It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 2025-26 academic year at Illinois State! I am especially thrilled to welcome all new students, faculty, and staff coming to Illinois State for the first time and am excited to welcome back all returning Redbirds. While official numbers will not be available until the tenth day of the semester, we anticipate another strong enrollment this academic year. Thank you to the faculty and staff who volunteered to welcome students and their families to campus to ensure a smooth Move-In and Welcome Week.

My goal as president is to foster a campus community where everyone thrives personally, succeeds academically, and feels unquestionably that this is where they belong. Students, I encourage you to get involved on campus and in the community. Please learn more about registered student organizations and events by visiting RedbirdLife, Illinois State’s student involvement portal. Additionally, Redbird Well is your resource for student well-being, mental health support, and wellness programs. To our faculty and staff, you can learn more about the many resources available to you to enhance your professional development, teaching, and service by visiting the Human Resources website.

The beginning of each semester is an exciting time brimming with possibilities. At Illinois State, our strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2030, provides a clear roadmap for how we will leverage our historically strong foundation and brand to reach new levels of excellence. I invite you to peruse this document and commit yourself to its aspirations and guiding principles.

Some of you will be understandably concerned about shifting federal policies that affect you personally, someone you know, or higher education generally. Please know that the Institutional Resiliency Steering Team (IRST), launched earlier this year, works closely with the Office of General Counsel regarding the potential impacts of current and future directives on institutional policies, practices, and initiatives. We continue to monitor the evolving landscape of executive orders to understand the University’s legal obligations, ensuring we follow the law while also respecting our values. You can find additional information and resources on the Government Relations website.

While the impacts of these directives are still being determined, the University remains committed to its mission to promote learning and scholarship in an environment that is inclusive, supportive, and responsive to the needs of the Redbird community. As I have stated previously, I am confident that we will successfully navigate these developments together and will harness the collaborative and resilient spirit that defines Illinois State.

Many of you are aware that colleges across the nation are facing unprecedented financial pressures. As part of the higher education ecosystem, Illinois State University is not immune to these forces. I assure you, however, we are taking proactive and decisive steps to ensure our fiscal resilience and long-term sustainability. Last fall, I established the Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability, and Excellence (RISE) task force to partner with an external consultant in developing a new budget model framework. This framework was defined during the spring semester, and over the summer, work groups analyzed and defined the new budget responsibilities, roles, and timelines needed to support a transparent and sustainable budget process. This fall, we will share more information and communicate the future-state process with the campus community.

Mark your calendar

Illinois State offers activities and organizations for a wide variety of interests. This fall, I’m pleased to announce the return of the Presidential Speaker Series. The series provides our campus community with an opportunity to hear from, and engage with, inspirational thought leaders and pioneers to stimulate dialogue on topical issues of interest to our community and the nation. As part of this series, we anticipate hosting a different speaker each semester.

Additionally, I would like to draw your attention to just a few of the many exciting community events, activities, and traditions that keep our campus vibrant:

• State of the University Address — September 25
• Family Weekend — September 19-21
• 2025 Homecoming: “Raise the Banner” — October 13-19
  • Faculty/Staff Luncheon — October 14
• Winter 2025 Commencement Ceremonies — December 13

I look forward to a busy, productive fall term and am grateful for the opportunity for us to go forward together with a shared commitment to scholarship, service, and excellence.

Thank you, and as always — Go You Redbirds!