Jan Murphy
Illinois State University President Larry Dietz has named Jan Murphy as the permanent vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, effective March 1. Murphy has served as interim provost since January 2017.
A national search was conducted to fill the vice presidential position. During that process, changes in the dynamic of the candidate pool, along with feedback from campus constituents and shared governance bodies, led to the decision to name Murphy as permanent vice president and provost.
“Jan Murphy has an impressive track record of service to Illinois State University as a professor, department chair, dean, and most recently, as interim provost,” said Dietz. “I have full confidence that she will continue to serve the University well as provost and I look forward to her continued leadership in Academic Affairs.”
Dietz thanked the search committee for its work during the process of choosing a permanent vice president. “I greatly appreciate the work of Professor Brent Beggs and all the members of the committee for their time and commitment,” said Dietz. “I would also like to thank our Human Resources staff who assisted with the process, as well as shared governance bodies and members of the campus community for their participation.”
Murphy’s career spans over 30 years at the department, college, and university levels. She joined Illinois State in 1986 as an assistant professor of family and consumer sciences, becoming a full professor in 1995. She served as the University’s associate provost for more than 10 years and has previously served as interim provost (2008). Her roles in the College of Applied Science and Technology include former assistant dean, associate dean, and chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. She has also served as director of Campus Dining Services.
“I am deeply honored to be named to the position of vice president and provost on a permanent basis,” said Murphy. “I had originally chosen not to seek the position, but I deeply appreciate President Dietz’s confidence in me. Illinois State has been a wonderful academic and professional home for me and I am proud to continue serving in this leadership capacity.”
Murphy received her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, a master’s degree in human nutrition, and a Ph.D. in nutrition research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has numerous publications and funded research grants in several areas of nutrition research. She has served as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 2004, currently serving on the HLC Institutional Actions Council.
Murphy has won numerous awards for outstanding teaching, research, and service including, most recently, the Phyllis Memken Outstanding Teacher Award and the University Distinguished Service Award.
