CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - C. Renee Romano, the vice president for educational and student services at the University of Northern Iowa, has been named vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, pending approval of the U. of I. Board of Trustees during its teleconference meeting June 5.
Romano will begin her duties at Illinois on July 1, succeeding William Riley, who has filled the position on an interim basis since the retirement of Patrica Askew in August 2005.
"Renee impressed us all with her enthusiasm and vision for a true partnership between student affairs and academic affairs," said Richard Herman, the chancellor of the Urbana campus. "She is a great addition to the leadership here in Urbana."
Romano, a native of Illinois, earned a bachelor's degree in art in 1977 from Southern Illinois University, a master's degree in higher education in 1979 from SIU, and a doctorate in higher education in 1994 from Iowa State University.
Romano began her career in student affairs in 1979 at the University of New Hampshire. In 1980, she became an assistant director of student activities for programming, and in 1987 became an associate director of student activities.
From 1988 to 1997, Romano served as the director of the student union and student activities at the University of Northern Iowa. In 1997, she became vice president for student services at Hollins University in Roanoke, Va., where she stayed until 1999, and was then named to her current position at Northern Iowa.
Since receiving her doctorate, Romano has taught a variety of graduate courses and is a professor in Northern Iowa's department of educational leadership, counseling and postsecondary education.
