7.5.22

Dear UIS Faculty and Staff —

It is my great honor to begin my work as your new UIS Chancellor. Last week, I worked alongside interim Chancellor Karen Whitney, who has led this university so capably and enthusiastically over the past two years. I greatly appreciate Dr. Whitney for serving as interim chancellor during such a challenging and transformative time, and for creating a positive momentum that will keep UIS thriving in the years to come.

The future is exceptionally bright! From the moment I first stepped onto the UIS campus, I was struck by the level of commitment to place and purpose. The energy was palpable, and the sense of promise was contagious.

In front of us is the opportunity to make sure growing numbers of students know what UIS and Springfield have to offer, to engage them in the community and to help them be successful academically and in the workforce beyond.

We will work together to ensure faculty continue to have what they need to teach successfully within new educational models and an evolving paradigm; to cultivate partnerships and foster a spirit of collaboration and innovation with community partners and our leaders at the State Capitol; and to help unlock the great potential for continued economic development and vitality for the region.

What an exciting time to be stepping in as your chancellor and to be part of a tremendously talented team that is leading the way to seize the great opportunity that beckons on the horizon. To this new role, I will bring humility, selflessness, the desire for shared purpose, mutually beneficial collaboration and collective celebration of success – all for the greater good.

I look forward to learning as much as I can about UIS and the Springfield community, and I hope to meet as many of you as possible over the coming months. I know that together, we will accomplish amazing things.

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, PhD
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield