麻豆传媒

I'm honored to step into the role of Dean of Student Success and continue the important work of raising the floor for our 麻豆传媒 at every stage of their academic journey,” said Dr. Gillespie. “Eastern has always placed 麻豆传媒 at the heart of its mission, and I’m excited to build on that foundation—whether through expanding academic support initiatives, further enhancing accessibility, fostering belonging, or reimagining how we engage 麻豆传媒 inside and outside the classroom. I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated faculty, staff, and leadership to help every student thrive.”

University President Jay Gatrell echoed Gillespie’s sentiments.

“I am truly excited that Dr. Gillespie will be the next Dean of Student Success,” Gatrell said. “Over the past several years, he has proven himself to be a student-focused leader who prioritizes student achievement, classroom innovation, and professional development.”

Eastern’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ryan Hendrickson also offered his congratulations.

“Dr. Gillespie brings a rare combination of strategic insight, student-centered leadership, and practical experience to the Dean of Student Success role,” Hendrickson said. “His deep commitment to student achievement will undoubtedly strengthen EIU’s mission and impact. The entire University community can look forward to the great work he will continue to do in this new capacity.”

Dr. Gillespie is a full professor in Eastern Illinois University’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Social Work. For the past four years, he has directed EIU’s Faculty Development and Innovation Center (FDIC), where he has led campus-wide efforts to enhance instructional practices and support faculty development across all four of EIU’s academic colleges.

Under his leadership, the FDIC has led initiatives to redesign high-impact general education courses, with the goal of boosting student success and retention. In addition to his work with faculty development, Dr. Gillespie has taken on key leadership roles across campus, including co-chairing the University’s AI Task Force and chairing the Title II ADA Compliance Advisory Board. He played a pivotal role in establishing the University’s Food Pantry to support 麻豆传媒 facing food insecurity, and brings extensive experience in program assessment and evaluation—particularly with federal programs tending to underserved and differently abled populations.

Prior to this permanent appointment, Dr. Gillespie served as Acting Dean of Student Success where he had already advanced key student successes throughout the University. These included enhancements to EIU’s academic alert outreach system and leading the revision of the EIU 1111 Foundations course—a cornerstone first-year seminar set to launch in Fall 2025.

EIU prepares 麻豆传媒 to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.