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Steve Schomberg promoted to vice chancellor post
Bill
Murphy, Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs
(217) 333-5010
11/5/2002
CHAMPAIGN,
Ill. — Steven F. Schomberg is to be promoted to vice chancellor
for public engagement and institutional relations, pending approval
of the University of Illinois Board
of Trustees at its meeting Nov. 14 in Urbana.
Schomberg, currently an associate chancellor, would begin his new duties
Nov. 21. His current position would be eliminated.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a threefold mission
of education, research and public engagement, and, as a land-grant university,
Illinois has an increasingly important responsibility to address critical
societal needs. Until now, only the education and research missions
were led at the vice chancellor level. The vice chancellor for public
engagement and institutional relations will work closely with the other
vice chancellors and with colleges and other campus units to identify
and advance new ways to build partnerships between external constituents
interested in cultural, economic and community development and interested
faculty, staff and students.
Engagement with the public touches all parts of the institution. It
ranges, for example, from focusing the campus’s cultural assets
(such as Allerton Park, Japan
House, Library, museums, performing arts center, public
broadcasting) to better connect them with public use to Partnership
Illinois that has engaged faculty and students with external communities
and organizations. It includes initiatives such as language wellness
programs conducted in collaboration with Head Start in Chicago, the
campus’s partnership with the Illinois Municipal League to help
prepare city officials for governing, and collaboration between the College of Education and the
Regional Offices of Education to create a unique and innovative program
for retaining teachers – the Novice Teacher Support Program.
The new vice chancellor will continue to coordinate campus relationships
with federal, state and local government, including the newly constituted
Metropolitan Intergovernmental Council, in cooperation with the university-level
Office of Governmental Relations, and will be the principal liaison
with the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. The Office
of Continuing Education, Allerton Park and Conference Center, Partnership
Illinois, the Arboretum, and the Urban Exchange Center will also report
to the vice chancellor.
In announcing this appointment Chancellor Nancy Cantor said: "I
came to Illinois with a very strong commitment to public engagement,
and it will be a pleasure to work closely on public engagement with
someone who knows both the issues nationally and the history and evolution
of public engagement on this campus. Steve Schomberg is exceptionally
well qualified and suited for this position given his strong educational
background, his longstanding national leadership role in public engagement
matters, and his successful hands-on experience over the past several
years managing, advancing and providing leadership on these matters
for the Urbana campus."
Schomberg earned his bachelor of arts in European literature and thought
at the University of Iowa in 1966, a master of divinity degree at Union
Theological Seminary (1969) and a doctorate in higher education at the
University of Minnesota (1978).
At Minnesota, Schomberg served as assistant dean and director of summer
session, continuing education and extension (1985-1988); assistant to
the vice president for academic affairs (1984-1985); acting director
of University College (1981-1984); assistant director of University
College (1978-1981); and assistant to the dean (1976-1978).
Schomberg began working at Illinois in 1988 as associate vice chancellor
for academic affairs and director of continuing education and public
service, a position he held until 1996, when he was named associate
chancellor. He continued to hold the position of director of continuing
education and public service through 1998. Under Schomberg’s leadership,
Partnership Illinois was developed and advanced.
In addition, a number of other engagement initiatives were created,
including a Web-based index of public engagement programs, a seed and
sustaining-grant program, online programs, and continuing education
programs in both DuPage County and Chicago.
Beyond the campus and the state of Illinois, Schomberg represents extension
and continuing education professionals on the board of directors of
the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.
He is also a member of the National Review Board for the Scholarship
of Engagement sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation.
