New President At University of St. Francis Comes From Eastern Illinois

(The following edited press release is from Dave DiLorenzo, Director of Community and Employee Relations, at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.)

JOLIET — The University of St. Francis Board of Trustees announced on Tuesday that Ryan C. Hendrickson will become the University’s 10th president. He will begin his new role on June 1, succeeding Arvid C. Johnson, who is retiring in following twelve years of leadership and service as USF’s ninth president.

Hendrickson brings to USF more than 25 years of experience in higher education, ten of which have been in senior leadership positions at Eastern Illinois University, including his current role as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Hendrickson was selected by the USF Board of Trustees with guidance from a 20-member presidential search committee composed of USF trustees, faculty, staff, administration, student and alumni representatives. He emerged as the best candidate from a pool of over 50 applicants who were recruited and vetted by Academic Search, a highly regarded firm that supports executive recruitment for colleges and universities.

While there are multiple opportunities available across the higher education landscape, Hendrickson was called to USF because of how its mission is lived each day across its campus community.

“The University of St. Francis is a community formed and shaped by its mission. USF is a special place where students grow and learn, where faculty, staff and administrators work together to foster student success and advance our mission, and where a university education results in real, tangible and life-changing value for its students,” he said.

When Hendrickson begins his leadership tenure in June, he anticipates a focus on growing USF in a variety of areas.

“I am committed to promoting and advancing the University’s Catholic and Franciscan identity. It is critical that we expand the University’s profile in order to share broadly the tremendous value in a University of St. Francis student experience and education, while also identifying and promoting accessible and affordable degree opportunities for the widest range of students possible. We will need to be innovative and bold in the University’s programming, with a focus on enrollment growth and market relevance,” he said.

A formal welcome event for Hendrickson will be planned later this spring.

About Ryan C. Hendrickson

Ryan C. Hendrickson currently serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Eastern Illinois University (EIU), where he has worked as a senior administrator and professor of political science for 26 years. Prior to his leadership role as provost at EIU, Hendrickson served as the L.M. Hamand Dean of the Graduate School, Acting Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, and Acting Dean of Booth Library. As a professor of political science, Hendrickson is a distinguished scholar of international relations, having published three books, and more than 70 additional book chapters and peer reviewed articles. He has also received a range of university teaching and student mentoring awards and honors in his 28 years in higher education. Dr. Hendrickson earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Marquette University, and a Master’s and Doctoral degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He and his wife, Tece, are the parents of three children, which include their daughter, Marguerite (married to Jack Stamper), another daughter, Frances, and their son, Ryan.