SR0830 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0830 LRB104 22218 LAW 38530 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

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

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

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

WHEREAS, Dr. Gower became chancellor of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges in May 2020, leading one of Illinois' largest rural community college systems as the institution experienced a period of significant growth, innovation, and transformation; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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