Bradley Welcomes New Leadership to Campus

August 18, 2025

Bradley University is seeing some new and familiar faces stepping into leadership positions this year, with issues like student experiences and interdisciplinary collaboration sitting high on their list of priorities.

Bradley’s new president is James Shadid, who graduated from Bradley in 1979. Jeffrey Wanko is Bradley’s new dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences. After some time as interim dean, Ethan Ham is now dean of the Slane College of Communication and Fine Arts.

“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,” Shadid said. He previously served as a United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois since 2011, having been appointed by President Barack Obama. 

“I want to let prospective students know about the excellent faculty and programs we have here. Bradley has so much to offer, and finding the best students for our programs is a high priority for me,” Wanko said, echoing Shadid’s sentiment, while also mentioning his desire to advocate for mentorship and professional growth. Wanko comes to Bradley from Miami University, an Ohio public university where he served as associate provost, associate dean for undergraduate affairs in the College of Education, Health and Society and chair of the Department of Teacher Education. As part of his 25 years of service there, he also taught at Miami University’s European center in Luxembourg.

Ham also emphasized the student experience when discussing his top priorities. “For me, it’s all about making sure our students have the best possible experiences,” he said. “That can mean big things—like the new rotating stage for our theatre productions or a renovated band practice room—or opportunities that take students beyond campus, like an art history trip to Washington, D.C. or paid internships working on a real-world Air Force project.”

–Jenevieve Rowley-Davis