CONGRATS-RYAN GOWER, PH.D.

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0830

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SR0830
LRB104 22218 LAW 38530 r
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
3
congratulate Ryan Gower, Ph.D. on the occasion of his
4
retirement as chancellor of Illinois Eastern Community
5
Colleges after more than three decades of distinguished
6
service in higher education as a teacher, an advisor, a
7
mentor, an administrator, and a leader committed to expanding
8
educational opportunity and improving student success; and

9

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower is a proud graduate of the University
10
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and spent 20 years serving the
11
university in a variety of advising, teaching, leadership, and
12
administrative roles while earning multiple awards for
13
excellence in undergraduate teaching and advising as well as
14
receiving consistent acknowledgment from students for his
15
outstanding contributions in the classroom; and

16

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower joined Illinois Eastern Community
17
Colleges as president of Lincoln Trail College in 2016, where
18
he demonstrated a steadfast commitment to students, faculty,
19
staff, and the communities served by the college; and

20

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower became chancellor of Illinois Eastern
21
Community Colleges in May 2020, leading one of Illinois'
22
largest rural community college systems as the institution

SR0830
- 2 -
LRB104 22218 LAW 38530 r
1
experienced a period of significant growth, innovation, and
2
transformation; and

3

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower oversaw Illinois Eastern Community
4
Colleges being reorganized into a unified one-college system
5
focused on long-term sustainability, academic excellence,
6
workforce responsiveness, and expanded opportunities for rural
7
students and communities; and

8

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower championed the implementation of a
9
comprehensive Guided Pathways framework to improve advising,
10
transferability, student clarity, and completion outcomes
11
while overseeing the construction of seven new facilities and
12
advancing investments in modern learning environments, STEM
13
education, and workforce training opportunities throughout the
14
district; and

15

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower was instrumental in Illinois Eastern
16
Community Colleges being lauded among the Aspen Institute's
17
Top 200 Community Colleges in the nation for student success
18
and institutional performance; and

19

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower has been recognized as a leading voice
20
in higher education, delivering state and national
21
presentations on student success, enrollment management,
22
organizational change, assessment, and leadership; and

SR0830
- 3 -
LRB104 22218 LAW 38530 r
1

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower's stewardship and commitment to student
2
success have earned him statewide and national accolades,
3
including the Charles K. Brightbill Distinguished Alumni Award
4
from the University of Illinois and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor
5
Society's Paragon Award for New Presidents; and

6

WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Dr. Gower has dedicated
7
himself to supporting student persistence, experiential
8
learning, leadership development, and creating pathways to
9
success, particularly for underrepresented students, and his
10
body of work has exemplified the belief that education
11
transforms lives, strengthens communities, and creates
12
opportunities for future generations; therefore, be it

13

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
14
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ryan
15
Gower, Ph.D. on his retirement as chancellor of Illinois
16
Eastern Community Colleges, thank him for his many years of
17
dedicated service to higher education and the people of
18
Illinois, and wish him continued success, happiness, and
19
fulfillment in the years ahead; and be it further

20

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21
presented to Dr. Gower as an expression of our esteem and
22
respect.

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