Murphy named ISU provost on permanent basis

Posted on February 28, 2018
Jan Murphy has been with Illinois State University since 1986, serving as interim provost since January 2017. (Photo courtesy Illinois State University)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – The interim provost at Illinois State University has had the position’s temporary label lifted.

ISU President Larry Dietz has appointed Jan Murphy as vice president for academic affairs and provost. She has been interim provost since January 2017.

The university cites changes in the candidate pool and feedback from the campus community that led to Murphy’s permanent appointment.

“Jan Murphy has an impressive track record of service to Illinois State University as a professor, department chair, dean, and most recently, as interim provost,” Dietz said in a release. “I have full confidence that she will continue to serve the University well as provost and I look forward to her continued leadership in Academic Affairs.”

Murphy joined Illinois State University in 1986 as assistant professor of family and consumer sciences. She became a full professor in 1995. Murphy served as ISU’s associate provost for 10 years and was interim provost in 2008.

“I had originally chosen not to seek the position, but I deeply appreciate President Dietz’s confidence in me,” Murphy said in the release. “Illinois State has been a wonderful academic and professional home for me and I am proud to continue serving in this leadership capacity.”

Her permanent appointment begins Thursday.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at greg@wjbc com. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…