Search Committee Named for Next U of I System President
April 29, 2026 11:51 AM

Dear University of Illinois System Community,

I am reaching out today to share an important next step in the search process for the next great president of the University of Illinois System. The Board of Trustees has engaged an executive search firm, established the composition of the search committee, and worked with campuses and constituencies across the System to assemble the right team to help guide this effort.

Today, I am pleased to share that the Board has named the members of the Search Committee to assist in the selection of a president and have issued the Search Committee its charge. The committee is co-chaired by Trustee Ramón Cepeda and Professor Amy Yeung, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Urbana-Champaign, and brings together faculty, students, staff, administrators, alumni, and supporters from across our three universities and the System.

The Board approved the committee’s structure at a special meeting on Feb. 26, 2026. After a thorough review of nominations from shared governance bodies, university leadership, and key constituencies the individuals listed below were elected to serve by the Board of Trustees.

This committee reflects the breadth of our System, and I am grateful to the many individuals who were nominated and volunteered to serve. I also want to thank these committee members in advance for the significant and critical commitment they are making. The work ahead will require their time, judgment, and care, and the Board is fortunate to have this group partnering alongside us.

The committee will play a central role in shaping the leadership profile for our next president, engaging with stakeholders, and evaluating candidates. The Board retains full authority for the final selection, but the committee’s work will be essential in providing candidate recommendations and conducting a search that reflects the values, priorities, and aspirations of the entire University of Illinois System.

Throughout the next phase of the search, you will hear more about additional opportunities for faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners to share their perspectives. We have also launched a presidential search website that will serve as a central source of information as the process advances.

I am confident that this committee, and the engagement of our broader community, will help us identify a leader worthy of this extraordinary institution.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the U of I System.

Sincerely,

Jesse Ruiz
Chair, University of Illinois Board of Trustees

Approved Search Committee Members

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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

Joseph Gutman, member of the Board of Trustees; alumnus, Urbana

Suzet M. McKinney, member of the Board of Trustees; alumna, Chicago

FACULTY MEMBERS

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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

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

University of Illinois Chicago

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

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

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

University of Illinois Springfield

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

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

STUDENT MEMBERS

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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

University of Illinois Chicago

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

University of Illinois Springfield

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

ACADEMIC PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER

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

CIVIL SERVICE STAFF MEMBER

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

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER MEMBERS

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

Robert Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs, Chicago

Joshua H. Whitman, Director, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Urbana

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE

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

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE

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

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE

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

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE

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

STAFF TO THE SEARCH COMMITTEE

Dr. Jeffrey A. Stein, Secretary of the Board of Trustees

Mr. Scott Rice, University Counsel

Ms. Jami Painter, Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer