UI Physics Professor Will Head Urbana Chancellor Search

University of Illinois President Michael Hogan has tapped a physics professor to head up the search for new Urbana chancellor.

Doug Beck was also recommended by the campus Senate as part of an online campus poll. He will be working with eight other faculty members, three students, a dean and academic professional. The rest of the committee will be chosen next week. U of I leaders hope to wrap up the process of replacing interim Chancellor Robert Easter by May, well in advance of the next academic year. The interim Chancellor and vice president replaced Richard Herman, who stepped down in Oct. 2009 after an admissions scandal. Beck said whoever is named to the post needs to have a passion for everything the Urbana campus stands for.

"Champion all the great things that happen on this campus, from education to research, so that's the kind of person we're going to be looking for," Beck said. "My role as committee chair, of course, is to try to take the best advantage of the people that are going to be on the committee. We're really going to be looking for the involvement of all the stakeholders here - all the parts of our community on campus... the students, the staff, the academic professionals, faculty, and the administration."

Beck said he hopes to speak with President Hogan about the job description soon. Since the search committee is not yet finalized, and students have final exams next week, Beck says it is unlikely the committee will complete much of its work before the semester break.