Presley to Leave Administrative Post and Join Faculty

Date: 1/8/07
Contact: Jay Groves

For almost four years, Vice President and Provost John Presley has led Illinois State's faculty and academic administration to new levels of distinctiveness and excellence. Beginning on Jan.1, 2008, Presley will apply those talents to teaching and scholarship when he leaves his administrative post to join the University's faculty.

"This decision is purely personal and simply reflects my desire to spend more time on research and writing projects that are very important to me, such as my edition of Robert Graves's "Nazarene Gospel Restored" and several other book-length projects as well as shorter manuscripts about higher education administration," Presley said. "I also look forward to teaching students of the quality we enjoy at Illinois State and interacting with our outstanding faculty and staff, who are ultimately responsible for our success. It is an absolute pleasure working with President Al Bowman, and I look forward to our work on many initiatives and transitional plans during the coming year."

Presley came to Illinois State in March of 2003. He previously served as provost at SUNY Oswego in Oswego, N.Y. and as a dean for the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters at the University of Michigan in Dearborn. Presley received his Ph.D. in modern British literature and his master's degree in English language and literature from Southern Illinois University and his bachelor's degree in English from Arkansas State University.

During his tenure as provost, Presley led the University in joining The American Democracy Project, a cooperative effort by students, faculty, staff and administration to promote civic engagement through organized activities designed to promote constructive civic engagement on the part of undergraduates while they are on campus and after they graduate.

Presley also led the University to participate in the Foundations of Excellence in the First College Year Project, a project sponsored by the Policy Center on the First Year of College and supported by the Lumina Foundation for Education. The project is a comprehensive, guided self-study and improvement process that enhances an institution's ability to realize its goals for student learning, success and persistence. Illinois State was recognized for excellence in first-year education by being selected as one of the "Founding Institutions" in the national project.

"I am most proud of the way Academic Affairs has continued to thrive during the past four years, despite the Illinois and national economies," Presley said. "We have seen great achievements in research, teaching and even in the creation of exciting new curricula, such as the doctoral program in audiology and the cooperative doctorate in nursing.

Other initiatives started under Presley's guidance are the FOCUS (Faculty Opportunities for Creating Civic and Community Understanding among Students) initiative and the Faculty Excellence initiative.

"Illinois State has become a leader in Illinois higher education and has gained a reputation nationally that is precisely in line with Dr. Presley's vision for the University," said Bowman, who will initiate a search for the next vice president and provost immediately. "We are known as an institution that combines rigorous research with exemplary teaching, which is a great tribute to John and his faculty and staff colleagues. I look forward to working closely with John this year and to his advice and friendship in the years to come."