Dean of the School of Labor and Employment Relations announcement
July 9, 2026 1:01 PM

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Simon Restubog has been selected to serve as the next dean of the School of Labor and Employment Relations, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. His appointment will begin August 1. 

After a competitive national search, Professor Restubog was chosen to lead the school based on his steady, collaborative leadership, a deep commitment to the School of Labor and Employment Relations, and his strong record of success in advancing a number of the school’s strategic priorities during his service as interim dean, a position he has held since July 2024. 

Professor Restubog has been a professor in the school since 2018 and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Psychology. Prior to joining Illinois, he held academic positions at the Australian National University College of Business and Economics, the University of New South Wales Australian School of Business, and the University of Queensland McElwain School of Psychology and UQ Business School. 

Under his leadership as interim dean, Professor Restubog has led several initiatives that have strengthened the school’s academic, administrative, and financial foundations. The school has enhanced its student recruitment and enrollment efforts through expanded digital marketing strategies and strengthened recruitment infrastructure, developed a new human resources analytics concentration and an undergraduate certificate in human resources, expanded online and continuing education offerings, and worked to secure STEM designation for key programs to enhance the school’s ability to recruit and support international students. 

Professor Restubog also prioritized scholarship support, alumni engagement, and fundraising activities that align with the school’s strategic priorities and commitment to student success.

Professor Restubog is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of organizational behavior, human resource management, and industrial-organizational psychology. His research examines the dark side of human behavior in organizations, employment relationships, and the future of work, and career development. 

His significant contributions to advancing knowledge at the intersection of work, organizations, and human behavior have further strengthened the school’s national and international reputation.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Bachelor of Science in education and a master’s in counseling psychology from De La Salle University, as well as a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Queensland. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank Jamelle Sharpe, dean of the College of Law, for chairing the search committee and to thank all the members of the committee for their thoughtful and measured work throughout the process.  

Please join me in welcoming Professor Restubog into his new role at Illinois. 

Sincerely,

John Coleman 
Provost