UI System President Timothy L. Killeen announced at a town hall Thursday that he will step down from his position after his contract ends June 30, 2027.
He said serving as president has been a great honor, and he sees now as the right time for new leadership to build upon the UI System’s current momentum.
“This community — our students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners — inspires me every day,” Killeen said. “Together, we have strengthened our universities, expanded our reach and deepened our impact for every citizen of Illinois and the world beyond.”
Killeen took office as the 20th president of the System — which includes the Urbana-Champaign, Springfield and Chicago campuses — in May 2015 after serving as vice chancellor for research at the State University of New York.
During his decade-long tenure as president, Killeen grew the UI System’s research funding to over $1 billion, most recently helping launch the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he boosted partnerships with state and federal agencies.
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Under his leadership, UI System enrollment reached record levels, including 101,081 students across the three campuses in Fall 2025 and 120,000 freshmen applications. The UI System recently achieved a 55% enrollment increase of minority students since 2016 and the retention rate for first-time freshmen reaching 91% in 2025.
Board of Trustees Chair Jesse Ruiz said the search for Killeen’s successor will start soon.
“In the coming weeks, the board will take its first steps to initiate the search process, fully committed to identifying a president who is capable of following in Tim’s footsteps of excellence and will propel our university system to new heights,” Ruiz said.
A researcher in geophysics and space sciences, Killeen championed research and job efforts as president. His administration helped create the Discovery Partners Institute, which trains people in Chicago for tech jobs while promoting AI innovation, and the Illinois Innovation Network, a system of satellite hubs that works toward innovative research and development across the state.
“Our momentum is stronger than ever and alongside our continuing this work, I believe this is the right moment to begin preparing for the next generation of leadership,” Killeen said.
