Aondover Tarhule has been named the twety-first president of Illinois State University. He has served as interim president for the past year.
Illinois State University enrolls over 18,000 undergraduate and more than 2,600 graduate students. Black students represent 11 percent of the undergraduate student population.
Dr. Tarhule has been with Illinois State University since 2020, serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs prior to his appointment as interim president. In addition to his administrative leadership responsibilities, Dr. Tarhule is a professor in the department of geography, geology, and the environment.
Prior to joining Illinois State University, he served as vice provost and dean of the Graduate School at Binghamton University within the State University of New York system. He previously served as executive associate dean and department chair in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma.
“From the moment I stepped on campus to interview for the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs, the community’s investment and dedication to the success of Illinois State was clear and heartwarming,” said Dr. Tarhule. “Under my leadership, Illinois State will remain visible, engaged, and a collaborative partner committed to improving the quality of life and enhancing the sense of belonging for everyone in our community.”
Dr. Tarhule received his bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s degree in environmental resources planning from the University of Jos, Plateau State in Nigeria. He earned his Ph.D in geography from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
