Millikin’s momentum is going the right way.
Eight days after former President Jim Reynolds’ departure, the University announced via email that Dr. Dean Pribbenow will be Millikin’s 17th President.
However, after the announcement of his election as President, the questions that students had started to pile up.
Considering the chaos of this semester, a semester where students have seen new faces in several important administration positions, these questions are very understandable.
Questions about Pribbenow’s background, history, and qualifications have been brought up, mostly appearing through the anonymous social media app Yik Yak.
Although students are understandably concerned and curious about their new President, several faculty members are very excited about the announcement. Dr. Julie Bates, Associate Professor and Director of the School of Writing, Languages, and Cultures, was one of these faculty members.
“I’m thrilled to hear the announcement of the new President,” she said. “I have heard from many faculty who are excited about the ideas and expertise Dr. Pribbenow is bringing to Millikin, and we are looking forward to getting to know him and working with him.”
Bates understands the importance of the announcement, especially considering the departure of former President Jim Reynolds happened only eight days ago.
“We’re in this kind of liminal moment between presidents right now,” she said. “Knowing that Dr. Pribbenow will be joining us within a few months is welcome news this week.”
Pribbenow currently serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Dean of the Faculty at Elmhurst University. In total, he has over 20 years of experience in academic leadership. He has also served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, before transitioning to Elmhurst.
Dr. Nancy Curtin, the Dean of Arts and Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, realizes that these titles may be a bit confusing to students.
“We have a Provost,” Curtin said. “That Provost position is essentially a Vice President of Academic Affairs, but positioned a bit differently. Essentially, he is currently our equivalent of a Provost.”
A Provost oversees academic affairs, which includes curriculum, budgeting, and faculty hiring. They are heavily involved in the academic community and work to advance a given University’s mission or goals. Needless to say, Pribbenow has ample experience working at a university and the students that attend that university.
“He’s had about 12 years of experience in charge of academics,” Curtin said. “He’s been at a larger institution and a smaller institution. He knows Millikin, especially because it’s in our CCIW Conference. He is more aware of Millikin than someone who isn’t a part of our conference.”
Besides understanding how to operate within a smaller university, Pribbenow has more than enough experience working to assist with providing funding for the universities he has worked at, which was outlined in the email sent to students yesterday.
“At Elmhurst, Pribbenow oversaw a $35 million operating budget centered around data and evidence to inform planning and decision-making,” the email said. “He co-led the effort to secure the designation of Elmhurst University as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), writing a successful $3.4 million Title V grant to support the project.”
Matthew Flaten, Assistant Director of Public and Media Relations and Staff Representative on the Presidential Search Committee, realizes how valuable Pribbenow’s experience is in situations pertaining to funding, especially given the current financial situation Millikin finds itself in.
“He has the ability to get the sense of budget issues and things like that,” Flaten said. “He has confidence in the plans that are in place here to try to grow our enrollment. I have the confidence as a member of the Committee in his ability to examine financial reports and make good decisions.”
Pribbenow’s deep experience and understanding of how to financially support an institution certainly bolstered his case to be elected as Millikin’s 17th President, which Curtin understands.
“It’s important to have a total picture of what Millikin is, and not only the challenges, but the successes,” she said. “Our Board of Trustee Chair Ron Branch has been communicating often with him, so he is coming in with a good picture of what Millikin is. He’s more familiar with Millikin than someone from the east coast who hasn’t been a part of our CCIW conference.”
Although Pribbenow, according to faculty, is clearly fit to be President of Millikin, students’ questions remain. One of the biggest concerns that have been brought up is his physical on campus. Although President Jim Reynolds was an extremely kind and compassionate man, it was quite rare to see him at Millikin, possibly apart from when he would walk his dogs around campus. This is the main worry that students have, and understandably so. They want a President who will be present.
Curtin has some assurances for those students.
“It has been communicated to [Pribbenow] that students want a visible presence on campus,” Curtin said. “I am confident he will figure out what needs to be done in terms of being visible and present on campus, but also when he needs to go out and talk to alumni and donors. I am sure that he will figure out that balance, and I am confident in him.”
However, being present, to students, is much more than attending extracurricular activities. It is being present every day possible, especially with students who may not participate in those events.
“It’s more than attending a game or going to a production,” Flaten said. “It’s building relationships and building confidence. It’s knowing that Millikin has a strong leader. I’ve gathered that he’s developed a strong relationship with student leaders at Elmhurst, although his capacity is working with faculty.”
As for relationships, Pribbenow is already quite familiar with Mary Black, Provost of Millikin University, which is an extremely important connection to have when taking on a new challenge of leading a university through hard times.
“I have had the pleasure to know Dean for several years, and I’m confident he possesses a deep understanding of academic affairs and its central role in institutional success,” Black said. “Dean is an inclusive leader who respects and seeks out a wide range of opinions when making decisions. He has also demonstrated openness in communication and has a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership.”
Dr. Pribbenow’s first official day as President will be July 1, 2025. Although there are still several administrative questions that must be answered before them, his election is a positive step forward towards the success and revitalization of Millikin University.
