Chancellor Jones announces plans to step down in 2024
URBANA, Ill., Dec. 12, 2023 – Chancellor Robert J. Jones today announced plans to step down as the 19th chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the summer of 2024.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It has been an honor and a privilege to lead this world-renowned institution, and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together,” said Jones. “After much reflection and discussion with my family, I have decided that the time is right for me to step down and allow the next generation of leadership to build on the strong foundation we have created.”
Under Jones’ leadership, the university has seen significant progress in a number of areas, including research, academics, diversity and inclusion, and fundraising.
“Chancellor Jones has been a transformative leader for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,” said Tim Killeen, chair of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. “He has led the university through a period of tremendous growth and accomplishment, and he has positioned us well for the future.”
A national search for Jones’ successor will begin immediately.
“I am excited to see what the future holds for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,” said Jones. “This is a special place with a bright future, and I am confident that the next chancellor will continue to build on our legacy of excellence.”
Jones became chancellor in 2016, after serving as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Jones is also a professor of chemistry and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
During his tenure as chancellor, Jones has overseen the launch of several major initiatives, including the Discovery Partners Institute, the Illinois Innovation Network, and the Humanities Research Institute. He has also led the university through a major fundraising campaign that has raised more than $2 billion.
Under Jones’ leadership, the university has also made significant progress in diversity and inclusion. In 2020, the university launched the Office of Inclusion and Equity, and in 2021, the university adopted a new strategic plan that includes a commitment to diversity and inclusion as one of its top priorities.
Jones is a strong advocate for the power of public higher education. In 2019, he testified before Congress on the importance of funding for public universities. He has also written extensively about the need to make college more affordable and accessible.
Jones is a native of Chicago. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. He is married to Dr. Lisa Coleman Jones, a professor of medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. They have two children.
