[2] Lane began his career in higher education in Boston at Northeastern University's College of Administration as an assistant professor.

[5] After Berry College, Lane moved to Pennsylvania to become Mansfield University's provost and academic affairs vice president for four years.

Then from 2005 to 2006, Lane served as the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith provost and the academic affairs vice chancellor.

[6] Lane began his five-year career as Emporia State University's fifteenth president, on November 1, 2006.

During his tenure at Emporia State, Lane oversaw the largest renovation project, on campus, of the Memorial Union.