A message from the Chancellor
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is moving with incredible momentum toward a bold and hopeful future, and it is my privilege to serve as this institution’s 11th chancellor.
I have always held this university in the highest regard. It is one of only a few in the nation that can claim such a prolific impact across the full spectrum of disciplines – from STEM to the humanities to medicine and beyond. What makes Illinois truly special is not just our academic and research excellence, but also our deeply rooted commitment to public engagement and to finding solutions that benefit all people.
What we have at Illinois is unique, and I feel a profound responsibility to be a good steward of that mission. I am motivated by our collective opportunity to shape the trajectory of higher education.
Though a computationalist by training, I value the critical thinking demanded of every discipline and consider it central to the purpose of education. I also recognize the transformative power of the university experience, and I have worked throughout my career to expand access to high-quality, affordable education at scale.
Illinois is a leader in many respects, but we must work deliberately, collaboratively, and boldly to maintain our momentum. We must continue to pursue what others believe is out of reach. Because decades from now, we must be able to look back and know that we shaped the future with wisdom, hope, and opportunity for the generations who inherit it.
So, let us be good ancestors together.
I have always held this university in the highest regard. It is one of only a few in the nation that can claim such a prolific impact across the full spectrum of disciplines – from STEM to the humanities to medicine and beyond. What makes Illinois truly special is not just our academic and research excellence, but also our deeply rooted commitment to public engagement and to finding solutions that benefit all people.
What we have at Illinois is unique, and I feel a profound responsibility to be a good steward of that mission. I am motivated by our collective opportunity to shape the trajectory of higher education.
Though a computationalist by training, I value the critical thinking demanded of every discipline and consider it central to the purpose of education. I also recognize the transformative power of the university experience, and I have worked throughout my career to expand access to high-quality, affordable education at scale.
Illinois is a leader in many respects, but we must work deliberately, collaboratively, and boldly to maintain our momentum. We must continue to pursue what others believe is out of reach. Because decades from now, we must be able to look back and know that we shaped the future with wisdom, hope, and opportunity for the generations who inherit it.
So, let us be good ancestors together.
Sincerely,
Charles L. Isbell, Jr.
