EIU Selects New Provost and VP

After a national search, Eastern Illinois University has selected Dr. Ryan C. Hendrickson as its next Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

“Dr. Hendrickson’s strong support from campus stakeholders underscores his many contributions to EIU, our mission, and amazing students,” said EIU President Jay Gatrell. “Ryan is an accomplished scholar and highly effective leader whom I am confident will advance academic excellence, enhance student success, and continue to prioritize EIU’s shared values.”

“I am excited and honored to lead EIU as its next Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs,” Hendrickson said. “I look forward to building upon EIU’s mission to be accessible to the widest possible group of students. The provost has a unique role in shaping and leading the university by ensuring that students can excel, that university staff are empowered to meet student needs, and faculty can flourish in their teaching, research and service activities. I am especially enthused about the opportunity to advance President Gatrell’s student success initiatives. We have new opportunities to make EIU a university where students from all backgrounds can come, thrive and achieve their academic and professional goals. I also look forward to supporting both existing and new academic programs that meet local, state and regional needs.”

President Gatrell noted, ”Having been a dean since 2015, Ryan has a record of success across multiple leadership roles over the years and he understands the opportunities and challenges facing public regional comprehensive universities. Specifically, for EIU, Ryan’s entrepreneurial contributions to the Illinois Innovation Network have resulted in increased support for faculty research, a nearly $1 million renovation of CENCERE, and advances for graduate education.”

Hendrickson previously served EIU in a number of senior leadership roles, including as its interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs (2023-current), the L. M. Hamand Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Sponsored Research (2015-23), Acting Dean of Booth Library Services (2022-23), and Acting Dean of the College of Health and Human Services (2021-22). Prior to these roles, Hendrickson came to EIU in 1999 and has since served as Professor in the Department of Political Science, where he received a number of teaching distinctions. He also served for 14 years as Coordinator of Graduate Studies within the Department of Political Science.

As a scholar of international relations and U.S. foreign policy, Hendrickson is the author of three books, along with multiple articles and essays. He earned a Ph.D. in Political Science in 1997 and an M.A. in Political Science in 1993—both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln—as well as a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Marquette University in 1991.

“I am truly grateful for the service, leadership, and combined efforts of the entire search committee, as well as the leadership of Chairperson Katie Havercroft as this is a mission-critical hire,” Gatrell added.

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.