SIU President Glenn Poshard To Retire

Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard will retire next June.

Speculation about Poshard's future had been swirling since discussion of his contract was added to the Board of Trustees' agenda earlier this week.

In their final action of the summer retreat, trustees accepted Poshard's letter informing them he will retire June 30, 2014.

"There comes a time when you weigh and balance things," Poshard said. "I'll be nearly 69 years old by the time June 30 rolls around next year, and, you know, it's time for me to step down now."

Poshard said he wants to make sure there is a seamless transition as he moves out of the office, and hoped to give trustees plenty of notice to find someone new. He said stability is important.

"We had had a succession of presidents who had been here three, two years at a time," he said. "I've been here 7 ½ years, will be here 8 ½ years. I think we've stabilized that arena."

Poshard also pointed to new stability on the Board of Trustees, after months of turmoil, as one thing that made his decision easier. He said Randal Thomas' leadership as chairman of the board is a great asset.

Thomas passed credit back to Poshard, and thinks the transition to new leadership will be made easier because of how things have been organized.

"We have the right people in place, and we have the right deputies in place, and we have the right process for replacing people when we need them," Thomas said.

Poshard has been SIU President since 2005. He has also served as a Vice Chancellor on the Carbondale campus, and on the school's Board of Trustees.