Christopher Mooney will head the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University, Vice President for Academic Affairs Christophe Pierre announced on last Monday.

Mooney has been a professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield since 1999 and has worked for IGPA since 2004. He currently serves as the W. Russell Arrington Professor of State Politics for the institute.

“A central part of the University of Illinois’ mission is to provide service to state government, and IGPA is key to contributing to that mission,” Mooney said in a press release. “We will continue to help bring the resources of the university to bear on the public problems of the state.”

Mooney’s appointment will take effect Aug. 16. The Board of Trustees will vote whether to approve his appointment at its September meeting.

Mooney will replace interim director J. Fred Giertz, who has served since August 2012.