Dear staff and faculty, 

As we navigate the changing higher education landscape, it is important that we take steps to best position our university to seize opportunities and strategically address challenges.  

In alignment with best practices among our peer institutions and to create a more efficient operating environment, I am reorganizing some vice chancellor portfolios. This reorganization will not reduce the workforce but rather clarify reporting lines to reduce the number of direct reports to the chancellor.  

I strongly believe this structure will benefit our faculty, staff, and students and give us a stronger foundation on which to fulfill our missions. Each of these changes is pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and will be effective Nov. 16 unless otherwise noted: 

Office of Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (OVCFA) 

Aimee Heeter will be appointed senior vice chancellor for finance and administration, blending most units from the offices of the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Operations and the Vice Chancellor for Finance. 

Reporting units and personnel will include: 

Additionally, Lowa Mwilambwe will resume his position in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) as associate vice chancellor for auxiliary operations, health and wellbeing with an expanded leadership portfolio. He will have a dual report to the OVCFA and to the OVCSA. In addition to leading auxiliary services, Willard Airport’s director will continue to report to him. I am deeply appreciative of Lowa’s leadership and service during his time as interim vice chancellor.

Office of Vice Chancellor for Administrative Strategy (OVCAS) and Chief of Staff  

Robin Kaler, who has been serving as interim chief of staff for the past year-and-a-half, will be permanently appointed chief of staff for the chancellor and vice chancellor for administrative strategy, pending approval of the Board of Trustees. This position acts as an advisor to the chancellor and leads strategic initiatives, policy development, administrative accountability, communications, issues management, and special projects. 

Reporting units and personnel will include: 

Office of Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (OVCDEI) 

Following the recommendations of the OVCDEI leadership team, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will be restructured and renamed the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights, and Community (OVCACRC) effective January 1. Gioconda Guerra Pérez will remain interim vice chancellor designate. The office structure and name are changing. The mission of the office and our institutional commitment to supporting the success of our entire university community are not changing.  

Reporting units and personnel will include: 

Office of Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI) 

To recognize that her role has expanded during her eight years as vice chancellor for research and innovation, Susan Martinis will now hold the title of senior vice chancellor for research and innovation. In addition to the OVCRI’s core research administration, compliance, and operations functions, other units include: 

This realignment is a strategic step to ensure we remain competitive in fulfilling our university’s missions for years to come. Though there are some reporting changes, most individuals’ day-to-day work will remain the same. By making thoughtful changes now, we are not only serving today’s faculty, staff, and students, we are also laying the groundwork that will enable us to better serve current and future generations. 

Sincerely, 

Charles L. Isbell, Jr. 
Chancellor