On July 1, Dr. Sheahon Zenger replaced S. Georgia Nugent as Illinois Wesleyan University’s 21st president.
Prior to his position at IWU, Zenger was Director of Athletics at Illinois State University in 2005, before serving in other leadership positions at University of Kansas and University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. He has over 30 years of experience in higher education leadership.
Zenger was originally attracted to the position at IWU due to the university’s “community outreach, its reputation,” he said. “It aligned with the type of institution I’d always wanted to go to, but never quite was able to find a place like this on my own. It’s a pretty special place”
“I find an incredible sense of community here, and energy, and enthusiasm and a family atmosphere,” Zenger said about IWU’s campus environment. “Sometimes that can get a little lost at the bigger places.”
While Zenger has embraced the IWU community, he has yet to reveal his goals for the university. “I hope to build upon this sense of community at such a level that no other university in our niche can touch what we have.”
“I have goals and aspirations, but until I meet with enough of the faculty, the students, the staff and the alumni, I want to hold back until it’s a shared vision,” he said.
“At the bottom line, I want to be the best we can absolutely be in our niche, and I think we’re pretty darn good right now, but we can always get better”
Instead of creating a new campus culture, Zenger aims to add to IWU’s history. “I think this place just sweats tradition,” he said. “The walls sweat tradition. I’ve been to other smaller, private liberal arts colleges who try to be like this.”
Zenger emphasized his hope for a thriving campus. “From the student perspective, I want it to be the type of place that you want your friends to come to, and for faculty and staff, the place that they never want to leave,” Zenger said. “That sounds really aspirational, but it’s real.”
With a focus on students, Zenger asserted his willingness to be available to the student body. “I like just being around the students, and really overall, I want to be someone that the students feel very accessible to.”
“I’d rather be out on campus, in the community, or if I’m not there, then with our alumni and friends at the university, which takes me to what I can really do to help,” he said.
While Zenger expressed that there are no initiatives for any programs at IWU, he mentioned his preparation for when a financial need arises.
“I’d like to have time to assess and to let all these programs breathe a little, and be able to ascertain who needs the resources right now the most, and then try to find folks who want to support those.”
“There’s a hint of things to come,” he said.
“I strongly believe in what we do, that’s why I’m here, so I kind of feel here at this stage of my career, I’m here to fight for this,” Zenger said about the importance of a liberal arts education. “Not just defend it, but fight for it, and make sure that you, your friends, and future generations can continue to experience what your predecessors did and have.”
During his tenure at University of Kansas, Zenger was asked to co-chair a DEI initiative at University of Missouri. “Everyone has a place here” he said about his personal philosophy towards inclusion.
Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s rhetoric, Zenger stated, “If we would all use the filter of love – or the lens of love – before we speak…I think we’ll be okay.”
“It’s something I’m committed to, in part because I’m giving back to those who supported me and gave me opportunities, who came from different backgrounds and cultures and ethnicities than I do,” he said. “I think that’s how the world works.”
Zenger noted the importance of uplifting the student body to its best potential. “It’s not about me, it’s about us.”
“I want to be authentic,” he said. “As an individual, as a family group, as a university. I think if we will truly stay authentic to who we are and others see it, we’re going to be at the top of our game.”