The University of Illinois at Chicago named Michael Amiridis as its new chancellor Thursday.

Amiridis currently serves as the provost of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he has worked for more than 20 years. Pending the Board of Trustees’ approval at a Jan. 15 meeting, Amiridis will succeed the Chicago campus’ current chancellor, Paula Allen-Meares, and take office on March 16, 2015.

Amiridis’ leadership experience will help UIC continue to grow as one of the top urban research universities in the country, said President Robert Easter in a press release.

“Dr. Amiridis is an accomplished administrator on a flagship research campus, with a proven record of building academic and research excellence,” Easter said. “He also shares our vision that universities play a critical role in not only transforming the lives of students, but driving progress for our state and nation.”

Following an eight-month search, Amiridis, 52, was chosen from a group of four finalists out of 55 applicants. The finalists were recommended by a campus-based advisory board, but Easter and President-elect Timothy Killeen made the final decision to hire Amiridis together.

Killeen said in a press release that he is “delighted” to have Amiridis as a member of the University. Amiridis also shared the excitement.

“I’m looking forward to working tirelessly with all members of the academic and surrounding community as we develop new and innovative models of serving the needs of the city, the state and their citizens, while at the same time advancing the stature and reputation of our institution,” Amiridis said.

Amiridis, a native of Greece and U.S. citizen, boasts a number of accomplishments. He received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki in Greece and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Amiridis earned the award for early-career scientists from the National Science Foundation in 1999. He also earned the University of South Carolina’s research achievement award and the University’s Golden Key Award for Integration of Undergraduate Teaching in research.

Amiridis is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the American Society for Engineering Education and the North American Catalysis Society. Additionally, he has contributed to over 85 peer-reviewed journal publications.

“Dr. Amiridis brings important qualities and experience to the University of Illinois,” Killeen said. “And I am looking forward to working with him closely to expand yet further the many and diverse contributions of this great public urban research university.”

Abigale can be reached at [email protected].