By WMBD TV
PEORIA – After a year of sweeping budget cuts and amid lower enrollment, Bradley University announced a major change to its leadership.
Retiring was Dr. Stephen Standifird, who came to the president’s office in May 2020 after Gary Roberts left. Replacing him as interim president is Jonathan E. Michael, the current board of trustees chair and the former chairman of RLI, Inc.
Standifird said his term in office will end on June 15.
He said in a letter to the Bradley community that serving as the school’s president was “one of the greatest honors” of his professional career. He thanked the board, the administration, faculty, staff and students for their support over the past four years.
“Serving as the President of Bradley University has been an incredible honor and privilege,” he said. “Together, we have navigated numerous challenges and celebrated many successes.
“I am proud of what we have accomplished and am confident that Bradley University will continue to thrive and achieve great things in the future,” Standifird added.
Replacing Michael as the board’s chair will be Vice Chair Matthew Vonachen.
Michael acknowledged the challenging landscape the school is facing.
“We are grateful to Dr. Standifird for his hard work and leadership during this historic time. He helped the university navigate the pandemic, address enrollment issues, and he took steps to meet financial challenges,” he said. “The difficult work done during the last four years is one reason the future of Bradley is very bright.
“We wish Dr. Standifird the very best in his next leadership role,” Michael said.
As an interim president, Michael will be responsible for all university operations. He has been on the BU board since 2016.
The board will now undertake a comprehensive search for a new president, including the use of a nationally recognized search firm. In a statement, the board said it’s “committed to an extremely thorough search process that will result in the right leader for Bradley University and its future.”
Standifird’s tenure, almost exactly four years, is the shortest in Bradley’s history. Roberts who left office in May 2020, took the job in January 2016, meaning he served as president for five months longer than Standifird.
The move on the Hilltop is also unusual in that the university doesn’t usually replace a president with a board member or at least in the past 30 years.
During his four years in office, Bradley has seen its enrollment decline, which is also a national trend. But it’s been alarming for the university.
He also announced sweeping cuts to the school’s budget to plug a $13 million deficit. The cuts, released on Dec. 11, will see 15 academic degree programs and 61 faculty positions eliminated.
The cuts were not well received by the school’s community. The faculty senate had a vote of no confidence regarding Standifird last year. And university’s top academic official, Provost Walter Zakahi, also left at the end of the spring semester this year.
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