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Announcement
Bradley University Announces the 13th President
James E. Shadid has been named Bradley University’s 13th president, the university’s Board of Trustees announced today. Read More
(March 14, 2025 | Peoria, IL) - James E. Shadid has been named Bradley University’s 13th president, the university’s Board of Trustees announced today.
The decision to hire Shadid, a federal judge and 1979 Bradley graduate, to lead the 128-year-old Peoria institution came by unanimous vote at a special afternoon meeting of the Bradley Board of Trustees on March 12.
Shadid succeeds former President Stephen Standifird, who left the university in June, 2024. Jonathan Michael, Bradley Board chairman and retired CEO of RLI Corp., has been serving as interim university president since that time. He will return to the Board when Shadid assumes his duties April 1, 2025.
Shadid currently serves as a United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, appointed to that position by U.S. President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 7, 2011. Along the way, he ascended to chief judge in his federal stint on the bench. He also was a state judge for 10 years before that, serving in the five- county 10th Judicial Circuit. After graduating from John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) in 1983, he became an attorney in private practice in the Peoria area.
Shadid has long given back to his alma mater, both as an adjunct professor and as a former university Trustee. His roots at Bradley run deep, from his own experience as a student and baseball player on the Hilltop to other family members who became Braves, including his late brother George, son Jim, niece Lauren and 12 other cousins and their children.
Shadid and his wife, Jane, are the proud parents of three adult children: Jim, Joe and Maggie. He is the son of the late Lorraine and George Shadid, the latter an Illinois state senator and Peoria County sheriff.
“Bradley has been a major part of my life for virtually my entire life,” said Shadid. “Few other influences have made a more profound impact on me, and now I hope, with lots of help, to return that favor. I am honored, humbled and grateful for this opportunity. I am thankful for Jon and his leadership in the interim role, and I thank the search committee and the Board of Trustees for their confidence in me.”
“We don’t think we could have made a better choice at this juncture of the university’s history,” said Matt Vonachen, interim chair of the Bradley Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Jim really stood out among the finalists for his knowledge of the university and his insights into what the institution’s needs are now and into the future. And, of course, his lifetime commitment to Bradley speaks for itself.”
“As I prepare to pass the torch, I am delighted to welcome Jim as Bradley University’s President. I have no doubt that under his leadership, Bradley will continue to thrive and build upon its legacy of excellence," said Jonathan Michael, Bradley’s Interim President. "It has been an honor to serve as Bradley’s interim president and to work alongside our dedicated faculty, staff, and students. During my time in this role, I have gained an even deeper appreciation for the passion and commitment that make Bradley such a special place.”
Shadid said that increasing enrollment and stabilizing Bradley’s financial condition, along with creating a roadmap for the future, will be immediate priorities.
“Our inheritance from our founder, Lydia Moss Bradley, is something in which we can both take immense pride and use as the foundation for a more prominent and prosperous future for all who are touched by Bradley University in any way,” said Shadid. “We have a rich and storied tradition of cultivating knowledge in our students through professional and dedicated faculty who truly care about them, who help them develop a strong work ethic and versatile skill set that serves them, their families and their communities well. Bradley’s positive influence extends well beyond this immediate area of the country.
“I am well aware of the high expectations that faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and the greater Peoria community have for me, and rest assured that I have those same high expectations for myself. I have every confidence that this fine university will continue to be a center of academic excellence and of a superior student experience across the board.
“I truly believe that Bradley’s best days as a premier institution are ahead of us.”
The Bradley University presidential leadership profile is the result of extensive community listening sessions with faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and members of the community.
Candidate nominations should be sent to bradley@russellreynolds.com.
The presidential search committee is a diverse group of campus stakeholders, including Bradley Board of Trustees members, faculty, staff and students. Any communication or questions for the presidential search committee can be sent directly to the search committee chairs at psc@bradley.edu.
Dear Bradley Community,
We are pleased to share an update on the search for the next President of Bradley University.
First, we sincerely thank the Presidential Search Committee members, who represent faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees, for their commitment and thoughtful deliberation to get us to this pivotal point in the process. Their work exemplifies the spirit of Lydia Moss Bradley, a visionary who created a school the world needed and makes us proud to be a part of the Bradley University community. After a methodical and thorough process of interviewing and otherwise vetting many strong candidates, the Search Committee has selected a small group of outstanding finalists to move forward.
As you may know, the best practices for conducting presidential searches at private colleges and universities have evolved over the years, so we want to share next steps for your awareness.
Because information now travels more quickly than it ever has, attracting strong candidates now requires a confidential process. But we also feel strongly that continued campus engagement is critical. Accordingly, each finalist will have the opportunity to meet with a small number of individuals (all identified by the search committee), each of whom represent a constituent group and all of whom will sign a nondisclosure agreement; this small group will provide feedback to the Search Committee. Subsequently, the Search Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for approval.
The Search Committee and the Board are committed to choosing a leader who will unite and inspire our community. We anticipate announcing the thirteenth President of Bradley University this spring.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in listening sessions, submitted nominations, and shared insights throughout this process. Your engagement has been invaluable. On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Trustees, we are most grateful as we look forward to this exciting new chapter in Bradley’s history.
Sincerely,
Kathi Holst and Matt Vonachen
Presidential Search Committee Co-Chairs
Dear Bradley Community,
We want to take this opportunity to update you on the search for the 13th President of Bradley University. The Presidential Search Committee has reviewed a strong and diverse candidate pool, with individuals bringing a variety of experiences and perspectives from across the country.
We are pleased to report that the search is on track and going very well. Having spent much of the fall semester on recruiting, the committee is now in the midst of the interviewing phase of the search. In addition to the faculty, staff, and student who are on the presidential search committee, we will be asking a few other representatives from the Bradley community to meet in person with candidates later in the process. We are still on course to announce the new president late in the spring semester.
We want to emphasize that the search committee members have pledged to maintain strict confidentiality throughout this process. This is a key aspect of our commitment to protecting the privacy of candidates, which allows us to attract and retain strong candidates. We will continue updating the Bradley community as the process continues to advance. Any communication or questions for the presidential search committee can be sent directly to the search committee chairs at psc@bradley.edu.
We are grateful to the trustees, faculty, staff, students, and members of the community who are serving on the Presidential Search Committee and to all of you who have put your trust in us to work together to serve the best interests of the University.
Sincerely,
Kathi Holst and Matt Vonachen
Presidential Search Committee Co-ChairsJonathan Michael
Interim President
Dear Bradley Community,
We are pleased to present the leadership profile for the 13th President of Bradley University. Click here to view the profile.
The leadership profile is the result of extensive community listening sessions with faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and members of the community over the past month. We also received over 640 responses to our online survey. On behalf of the search committee and the Board of Trustees, we want to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all who participated.
Over the next several months, working with our search consultants at Russell Reynolds Associates, we will contact the individuals who are suggested by members of the Bradley community and reach out to other individuals who have the experience and personal qualities we are seeking in our next leader. We encourage you to stay connected to the search by keeping an eye on our presidential search website: bradley.edu/offices/president/search.
If you have any candidate suggestions, please do share them with our search partners at Russell Reynolds: bradley@russellreynolds.com.
With gratitude,
Kathi Holst and Matt Vonachen
Presidential Committee Co-Chairs
Bradley University is a nationally recognized, private university in Peoria, Illinois, offering more than 100 programs across five colleges, including psychology, nursing, computer science, engineering, game design, kinesiology, and more.
With a 11:1 student to faculty ratio, all students get personalized attention from their instructors who serve as mentors throughout their academic journey.
