CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Wojtek J. Chodzko-Zajko, the head of the kinesiology and community health department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 2005 and past president of the American Kinesiology Association, has been named the new dean of the U. of I.'s Graduate College.
He will start Aug. 16, pending approval by the U. of I. Board of Trustees.
A U. of I. faculty member for 15 years, Chodzko-Zajko is the Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor of Kinesiology and Community Health. His primary research interests are in aging and health, and his work has been funded by the National Council on Aging, the NIH National Institute on Aging, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
He received his Ph.D. in exercise physiology from Purdue University in 1984 and his bachelor's in education from the University of London in 1979.
“Professor Chodzko-Zajko is a prolific and decorated scholar and a proven academic administrator who understands the critical role graduate education plays in every one of our university missions," said Ilesanmi Adesida, the vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost. "He has the skills and the vision to lead our Graduate College by building on our institutional ability to attract the very best new students and by ensuring that their experiences at Illinois prepare them to be the next generation of academic and professional leaders of our nation and world."
Chodzko-Zajko, who has a long list of honors earned in his field, is affiliated with the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Academy of Kinesiology and the Gerontological Society of America. The author of six books, he also is the founding editor of the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity and serves on its editorial board.
He currently serves the U. of I. on the Office of Student Conflict Resolution disciplinary committee as chair, the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program advisory committee, the Campus Honors advisory committee and the Graduate College executive committee.
Chodzko-Zajko replaces interim dean Sarah T. Lubienski, a professor of curriculum and instruction.