Speeches and statements
Introduction of Richard Herman as Chancellor of UrbanaPresident B. Joseph White I am pleased this morning to announce that I have recommended to the Board of Trustees the appointment of Dr. Richard Herman as the next Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Board has enthusiastically accepted this recommendation and will act on it at its next meeting on May 19. Dr. Herman is accompanied this morning by his wife, Susan. My wife, Mary, and I have the privilege of being the first to publicly congratulate Richard — and Susan, because they are a great team — on this appointment. Please join me in congratulating them. Also with us this morning is Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Larry Eppley, and the Chair of the (Chancellor) Search Advisory Committee, Professor James Anderson. Richard Herman won the chancellor appointment in an energetic and thorough search that produced a strong field of candidates from across the nation and a superb group of finalists from top American universities. This is a reflection on both the eminence of the University of Illinois and the excellent job done by Professor Anderson and the members of the search advisory committee, and by the search consultant, Mr. Bill Funk of Korn/Ferry International. Dr. Herman is no stranger to our community. Since he joined UIUC in 1998, he has served with distinction as provost and chief academic officer and as interim chancellor since June 2004. I think that is a great compliment to him and his leadership that having seen him “up close and personal” for an extended period of time so many member of our community spoke up strongly on behalf of his candidacy. Indeed, I heard personally from the university’s distinguished scientists and engineers, from leaders in the arts, from faculty and staff members of underrepresented minority groups and from citizens of Champaign-Urbana, all stating that Richard Herman has been and should continue to be an excellent leader of our university. There is no question that with the opportunities and challenges that lie before us at the University of Illinois, we need a period of sustained, committed, high-aspiration leadership of this campus. I am confident Dr. Herman will provide it. As I told Richard yesterday, I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead to achieve great things for the University of Illinois. Now, it is my great pleasure to introduce the next chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Herman earned his Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Maryland. He spent much of his career as a professor of mathematics at the Pennsylvania State University, including serving as chair of the mathematics department. He was dean of the college of computer, mathematical and physical sciences at the University of Maryland before he came to the University of Illinois, where he has served as provost and, most recently, interim chancellor. Richard is a national leader on higher education and science policy issues. He and his wife, Susan, have earned our respect and affection through their high commitment to our academic and civic community in all its dimensions. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Richard Herman on this very special morning. |
