URBANA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen announced he will step down at the conclusion of his contract on June 30, 2027, ending more than a decade at the helm of the state’s flagship public university system.
Killeen, who became system president in 2015, said the decision reflects both the system’s current momentum and the need to prepare for a new generation of leadership. He described the role as the greatest honor of his professional life.
During his tenure, enrollment across the three-campus system — Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield — grew to a record 101,081 students as of fall 2025. First-time freshman applications also reached an all-time high last fall, totaling about 120,000. More than 27,000 students now graduate from the system each year.
UI Board of Trustees Chair Jesse Ruiz praised Killeen’s leadership, citing his role in advancing the university’s land-grant mission and expanding its global impact. Ruiz said the board will begin a national search for Killeen’s successor within the coming weeks.
Killeen is credited with helping lead the creation of major initiatives including the Discovery Partners Institute, the Illinois Innovation Network, and the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. He also served as president during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the university emerged as a national leader in testing and research innovation.
The board said it will work closely with Killeen throughout the remainder of his term while seeking a new president capable of building on the system’s recent growth and guiding it into the future.
