51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ

Chancellor Pembrook

May 11, 2021

Dear SIU family,

As you may have heard, Chancellor Randy Pembrook announced today that he will retire from his leadership position at 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ by June 2022. I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of myself and everyone across the SIU System, to first offer our deep appreciation for the dedicated service Chancellor Pembrook has given to the students, faculty and staff at 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ. Second, I want to extend congratulations and best wishes as Randy and Mary Jo take this next step in their lives.

Personally, I want to thank Chancellor Pembrook for his help during the last year and half. He has been helpful to me in many ways as I transitioned into this new role and dealt with all of the challenges we faced. I have also truly been impressed by the fact that he is a consistently compassionate leader who always considers the impact of every decision on faculty, staff, and especially students. Finally, I am appreciative that when he made this decision, he made sure the timing would put us in a position to find the best successor possible and to allow for a smooth transition. At the end of his time as Chancellor, his priority has continued to be to do what is best for 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ and its future.

While there will be more details to follow, I want to share the search for a new chancellor is beginning. We will quickly engage a search firm and begin moving forward with a national search. In the coming weeks, with their assistance and yours, we will hold a series of town halls to gather feedback from the 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ campus community on what qualities the next chancellor should possess. We will convene a search committee that is representative of the university and its many stakeholders which will review applications, conduct initial interviews, and assist in bringing candidates to campus during the fall semester so that all who wish can be involved and meet the prospective candidates.

It is my hope that, after a thorough and deliberate search, the Board of Trustees will be able to consider my recommendation and vote on the next chancellor at its December meeting. The exact timing of the transition will be determined at a later date based on a combination of factors, including the chosen candidate’s availability. Again, I truly appreciate Chancellor Pembrook’s flexibility in determining the timing of the transition.  

Today though, let’s focus on recognizing Chancellor Pembrook for his over 30 years of service and leadership in higher education. Thank you, Chancellor, for your commitment to 51ÂÒÂ×»»ÆÞ and to the SIU System. We look forward to making this next year your best ever.

Sincerely,

Daniel Mahony 
SIU System President