Presidential Announcement

Welcome everyone to this very important day in the life of Illinois Wesleyan University.
Let me begin with several words of thanks.

First, I want to recognize and express my appreciation to the search committee led by Gil Dorsey. When I appointed this committee last fall, I said that I was confident that it would be as effective in doing its job as the committee that brought Minor Myers to Illinois Wesleyan 15 years ago. My confidence was justified. This group of trustees, faculty, staff, and students has done a fine job of making this critical process work smoothly and successfully. For their time, their dedication, and their collective wisdom, please join me in thanking them.

Second, this University — all of us — owe Janet McNew an enormous debt of gratitude for the leadership that she has provided to this community. I am personally very grateful for her selfless service and loyalty to Illinois Wesleyan. In the year that Janet has served as our acting president, we have not missed a beat. Please join me in expressing our appreciation to Janet McNew.
Now we enter a new era at Illinois Wesleyan, and I am delighted to introduce the person who has been selected to lead us.

It is with great pleasure that I report that the Board of Trustees have elected Richard F. Wilson as Illinois Wesleyan’s 18th president, effective July 1. You’ll meet him a moment, but let me tell you about him first.

Our search ranged far and wide. But the right candidate was closer than we ever expected. Dick has spent the past 26 years at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has been involved in virtually every aspect of the university’s life. As we were told over and over by those people who have known Dick Wilson for many years, he is a student of higher education, a person who understands completely what makes colleges and universities work, and someone who cares deeply about people, ideas, and higher education as a whole.

Dick’s most recent assignment has been in the dual roles of associate chancellor for development at Urbana-Champaign and as vice president of the University of Illinois Foundation. This appointment is just the latest in a long line of assignments that he has had at Illinois where he gained the reputation as a problem solver. In fact, a colleague described Dick’s keen understanding of the university by saying that when a difficult problem arose in Urbana, it was not uncommon to hear someone to ask: "Have you talked with Dick about this?"

Let me offer just a few of the adjectives that we heard repeated as we talked with people about Dick Wilson: Inspirational. Decisive. Fair-minded. Energetic. Ethical. Approachable.

Dick is a native of West Virginia where he embodied the scholar-athlete ideal at his alma mater Alderson-Broaddus College in his home state, excelling in the classroom and on the soccer field. In fact, he was named the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year as a senior. He spent four years as director of admissions at his alma mater before entering graduate school at the University of Michigan where he earned both the master’s and doctorate in higher education.

I will not spend more time enumerating Dick’s many professional accomplishments. I do invite you to explore the additional information that will be posted on the University’s Web site today.
I also want to say that those of us who have come to know Dick Wilson are truly impressed by how readily he understands the dynamic nature of Illinois Wesleyan and the core values that set our University apart.

One comment that stands out was repeated to me by someone who met Dick during his campus visit. The obligatory question that candidates receive in these instances is along the lines of what attracted you to Illinois Wesleyan? In response, Dick said that it was the commitment to excellence that he perceived here. He went on to say that he knew full well that the presidency of Illinois Wesleyan would demand his total commitment and that he would never consider making such a commitment if he could not be not passionate about the place.

Before I bring Dick to the podium to greet you, I would like to introduce to you Pat Wilson. Pat, would you please stand.

I know that I speak for all of us on the Board of Trustees in telling you how proud we are of this special community — students, faculty, staff, alumni and our many, many friends here in Bloomington-Normal and beyond. I am quite confident that all of you will make Dick and Pat feel at home in the coming months. I am eager for you to get to know the Wilsons, as I know that they are eager to get to know each of you.

Please join me now in welcoming to Illinois Wesleyan University, our 18th president, Richard F. Wilson.