Provost's Office Staff

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Dr. Ani Yazedjian

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

Dr. Ani Yazedjian serves as 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

Associate Provost

Dr. Todd McLoda

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

The Associate Provost is responsible for advancing institutional effectiveness through comprehensive oversight of assessment, accreditation, strategic planning, and data-informed decision-making. In addition to supervising the Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning, the Associate Provost oversees academic centers and units aligned with the Office of the Provost. 

Assistant to Dr. McLoda

Christie Wissmiller
clwissm@IllinoisState.edu

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

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.

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

Associate Vice President for Research 

Dr. Craig C. McLauchlan

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

The Associate Vice President for Research has oversight responsibility for the Research and Sponsored Programs office; Research Ethics and Compliance 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.

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

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

Associate Vice President for Graduate Education and Internationalization Initiatives

Dr. Claudia Petrescu 

401I Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
capetr2@IllinoisState.edu

The Associate Vice President for Graduate Education and Internationalization Initiatives provides day-to-day leadership for the Graduate School and oversight to the Office of International Engagement.

 The Associate Vice President for Graduate Education and Internationalization Initiatives plays a vital role in shaping the University’s strategic vision for graduate and international education, maintaining academic excellence, and promoting equity, diversity, access, and belonging.  

Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning

Dr. J. Cooper Cutting

401O Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
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.

Director of Academic Labor & Employee Relations

Dr. Russell Morgan 

401G Hovey Hall
(309) 438-7018
remorg1@IllinoisState.edu

The Academic LER is responsible for planning, negotiating, and administering labor contracts for Illinois State’s academic bargaining units and for consulting with supervisory staff regarding tenured and tenure-track faculty, non-tenure track faculty, faculty associate, and graduate assistant employee relations matters. Morgan works closely with Human Resources LER to transition these duties to Academic LER over the upcoming academic year. 

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. 

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,  Budget Reporting and Planning, Recruitment and Foundation Accounts.

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.

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.

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.