Leading the University of Illinois System Forward

The Search for Our Next President

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees is conducting a search for the next president of the University of Illinois System. The Board is committed to a process that is deliberate, inclusive, and grounded in the highest standards of integrity.

The System is one of the most consequential public university enterprises in the nation: three world-class universities, an academic health enterprise, and statewide reach through its many programs and services, with an annual economic impact of $24.9 billion touching every corner of Illinois.

This is a pivotal moment. The next president will inherit a foundation of extraordinary excellence and strength and a mission that shapes lives, drives discovery, and fuels the future of our state.

Search Committee

Committee members represent trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters across all three universities.

Ramón Cepeda

member of the Board of Trustees; alumnus, Chicago. co-chair of the Search Committee

Ann Yeung

College of Fine and Applied Arts, School of Music; professor and strings area chair; served on the Promotion and Tenure Committees, Budget and Oversight Committee, and Task Force on Evaluating Teaching Effectiveness; served as School of Music string quartet search committee chair; serves on the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Campus Research Board, and on the American Harp Society’s Executive Director search committee; co-chair of the search committee

Liz Aquino

College of Nursing, clinical associate professor of biobehavioral nursing science and associate dean for academic affairs.; served on search committees for Title IX and EEO investigator in the Office for Access and Equity; appointed to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice; former chair of the American Nurses Association nominations and Elections Committee; former president of the American Nurses Association of Illinois

Robert Barish

vice chancellor for health affairs, Chicago

Gabi DalSanto

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, junior in natural resources and environmental sciences; served as president, Illinois Student Council; serves as vice president and action co-coordinator, Students for Environmental Concerns

Sandra De Groote

University Library, professor and head of scholarly communications; served on search committees for vice chancellor for research, vice chancellor for administrative services, vice chancellor for academic affairs/provost, and chancellor/vice president; served on Campus Promotions and Tenure Committee and Library Executive Committee; currently serves in the University of Illinois Chicago Senate, Senate Executive Committee, and chair of the University Senates Conference

William D. Forsyth

('86 BUS), finance; co-founder and partner, Frontier One LLC; served as chair, University of Illinois Alumni Association; serves as governing director and advisory member, Investment Policy Committee, University of Illinois Foundation.

Janet Gooch

chancellor, University of Illinois Springfield, and vice president, University of Illinois System

Joseph Gutman

member of the Board of Trustees; alumnus, Urbana

Tenea Harris

University of Illinois System Office of Procurement Services, supplier diversity manager; works with small and diverse businesses as part of the Business Enterprise Program; served on multiple search committees and qualifications-based selection panels; previous roles in government relations and student affairs

Ashley Huang

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; senior in neuroscience, with minors in nutrition and finance, pre-med track in the Graduate Professional Program Admissions BS/MD Program; served on the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), representative to the Campus Life Committee and Mental Health Commission, public affairs director, and chief of staff

Devin Hunter

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; associate professor and chair, Department of History; served on the UIS 50th Anniversary Planning Committee, Sangamon Experience Campus Advisory Committee, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Executive Committee, CLASS Personnel Committee (co-chair), and Senate Committee on Diversity, Equal Rights, Opportunity, and Access (co-chair); served on 10 search committees at UIS, including associate vice chancellor/vice provost for enrollment and retention, and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences as search committee chair; serves on the University of Illinois Springfield Senate Graduate Council

Joseph Irudayaraj

The Grainger College of Engineering, Founder Professor of Bioengineering and associate director of shared resources for the Cancer Center of Illinois; served on the Graduate College Committee, Dean's Advisory Committee, and Faculty Affairs Committee; currently serves on the Named Professorship Committee

Stephen Maren

director of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, professor of psychology; affiliate of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology; alumnus, Urbana

Mary Maryland

('94 PhD nursing); primary care provider, WellBe Senior Medical; serves as president-elect, UIC Alumni Board and founding member, Alumni Loyalty and Benefits Committee, and Alumni Advocacy Committee; served on College of Nursing Alumni Board, Campus Alumni Advisory Board, Alumni Engagement Advisors, Alumni Alliance Board, and Black Alumni Advisory Board

Suzet M. McKinney

member of the Board of Trustees; alumna, Chicago

Kouros Mohammadian

College of Engineering, Distinguished Professor of Transportation Engineering and head, Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering; served on the University of Illinois Chicago Senate, Senate Executive Committee (vice chair), and University Senates Conference; served on search committees for the director of government relations, vice chancellor for academic affairs/provost, and chancellor/vice president; serves on the board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Mitch Olenick

College of Business and Management, graduate student, master of business administration; varsity athlete in men's soccer; served on Student Athlete Advisory Committee; involved with search for men's soccer head coach; serves as graduate assistant in Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Office of Marketing; alumnus, Springfield

Donovan Pepper

('94 political studies,'96 MA political studies); principal and director of National Strategic Partnerships, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies; served as chair of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee; chair of the Civic Federation, chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Business Council, chair of the Oak Park Citizens' Police Oversight Commission

Matt Spindler

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Illinois Extension, evaluation specialist, served on search committees for dean, associate dean, and faculty at previous institutions

Megan Styles

College of Health, Science, and Technology (CHST), associate professor, chair and program lead of environmental studies in the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability, and Public Health; served on CHST Personnel Committee, UIS Strategic Compass Steering Committee, and University of Illinois System Strategic Planning Committee; served on nine search committees, including vice chancellor for student affairs, director of the UIS Student Union, and as search committee chair for graduate program coordinator; serves as the UIS faculty lead for Brasillinois, and member of the University of Illinois System delegation to Brazil

Cedric D. Thurman

('87 BUS), finance; executive vice president for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago; serves as chair of the Board of Directors of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, and member of the Gies College of Business Dean’s Council and Board of Directors of Leadership Greater Chicago

Joshua H. Whitman

Director, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Urbana

Search Staff

Jami Painter

Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Scott E. Rice

University Counsel

Dr. Jeffrey A. Stein

Secretary of the Board of Trustees

Search Timeline

Feb – March 2026

Search announced; search firm selected by Board of Trustees

April 2026

Search committee announced; co-chairs designated

May – June 2026

Listening sessions and stakeholder engagement; leadership profile and prospectus development

July – August 2026

Prospectus finalized and active search launches

Executive Search Partner

Based in Washington, D.C, AGB Search will lead the search, supporting the Board and search committee through all facets of the process.

Contact AGB Search

FAQs

What are the Board's guiding principles for this search?

The Board is committed to a search process grounded in integrity, inclusivity and broad engagement, process-transparency through proactive communication, and thoughtful deliberation and planning. While the process itself will be transparent so stakeholders feel informed, included, and confident in the direction of the search, the search will appropriately maintain confidentiality to protect candidates and support a strong and competitive pool.

How were search committee members selected?

The Board sought to assemble a committee that reflects the breadth of the University of Illinois System. Members were identified through consultation with shared governance bodies, campus leadership, and system stakeholders to ensure meaningful representation of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community perspectives.

What is the search committee's role?

The search committee will:

Provide broad insight into the System's needs and aspirations
Help shape the position profile and desired leadership attributes
Assist with screening and identifying potential candidates
Advise the Board, which retains full authority and responsibility for selecting the next president

How will the Board ensure the search is inclusive and managed with a high level of integrity?

Inclusivity and integrity will be built into the process through:

A search committee made up of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners
Engagement of an experienced executive search firm to guide the process in alignment with national best practices
Search criteria that reflect the values, priorities, and needs of the entire U of I System
A process that balances transparency with appropriate confidentiality to protect candidates and support attracting a strong pool

Who is the executive search firm, and what is their role?

AGB has been engaged to support the Board and search committee throughout the process. The firm will assist with candidate identification and recruitment, preliminary screening, logistics, and ensuring the search reflects national best practices for presidential-level higher education searches.

Will the search be national or international in scope?

Yes. This will be a comprehensive national and international search to attract the strongest and most competitive pool of candidates. The Board and search firm will recruit broadly to identify leaders whose experience, vision, and values align with the University of Illinois System's mission and long-term priorities.

What is the expected timeline?

Feb - March 2026: Search announced; search firm selected by Board of Trustees
April 2026: Search committee announced; co-chairs designated
May – June 2026: Listening sessions and stakeholder engagement; leadership profile and prospectus development
July – August 2026: Prospectus finalized and active search launches

This timeline offers predictability while allowing flexibility to ensure the search is completed thoroughly.

How will the Board manage transparency while protecting confidentiality?

The Board will communicate clearly about the process, milestones, and timeline, but will maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding candidate identities, interviews, and internal deliberations. Stakeholders will receive updates at key milestones, and this website will be updated regularly as the process advances. Balancing transparency and confidentiality is critical to attracting the strongest pool of candidates.

Will there be opportunities for stakeholder input?

Yes. Planned engagement may include listening sessions with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors, as well as updates shared across campuses and system offices and search committee engagement with key constituencies. Stakeholder input will be meaningfully incorporated through the development of the position profile and throughout the search process. Because this search will be conducted on a confidential basis to attract the strongest possible candidates, there will not be public forums with finalists.

What qualities is the Board seeking in the next president?

The search committee and the search process will yield a leadership profile that reflects what is best for the University of Illinois System, its mission, and its priorities. The Board will thoughtfully consider the future of higher education and what it will take to strengthen our excellence and expand our impact in a rapidly changing academic and economic landscape.

Contact Info

We value your participation. Submit your questions. Share your input.

Public Notices

Official meeting notices and agendas for the Presidential Search Committee.

May 21, 2026