Final WJBC interview for retiring ISU president

Posted on June 30, 2021
Larry Dietz
Illinois State University’s 19th President Dr. Larry Dietz. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – A career that spanned five decades is coming to a close. Illinois State University President Dr. Larry Dietz retire Wednesday as the university’s 19th president.

“This has been a great experience working for the university and I’m going to miss the people. But I’ve been at this for 50 years across three states at four institutions, one of those institutions twice, so that is a long time,” said Dietz.

Dietz spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller for his last on-air interview.

After growing up on a dairy farm in southern Illinois, Dietz says a lot of people ask how he got to this point.

“The first thing you need to do, is whatever job you have, is just do the very best you know how to do at that job,” Dietz said. “Then it doesn’t hurt if you have aspirations beyond that or if you think you can do more, let the person know you are reporting to, that way it can help groom you for the next position and help mentor you.”

Dietz says he and his wife Marlene are staying local and still want to support the university in different ways.

Thursday is the first official day for ISU’s 20th President Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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