ISU Board of Trustees announces it will pursue Aondover Tarhule as next university president

NORMAL, Ill. – Aondover Tarhule, Ph.D., has been chosen to become the twenty-first president of Illinois State University, pending approval by the ISU Board of Trustees. The board made the announcement in a campus-wide email that it intends to pursue him for the position.

The board will officially vote on the appointment in a special meeting on March 18 where they will deliberate on specific terms and conditions.

Tarhule will assume the position this June as his interim term will end. He first assumed the position on Feb. 14, 2023, following the sudden resignation of President Terri Goss-Kinzy from the university.

Tarhule previously served the university as the academic provost and one of the vice presidents of the university. During his time in the role of president, however, he has seen the expansion of the Mennonite College of Nursing, the creation of the College of Engineering as well as the creation and expansion of new degrees and programs at ISU.

Before his time at ISU, Tarhule also served in roles as vice provost, dean and department chair of various other universities, including the State University of New York and the University of Oklahoma. His research has taken place over three decades and he has completed research on climate change, water resources and sustainability.

Headshot of Interim President Aondover Tarhule – Image Courtesy of Illinois State University

The decision comes after four public forums for the four finalist candidates, each candidate receiving one forum each. From Feb. 19 to 29 each candidate had approximately an hour and 15 minutes to speak to attendees from campus about their experience and plans for the university.

Tarhule’s forum was the first and he focused his discussion on the work he has been able to complete in his interim role. He also brought a special focus to ISU’s core value of diversity and how he employees quick and effective responses to diversity related issues.

The Board held a special meeting last Tuesday to deliberate Tarhule and the other candidates. Just an hour before that meeting there was another by the Presidential Search Committee, which has been headed by the Parker Executive Search firm, the board selected to assist them.

Both the committee and the board are chaired by Kathryn Bohn, Ph.D. Other members include various faculty, staff, students, alumni and others from the university, including representatives from all university colleges and departments.