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Staff

Dr. Ani Yazedjian

Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Dr. Ani Yazedjian

401N Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
ayazedj@IllinoisState.edu

Dr. Ani Yazedjian serves as Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and provides leadership in the planning, development, implementation, and assessment of all academic programs and many service areas. The Provost serves as the chief academic officer of the University with responsibility for academic and senior-level internal leadership and serves as the primary representative for the President in his absence.

The Provost also coordinates the team of senior staff to achieve the University's established major goals as identified by the President and the Board of Trustees. This team coordinates reporting units, carries out teaching and learning initiatives, and works with the Academic Senate, Administrative/Professional Council, Civil Service Council, Student Government Association and other representative bodies to maintain the university's tradition of shared governance.

Assistant to Dr. Yazedjian

Christie Wissmiller
clwissm@IllinoisState.edu

Dr. Jana Albrecht

Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management

Dr. Jana Albrecht

401C Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
jlalbre2@IllinoisState.edu

The Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management provides direction and leadership to meet the strategic enrollment goals of Illinois State University. Through campus-wide collaboration, this position ensures the continued enrollment of talented undergraduate and graduate students who achieve high levels of collegiate success.

The Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management has responsibility for ISU's enrollment strategy and operations and is charged with overseeing the Office of Admissions, the Financial Aid Office, and the Office of the University Registrar which includes Academic Scheduling. In addition to providing internal vision and leadership, the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management works to strengthen external partnerships that increase collegiate access and success for today's students.

Assistant to Dr. Albrecht

Soemer Simmons
srsimmo@IllinoisState.edu
(309) 438-2157

Dr. Dan Elkins

Associate Vice President for Academic Fiscal Management

Dr. Dan Elkins

401M Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
delkins@IllinoisState.edu

The Associate Vice President for Academic Fiscal Management has the following responsibilities:

  • Under the guidance of the Provost, serves as fiscal agent for Provost Office and the Division of Academic Affairs and provides general oversight and accountability of budgets and budget priorities for general revenue, agency, and foundation accounts.
  • Prepares comprehensive reports and budget plans for the Provost.
  • Provides data-based, fiscal analysis for the Provost's strategic allocation of resources.
  • Oversees all operations related to contract and full cost courses.
  • Provides administrative oversight to the Academic Impact Fund.
Dr. Amy Hurd

Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education

Dr. Amy Hurd

401A Hovey Hall
(309) 438-2157
arhurd@IllinoisState.edu

The Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education provides leadership and oversight to the Honors Program, University College (which includes Academic Advising, Preview summer orientation, transfer days, and various units offering student academic support services), and Student Success.

The Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education also has primary responsibility for the University's General Education program, the Undergraduate Catalog, the University Curriculum Committee, the coordination of instructional and program capacity, summer and winter course offerings, graduation requirements, and serves as the department chair for the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) program.

Assistant to Dr. Hurd

Soemer Simmons
srsimmo@IllinoisState.edu
(309) 438-2157

Dr. Craig C. McLauchlan

Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies

Dr. Craig C. McLauchlan

401J Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
ccmclau@IllinoisState.edu

The Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies has oversight responsibility for the Research and Sponsored Programs office; Research Ethics and Compliance; the Graduate School; and interdisciplinary units such as the Center for Math Science and Technology (CeMaST), the Stevenson Center, the Center for Collaborative Studies in Biomathematics, and the Office of Student Research. The Research and Sponsored Programs office is the conduit for all sponsored research in the University.

The Graduate School serves graduate education through recruitment, admissions, retention, and graduation support activities to Colleges and Departments.

In addition, he has oversight for innovation efforts at ISU, which includes the Illinois Innovation Hub, startup incubator, and makerspace.

Dr. Craig Gatto

Associate Vice President for Academic Administration

Dr. Craig Gatto

401R Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
cgatto@IllinoisState.edu

The Associate Vice President for Academic Administration supervises Conference Services and provides leadership on:

  • academic personnel matters, including the Appointment, Salary, Promotion, and Tenure (ASPT) system, recruitment, retention, sabbaticals, and related policies;
  • professional development programming for faculty and academic administrators;
  • policy review, federal compliance, and strategic planning for the Division of Academic Affairs
Dr. J. Cooper Cutting

Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning

Dr. J. Cooper Cutting

401O Hovey Hall
(309) 438-2922
jccutti@IllinoisState.edu

The Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning serves as the Provost’s representative on the Academic Planning Committee (APC). The APC is responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of the program review process in collaboration with the Provost who submits the Academic Affairs Update to the Board of Trustees. This position also supports academic units in exploring opportunities and preparing materials for new program development.

The Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning guides academic units to ensure compliance with regulations related to National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and supports university compliance with state and federal statutes related to academic programs.

Connie Blick

Administrative Aide

Connie Blick

401H Hovey Hall
(309) 438-3662
ctchojn@IllinoisState.edu

The Administrative Aide serves as clerical support for the Associate Vice President for Academic Fiscal Management, the Associate Vice President for Academic Administration, and provides general administrative support to the Office of the Provost.

This position manages the collection, recording and appropriate dissemination of applications for promotion, tenure and sabbatical, annual DFSC/SFSC and summative evaluation reports, as well as coordinates Secondary/Outside Employment, this position provides administrative support for searches conducted by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, responds to questions regarding Records Retention, and manages the organization of professional development programming for faculty, staff, and administrators. 

Destini Fincham

Director, Academic Affairs Business and Finance

Destini Fincham

401P Hovey Hall
(309) 438-2158
dafinch@IllinoisState.edu

The Director works directly with the AVP for Academic Fiscal Management. The Director supports the financial strategy, analysis, and solvency of Academic Affairs.

This position also provides leadership, monitoring, and education to the College budget managers. In addition, this position works directly with the Academic Impact Fund, Academic Affairs: Hiring Restriction Requests, Budget Reporting and Planning, Recruitment and Foundation Accounts.

Soemer Simmons

Business/Administrative Associate

Soemer Simmons

401B Hovey Hall
(309) 438-2157
srsimmo@IllinoisState.edu

The Executive Assistant works directly with the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education, the Assistant Vice President for Student Success, International Pathways and INTO Illinois State University.

This position supports and collaborates in matters related to enrollment, retention, student success, general education, presentation and report preparation and coordination of schedules. The Executive Assistant coordinates with Admissions, Financial Aid, the Honors Program, University College, University Registrar, Office of International Studies and Programs, International Pathways and INTO Illinois State University in budget processes, hiring, and policy matters.

This position also serves as administrative support for the Council on General Education, the Academic Advisory Council, the Enrollment Management Committee, and the Undergraduate Student Advisory Council. In addition, the Executive Assistant assists with the coordination of Consumer Guide and compliance reporting, NC-SARA reporting, domestic articulation agreements/MOUs, and the issuance of overrides for Interdisciplinary Studies courses.

Christie Wissmiller

Assistant to Provost

Christie Wissmiller

401 Hovey Hall
(309) 438-2915
clwissm@IllinoisState.edu

The Assistant to the Provost collaborates with the Provost on project management, report and meeting preparation, researching initiatives, serving as facilitator/liaison with various constituencies and coordinating the Provost's schedule.  

This position also serves as coordinator on a variety of projects including award processes such as Distinguished and University Professors, Service and Rives awards.  Additionally, this position coordinates the Professional Development Series, the Administrators’ Retreat, New Administrators' Orientation and content on the Provost’s Office website.

Amy Witzig

Business Associate Aide

Amy Witzig

401Q Hovey Hall
(309) 438-3725
amwitzi@IllinoisState.edu

The Business/Administrative Associate Aide works directly with the AVP for Academic Fiscal Management and the Business/Administrative Associate on fiscal management matters. This position works with the reconciliation of academic accounts, such as Academic Impact Fund (AIF) tenure track accounts, and other budget related projects. The Business/Administrative Aide coordinates the Full-Cost Recovery (FCR) and contract (grant funded and agency paid) courses and serves as the primary contact for outside agencies as well as inquiries from Department Chairs, Assistant/Associate Deans, and Deans. This position coordinates with other offices for the admission and registration of these courses.

In addition, this positions works with the SURS approval processes, Material Fees, Hiring Restriction Requests, Moving Reimbursements, and Academic Affairs Annual Budget Presentations.

2023-2024 Special Assistant to the Provost and Provost Fellows

Sue Hildebrandt

Special Assistant to the Provost

Dr. Susan A. Hildebrandt

401N Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
shildeb@IllinoisState.edu

As the Special Assistant to the Provost, Dr. Hildebrandt will assist with HLC accreditation efforts, new program development, COACHE and staff success survey results implementation, leadership development programming, and engaging learners in new ways, among other tasks. Dr. Hildebrandt also has oversight responsibility for the Center for Civic Engagement and is the primary account holder for ISU's National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD).  

Lea cline

Provost Fellow

Dr. Lea Cline

401G Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
lkcline@IllinoisState.edu

As a Provost Fellow, Dr. Cline will focus on inclusive excellence and assist the Provost’s office with policy analysis. Dr. Lea Cline has served in a number of service and leadership roles , both on and off campus. For the last two years, she has chaired the Academic Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate, and served on the Academic Senate’s Executive Committee.

Emily Jones

Provost Fellow

Dr. Emily Jones

401I Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
emjone1@IllinoisState.edu

As a Provost Fellow, Dr. Jones will focus on adult learners and online education. Dr. Jones will focus on structural and systems-level needs and opportunities for Illinois State University to expand online offerings for traditional and non-traditional learners.  

Roy Magnuson

Provost Fellow

Dr. Roy Magnuson

401I Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
rdmagnu@IllinoisState.edu

As Provost Fellow , Dr. Magnuson will assist the Division of Academic Affairs in understanding and responding to emerging disruptive technologies like AI, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Spatial Computing. The focus will be on understanding what these technologies are, as well as what they are not, while prioritizing technological literacy, pedagogy, ethics, student success, research, and creative scholarship, while preserving the university's core values .  

Mike Mulvaney

Provost Fellow

Dr. Michael Mulvaney

401G Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
mamulva@IllinoisState.edu

As Provost Fellow, Dr. Mulvaney will primarily focus on university accreditation and assessment initiatives and projects .   Dr. Mulvaney will also be involved with the planning and initiatives to support the assessment of learning outcomes within the general education program .   Building upon ISU’s 2022-23 Data Literacy Institute, Dr. Mulvaney will also collaborate with leadership in the planning of data literacy programming to support student success .    

Jason Whitesel

Provost Fellow

Dr. Jason Whitesel

401I Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
jawhit6@IllinoisState.edu

As Provost Fellow, Dr. Whitesel will coordinate professional development opportunities for leaders in academic affairs. He will collaborate with Dr. Hildebrandt to distribute information pertaining to the Office of the Provost’s Annual Professional Development Series to assist seasoned and newly appointed chairs and directors.