2008 Woodie Awards
New UIC chancellor set to take office in 2009
Basileo Odukoya and Joel Ebert
Issue date: 7/14/08 Section: News
Media Credit: Photo courtesy of UICPaula Allen-Meares is a graduate of the Urbana-Champaign master's and PhD program.
Beginning in January 2009, the University of Illinois at Chicago campus will officially have Dr. Paula Allen-Meares as its new chancellor. Allen-Meares, who was selected from a field of more than 100 candidates, is set to be formally confirmed as the new chancellor at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
Well known around the University of Illinois, Allen-Meares is a graduate of the Urbana-Champaign master's and PhD program and also served as the Dean of the School of Social Work at the Urbana campus. She is currently at the University of Michigan, where she serves as a professor of education and Dean of the School of Social Work.
When asked of her feelings on becoming the new chancellor of UIC and once again being part of the University family, Dr. Allen-Meares responded, "In a way, this is a homecoming for me. As a member of the larger University of Illinois system, I certainly had a positive experience, both as a student and as a professor and administrator, and UIC played a part in that experience."
University of Illinois President B. Joseph White sees the addition of Dr. Allen-Meares to the Chicago campus as a winning situation for all those involved. "Dr. Allen-Meares will help UIC become the premier public urban research university," said White. Due to her high aspirations and level of achievements, White believes UIC and Allen-Meares are a good match.
Dr. Allen-Meares has been an engineer and progressive proponent of the success of a nationally acclaimed academic institution, as she has reaped the benefits of collaborative learning, a practice which she holds in high regard. At the University of Michigan, along with two other Deans and the support of Central Administration, Allen-Meares created the UM Detroit Center, a facility who's main goal is to encourage and sustain partnerships between the university, civic leaders, and community organizations to improve the quality of the city and the life of its residents.
The Board of Trustees, who interviewed five final candidates during the chancellor selection process, will officially confirm Allen-Meares as the next chancellor its meeting on July 24, which will be held at the UIC Forum. Eric A. Gislason, who is currently serving as the interim chancellor will remain as such until January 16, 2009, when Allen-Meares will begin her role as chancellor.
In the months between now and January 2009, Allen-Meares will transition herself from her deanship at the University of Michigan. Alongside her husband Henry Meares, who currently serves as an assistant dean at the University of Michigan, the Meares will reside in the UIC Chancellor's Residence, a townhouse on Jackson Boulevard that was donated by Professor Dr. Olga Jonasson.
While leaving her University of Michigan post behind may be tough, Dr. Allen-Meares hopes to leave behind an even greater impression on the University. "My hope is that at the end of the day I have done my job well," Meares said. "We all work towards being good at what we do," she continued, "being a good friend, parent, sibling, partner, etc. My drive, commitment, and passion all boils down to this-my hope is that in everything I do, I do it to the best of my ability. No one can take away that legacy."
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Well known around the University of Illinois, Allen-Meares is a graduate of the Urbana-Champaign master's and PhD program and also served as the Dean of the School of Social Work at the Urbana campus. She is currently at the University of Michigan, where she serves as a professor of education and Dean of the School of Social Work.
When asked of her feelings on becoming the new chancellor of UIC and once again being part of the University family, Dr. Allen-Meares responded, "In a way, this is a homecoming for me. As a member of the larger University of Illinois system, I certainly had a positive experience, both as a student and as a professor and administrator, and UIC played a part in that experience."
University of Illinois President B. Joseph White sees the addition of Dr. Allen-Meares to the Chicago campus as a winning situation for all those involved. "Dr. Allen-Meares will help UIC become the premier public urban research university," said White. Due to her high aspirations and level of achievements, White believes UIC and Allen-Meares are a good match.
Dr. Allen-Meares has been an engineer and progressive proponent of the success of a nationally acclaimed academic institution, as she has reaped the benefits of collaborative learning, a practice which she holds in high regard. At the University of Michigan, along with two other Deans and the support of Central Administration, Allen-Meares created the UM Detroit Center, a facility who's main goal is to encourage and sustain partnerships between the university, civic leaders, and community organizations to improve the quality of the city and the life of its residents.
The Board of Trustees, who interviewed five final candidates during the chancellor selection process, will officially confirm Allen-Meares as the next chancellor its meeting on July 24, which will be held at the UIC Forum. Eric A. Gislason, who is currently serving as the interim chancellor will remain as such until January 16, 2009, when Allen-Meares will begin her role as chancellor.
In the months between now and January 2009, Allen-Meares will transition herself from her deanship at the University of Michigan. Alongside her husband Henry Meares, who currently serves as an assistant dean at the University of Michigan, the Meares will reside in the UIC Chancellor's Residence, a townhouse on Jackson Boulevard that was donated by Professor Dr. Olga Jonasson.
While leaving her University of Michigan post behind may be tough, Dr. Allen-Meares hopes to leave behind an even greater impression on the University. "My hope is that at the end of the day I have done my job well," Meares said. "We all work towards being good at what we do," she continued, "being a good friend, parent, sibling, partner, etc. My drive, commitment, and passion all boils down to this-my hope is that in everything I do, I do it to the best of my ability. No one can take away that legacy."
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