Appointment of Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost
July 29, 2022 10:31 AM

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I write to announce that Executive Vice Provost Bill Bernhard has agreed to serve as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. He will serve in a designate capacity until that time. His appointment will begin on August 16. I plan to initiate a national search for our next permanent provost as soon as possible and hope to have that individual appointed in time to open the spring semester.

Since Provost Cangellaris’ announced his departure, I have been speaking with our deans, university leadership, the Senate Executive Committee and members of our faculty and staff about the qualifications and qualities they believe are necessary. Executive Vice Provost Bernhard brings all of those to this critical leadership role. He is a respected scholar, experienced teacher and a former department and college executive. That experience combined with his seven years of service in the Office of the Provost gives him a deep understanding of every aspect of our academic operations at Illinois that makes him the clear choice to serve as interim provost as we head into the new academic year.

Please join me in congratulating Executive Vice Provost Bernhard and thank you for your support in the coming months to ensure that our academic enterprise continues to grow and thrive during this transition.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Jones
Chancellor