In February, I was honored to be appointed as Illinois State University’s interim president. I thank the Board of Trustees for their confidence in me, and I look forward to working with the Board, my vice presidential colleagues, the administrative leadership team, and our faculty, staff, and students to continue making Illinois State University “the grandest of enterprises.”
Appears InWhen I came to campus as provost in 2020, I realized how fortunate I was to be at a university with such a strong commitment to academic excellence, student success, and civic engagement, among many other strengths. Over the years, that impression has been validated many times over, as I have come to discover the many ways in which Illinois State is such a special institution.
Illinois State is on a solid foundation. Our enrollment is consistently strong, our faculty are devoted to excellence in teaching and research, our staff are committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive campus community, and our students are engaged learners and active community members.
In this edition of State, you’ll read about how Illinois State’s mission is brought to life.
The commitment to international engagement is visible in the work of the Office of International Engagement, in our College of Business’ international business program in Panama City, and in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts partnerships in China. The University values opportunities to diversify our campus through global partnerships.
A glimpse into the Office of Sustainability’s Share Shop and Fix it Friday service demonstrates our values in action. Illinois State students are learning sustainable consumer practices, while the office’s student staff is gaining valuable experience in operating these spaces.
Illinois State’s highly regarded Deaf education program is preparing the next generation of educators to meet a critical need by ensuring education is accessible to all. This program within our College of Education is yet one more example of how Illinois State lives up to its reputation as the “teacher of teachers.”
It’s remarkable to see what we have already done, and this work continues. A steering committee composed of diverse leaders from across campus is currently working on our next strategic plan.
We continue to invest strategically and aggressively in our future. This includes the College of Engineering, our nursing education efforts in Springfield, and new programs under development in data science. We are updating our facilities, including the Center for the Visual Arts renovation, a new housing complex, and a nursing simulation building. Our investments and efforts in equity, diversity, and inclusion are continuing to yield positive results.
The future is bright at Illinois State, and that future includes you. Thank you for joining us on the journey.
