Dear colleagues,
It is with very mixed emotions that we announce Joda Morton, Director of Enterprise Risk Management, will be retiring at the end of April 2025. After twenty years of exemplary leadership, Joda is concluding her tenure at the University of Illinois System, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of dedication, strategic foresight, and impactful accomplishments.
Joda joined the University of Illinois System in 2005, initially serving in the capital financing department with primary responsibilities in debt issuance and debt management for all three universities and the hospital. In 2013, she transitioned to the University System's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program. Under Joda’s stewardship, the ERM framework was significantly strengthened, evolving to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing higher education environment. She implemented comprehensive risk assessments and mitigation strategies, ensuring the system’s resilience and long-term sustainability. Joda played a pivotal role in fostering a culture of proactive risk management across the system, leading to improved decision-making and the safeguarding of valuable assets. She has been instrumental in managing our derivatives reporting, ensuring excellent coverage of the derivatives policy and requirements.
Joda co-founded the ERM group, now part of the University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) and is a charter member of Higher Education ERM Professionals, a networking group comprised of ERM leaders from Ivy League and Big Ten institutions. She also helped establish the new Big Ten ERM Group and is considered the go-to expert for questions from other higher education institutions. Her unwavering commitment to excellence has not only minimized risks but also positioned our system for continued success. Joda’s contributions will be deeply missed, and her impact will be felt for years to come.
Please join us in congratulating Joda and thanking her for her years of committed service to the University of Illinois System. We wish her and her family all the best in the next chapter of life and a well-deserved retirement.
Sincerely,
Nicholas P. Jones
Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs