Carbondale Reporter

Beginning a broad undertaking to appoint Southern Illinois University-Carbondale’s next chancellor, SIU System President Randy Dunn recently appointed an advisory committee of 18, representing faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the surrounding community.

“These people have agreed to serve because of their commitment to the university, and I appreciate their willingness to assist in this critical undertaking,” Dunn said. “My charge to the search advisory committee will be to work as expeditiously as possible.”

To ensure a smooth transition in leadership, SIU’s board of trustees named Brad Colwell to the position of interim chancellor as of Oct. 1, with the mutual agreement that he would serve as long as two years while the nationwide search progressed.

“It is my belief that we need to have a permanent chancellor in place as soon as practicable, given the continuing deterioration of the budget situation at the campus and state levels,” Dunn said.

Non-voting staff assisting the committee includes Matt Baughman, assistant to the chancellor; and Penny Moon of the President’s office. Voting members include Laurie Achenbach (chair), dean, College of Science; Jason Bond, plant, soil, and agricultural systems professor; Daniel Booth, Carbondale Community High School principal; and Nate Brown, an alumnus from Belleville.

Additional members are Deborah Burris, clinical associate professor in the Office of Teacher Education; Judith Davie, associate professor, biochemistry and molecular biology; Wayne Glass, director, office of sponsored projects administration, A/P staff council; and Ben Handler, VP of undergraduate student government.

Andrea Imre, Morris Library associate professor; Vicki Kreher, journalism senior lecturer; Segun Ojewuyi, associate professor, theater; Julie Partridge, associate professor, kinesiology; and Barbara Shiplett, coordinator of physical therapy services, Student Health Services and Civil Service Council also will participate.

Rounding out the list are Matt Solverson, SIU Foundation board of directors; Naomi Tolbert, student member, SIU board of trustees; Tomas Velasco, technology associate professor; Xiaoxin Wang Beardsley, finance associate professor; and Brandon Woudenberg, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Council.