Dear colleagues,
We are delighted to announce the 2025-26 President’s Executive Leadership Program (PELP) Fellows. The selection process this year was very competitive; we received over 90 nominations from across the University of Illinois System and our three universities for 21 available slots. Diversity of background and experiences, as well as a balanced university representation, were factors in the selection process.
PELP is a unique professional development program designed to broaden participants’ understanding of higher education issues and to strengthen their leadership skills related to overseeing a public institution at the university or system level. The program consists of four multi-day seminars in Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, Springfield, and Washington, D.C.
Please join us in congratulating the following individuals selected for the 2025-26 program:
Chicago
- Omolola “Lola” Eniola-Adefeso, dean, College of Engineering
- Kiely Fletcher, vice provost for enrollment management
- Robert Klie, professor and head, department of physics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Michael Melendez, University Legal Counsel (co-system representative)
- Alanna O’Connor, chief of staff, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs
- Jonathan “Jon” Radosta, chief medical officer, University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics; assistant dean of clinical affairs, College of Medicine
- Steven Schwinn, professor of law, UIC Law School
- Karriem Watson, chief executive officer, Mile Square Health Center, UI Health
Springfield
- Brian Clevenger, associate vice chancellor for enrollment and retention management
- Kelsea Gurski, associate chancellor for strategic communication; chief of staff
- Wendy Smith, University Legal Counsel (co-system representative)
- Miriam Wallace, dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; interim dean, College of Public Affairs and Education
Urbana
- Luis Canales, associate provost, Illinois International
- Melissa Edwards, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation
- Brooke Elliott, dean, Gies College of Business; Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor in Business
- Simon Lloyd Restubog, interim dean, School of Labor and Employment Relations
- Claire Stewart, University Library, Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian
- Shaowen Wang, professor, associate dean for life and physical sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
System
- Aaron Carter, assistant vice president, Office of Procurement and Payment Services
- Deneen Jackson-Gillespie, assistant vice president, strategic marketing and communications, Office of the Vice President of External Relations and Communications
University Senates Conference
- Linda Moorhouse, director, School of Music; Suzanne and William Allen Distinguished Professor in Music, Urbana
Thank you to all who participated in the process, either as nominators or as candidates. We are fortunate to be part of a community with so many dedicated leaders who are interested in furthering their skills and enhancing our institution. We strongly encourage the many talented individuals who were not selected this year to apply again in the future.
Sincerely,
Timothy L. Killeen
President
University of Illinois System
Nicholas P. Jones
Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Illinois System