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Dr. Alvin Goldfarb
Named Western Illinois University President
Dr. Alvin Goldfarb, provost and academic
vice president at Illinois State University, will serve as the
10th president of Western Illinois University, effective July
1.
"The Board chose Dr. Goldfarb from
an outstanding slate of candidates as the individual with the
leadership ability, record of achievement and vision to take an
already strong, vibrant and healthy Western to greater excellence,"
said Carolyn J. Ehlert, chair of the WIU Board of Trustees.
"We are very pleased to have Dr. Goldfarb
join us at Western. He is a proven leader with sensitivity to
individual differences, a commitment to teaching, a collaborative
management style and a clear understanding of the issues facing
Illinois higher education at this critical time," Ehlert
added. "He has the skills and enthusiasm to expand Western's
opportunities to serve our region and state."
The Board set Goldfarb's annual salary at
$210,000. He replaces Donald S. Spencer who retired in
December. Former College of Education and Human Services Dean
David R. Taylor will serve as president through June 30.
At Illinois State Goldfarb was responsible
for the management of academic budgeting processes, program development
and evaluation, long-range facilities planning for academic affairs
and guidance for interdisciplinary relationships among the colleges
and other academic administrative units. Goldfarb was instrumental
in developing and is implementing the strategic plan for Illinois
State University. He was involved in the development of the plan
for the university's comprehensive fundraising campaign, which
has already resulted in a $9 million gift toward a College of
Business building.
"Western was attractive to me because
it is an institution with strong student-faculty interaction and
a place where people work closely with the students," Goldfarb
said. "It is a university with an emphasis on undergraduate
education and strong selected graduate programs. I was also very
impressed by the collegiality I felt when I visited the campus.
"I am looking forward to learning more
about the campus culture and getting a sense of both people and
place as we build a strategic plan to elevate the institution
to the next level of excellence," he continued. "The
design and construction of a performing arts and convocation center
on the Macomb campus and developing a plan for WIU's efforts in
the Quad Cities will be priorities."
During his tenure as dean of fine arts and
department chair of theatre at Illinois State, the institution's
gallery exhibitions and theatre department received recognition
in national publications. He negotiated the acting internship
program with the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He was
also instrumental in the construction of a permanent theatre for
the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and a new center for the performing
arts at Illinois State University. Goldfarb remains involved in
theatre and student life, traveling each year with students, community
members and faculty to New York. He served as president of the
Illinois Alliance for Arts Education and as a member of the Illinois
Arts Council.
Goldfarb is the co-author of two theatre
textbooks and has also co-edited two other books. He has also
authored numerous articles on theatre. Goldfarb earned his Ph.D.
in theatre at the City University of New York (CUNY). His master's
degree is from Hunter College of CUNY and his bachelor's was completed
at Queens College of CUNY.
Goldfarb and his wife, Elaine, have two
children. Their son, Jason, is a freshman at Millikin University
in Decatur and their daughter, Deborah, is a first year law student
at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
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