Getting to Know You ➡ Mike Hermann

Mike Hermann is the athletic director.

Can you give us a brief timeline of how your career led you to UIS?

I’ve had the chance to serve as the director of athletics at three previous institutions: Niagara, Towson and Kansas Wesleyan. Most recently, I was in a senior athletics role at Pacific in California. I was excited to return to the Midwest (I grew up in Ohio) and have the opportunity to lead an athletics program again.

What’s something important you’ve learned from your family?

As the oldest of eight kids, I learned the art of compromise at a young age. Plus, our family lived on a small farm where hard work and the farming process were valued.

Have you traveled to any interesting places? Can you tell us about them?

I am a presidential historian and have visited 24 presidential homes or museum/libraries, which accounted for my first-ever visit to Springfield, visiting the Lincoln home. I recently visited the Reagan and Nixon libraries/homes in California, and my favorite (other than Lincoln) is the Rutherford B. Hayes home in Fremont, Ohio.

What’s your guilty pleasure snack?

Only one? I am a connoisseur of both ice cream and fruit pies. And what a better snack than pie à la mode! When I decided to leave my last AD role at Kansas Wesleyan, the sendoff included a pie buffet!

Getting to Know You is recurring feature in the Chancellor's Newsletter to highlight our many talented UIS employees.