10.24.22

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff —

Provost Dennis Papini has shared with me his decision to step down from his role as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost. I will be working to secure an interim provost, and once that appointment has been made, Dr. Papini will begin serving our university as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology in the College of Health, Science and Technology. 

Dr. Papini joined the university as provost in 2017 and has helped UIS transform our academic offerings to meet the needs of our current and future students; advanced our innovation agenda; and guided the university in establishing a new Strategic Compass and mission, vision and values — among many other commendable achievements. I wish him well as he transitions to a faculty role and am grateful for his leadership and dedication to student success.

The university community will be kept informed of next steps in regard to appointing an interim and, ultimately, the process for recruiting and hiring the next provost of the University of Illinois Springfield.

Thank you,

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, PhD

Chancellor

University of Illinois Springfield