago where he is also the President of the Board of Directors. Ian is also the is the Tresurer/Secretary for the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), is a member of the Asian American Bar Association (AABA), and a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) and the Brown Club of Chicago. In 2022 he completed the Signature Fellows Program with Leadership Greater Chicago. Ian currently resides in Des Plaines, Illinois with his wife and three sons. Working just as hard at his family life as his professional life, he coaches he son’s volleyball team, assists with the baseball team, and volunteers with his entire family at the Centennial Lion’s Club once per month.