University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen Announces Plans to Step Down in 2027

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The President of the University of Illinois System has announced plans to step down in 2027, marking the end of an influential tenure. Tim Killeen, who has held the position since 2015, shared his intentions with the University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday. His current contract is set to conclude on June 30, 2027, at which point he will resign as the system’s 20th president.

Under Killeen’s leadership, the University of Illinois System has gained recognition as one of the nation’s most robust and forward-thinking public university systems. The institution credits Killeen with fostering a vision centered on accessibility, innovation, and a commitment to serving the public good.

Jesse Ruiz, Chair of the Board, commended Killeen for his visionary and principled leadership, acknowledging the significant impact of his presidency on the university’s growth and reputation.

Board Chair Jesse Ruiz praised Killeen for leading with vision and integrity in this role.

“Tim has consistently proved to be an exceptional president, leading the University of Illinois System with integrity and intentionality for more than a decade,” Ruiz said. “The achievements of the University of Illinois System reflect his labor on behalf of our world-class institution of higher learning and its land-grant mission. Tim’s impact has been felt here in Illinois and around the world, through every initiative he has set in motion, every strategy he has guided and every cause he has championed.”

In Fall 2025, the U of I System enrollment has grown to record levels, reaching 101,081 students across its three universities: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). This mark is a 3.4% increase year over year and part of a decade-long upward trend.

Additionally, applications for first-time freshmen seats for Fall 2025 reached an all-time high, topping 120,000. The system also now graduates more than 28,000 students per year, roughly 75% of whom choose to remain in Illinois.

Killeen said that while his work as president will continue until his departure, he believes this is the right moment to start preparing for the next era of leadership for the U of I System.

“Serving as president of the University of Illinois System is the greatest honor of my professional life. This community — our students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners — inspires me every day. Together, we have strengthened our universities, expanded our reach and deepened our impact for every citizen of Illinois and the world beyond,” Killeen said. “Our momentum is stronger than ever and alongside our continuing this work, I believe this is the right moment to begin preparing for the next generation of leadership.”

Under his leadership, the system said it has also strengthened its financial position, maintained strong credit ratings and expanded its capacity to invest in things like innovation, research and student success. Fundraising reached a record $656 million in FY ’25.

The combined system research portfolio has regularly topped $1 billion a year, a mark the system said shows that Killeen has championed their role as a global research leader.

A recent study showed that the U of I system has contributed $24.9 billion to Illinois’ economy in FY ’23 and supported 225,171 jobs, which is one out of every 37 jobs across the state.

The U of I System described Killeen as a nationally respected scientist and higher education leader and said he has guided the system through periods of fiscal uncertainty, a global pandemic and a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

They said his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic helped ensure continuity of operations, protected research activity and strengthened the system’s role as a trusted partner to state and federal agencies.

Throughout his tenure so far, the U of I System achieved record enrollment of underrepresented minority students: 28,763 in Fall 2025, a mark that is a 55% increase since 2016. For first-time freshmen, systemwide retention reached 91% in 2025 and the six-year graduation rate rose to 77%.

Ruiz said the search for the 21st president of the U of I System will begin in the coming weeks.

“The selection of a president is perhaps the most important responsibility of the Board of Trustees,” Ruiz said. “In the coming weeks, the board will take its first steps to initiate the search process, fully committed to identifying a president who is capable of following in Tim’s footsteps of excellence and will propel our university system to new heights.”

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University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen Announces Plans to Step Down in 2027

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University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen Announces Plans to Step Down in 2027

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