Madison Reporter

Charles Isbell Jr., currently serving as the Provost at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been appointed as the next chancellor of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. He will also assume the role of vice president within the University of Illinois System. The announcement was made by University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen on June 5, and Isbell's appointment is set to begin on July 16, pending approval from the Board of Trustees.

Isbell expressed his gratitude for this opportunity, stating, "It’s the honor of a lifetime to be appointed chancellor of the University of Illinois." Reflecting on his time at UW–Madison, he remarked, “As I prepare to depart UW–Madison, I’m especially grateful for the incredible opportunity to work with Chancellor Mnookin, our leadership team and my many talented colleagues.”

Tim Killeen praised Isbell's qualifications for his new position: “Dr. Isbell will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to his leadership... He knows well the responsibility and impact that Big Ten research universities have as assets for the nation and the world and will thrive in this new role.”

Isbell joined UW–Madison as provost in August 2023. He is succeeding Robert Jones, who will be moving on to lead the University of Washington in Seattle. Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin shared her thoughts on Isbell's departure: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Charles on behalf of our great university, and I wish him every success in his new role.”

Before joining UW–Madison, Isbell served as John P. Imlay Jr. Dean at Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Computing from 2019-2023. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech and a PhD from MIT.

During his tenure at UW–Madison, Isbell launched initiatives such as Wisconsin Research Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) and addressed various institutional challenges.

Upon Isbell's departure, John Zumbrunnen will serve as interim provost starting in July while a search for a permanent replacement begins in fall.

Chancellor Mnookin expressed confidence in Zumbrunnen's abilities: “I appreciate John’s willingness to serve in this critical role and I am confident that with his leadership we will be moving from strength to strength.”