New Chair and Members of the Chancellor Search Committee
January 21, 2025 1:06 PM

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Jennifer Bernhard, department head of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Donald Biggar Willett Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been appointed as chair of the Committee to advise the President on the appointment of the new chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and vice president of the University of Illinois System. Professor Bernhard’s extensive leadership and expertise will guide the important work of the committee.

Professor Bernhard joined the faculty in 1999 and holds an exceptional record of excellence in research, teaching, and service at the department, college, and campus levels. She has served as the associate dean for research and director of the Applied Research Institute. She is an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Fellow and has received numerous awards for her contributions to research, leadership, and mentoring.

The committee comprises a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students with a wealth of perspectives and experiences. I am deeply grateful to each of them for their commitment to this pivotal task. Committee members are as follows:

• Kathy Adams, Illinois Human Resources
• Rummana Alam, College of Law
• Alex Belanger, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences undergraduate student
• Nerissa Brown, Gies College of Business
• Antoinette Burton, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
• Felecia Commodore, College of Education
• Charlotte Davidson, Native American House
• McKenzy Heavlin, Grainger College of Engineering graduate student
• Megan Mahoney, School of Social Work graduate student
• Kristin McMurray, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Operations
• Chrystalla Mouza, College of Education
• Cynthia Oliver, College of Fine & Applied Arts
• Gilberto Rosas, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
• Taher Saif, Grainger College of Engineering
• Jami Painter, System Human Resource Services, staff

I look forward to working with the committee as they help us identify the best candidates to meet the needs and aspirations of the University of Illinois System.

Additional details about the search process will soon be available on the University of Illinois System website. More information will be forthcoming about opportunities for the broader community to provide input into the search process.

Thank you again to Professor Bernhard and the committee for your service. I look forward to seeing the results of your efforts as we work together to shape the future of The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois System.

Sincerely,

Tim Killeen