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Meet the Individuals Guiding Bradley University

From our University President, to the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team—each arm of our leadership is committed to advancing Bradley’s mission and supporting its community.

James E. Shadid became Bradley University’s 13th president on April 1, 2025.
Shadid, a 1979 Bradley graduate, served 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 during his federal stint on the bench. Prior to that, he was a state judge for 10 years, serving in the five-county 10th Judicial Circuit. After graduating from John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois at 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 more than a dozen other cousins and their children. Shadid and his wife, Jane, are the proud parents of three adult children: Jim, Joe and Maggie.

Current Board Member:

Officers

  • Mr. Jonathan E. Michael, Chair
    Retired Chair and CEO, RLI Corp.
  • Mr. Matthew Vonachen, Vice Chair
    CEO, Vonachen Group
  • Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat ’86, M.A. ’89, Secretary
    Superintendent, Peoria Public Schools

Trustees

  • Mr. Melvin Flowers ’90,
    Attorney, Accenture
  • Mr. Leo Harmon, Jr. ’92,
    Senior Managing Director and CIO, Mesirow Equity Management
  • Ms. Kathleen M.B. Holst ’79
    President, RCMS Inc.
  • Ms. Cathy Jacobson ’85
    Retired CEO, Froedtert ThedaCare Health
  • Hon. Ray LaHood ’71, HON ’11
    Former Member of Congress/Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
  • Dr. Michael R. Lane
    Retired President, Emporia State University
  • Mr. Stephen Lewis, ’72,
    Retired Director of Strategic Planning, Ford Motor Company
  • Ms. Cheryl Procter-Rogers ’78,
    Executive Coach and Associate Director, Ernst & Young
  • Mr. Glenn Ross MBA ’87,
    Retired Technology Manager, Caterpillar Inc.
  • Mr. Kevin Schoeplein,
    Retired CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board, OSF Healthcare System
  • Mr. Michael Scimo ’85,
    Retired Global Managing Director, Accenture
  • Hon. James E. Shadid ’79,
    President, Bradley University
  • Ms. Debbie Simon ’89,
    Retired Regional CEO, UnityPoint Health
  • Mr. Curtis Staker ’83,
    Board member and Private Investor
  • Mr. Henry Vicary ’90,
    Director, Community Relations & Guest Services Law, Security & Public Policy, Caterpillar Inc.
  • Mr. Celso White ’84,
    Retired Global Chief Supply Chain Officer, Molson Coors Brewing Company
  • Ms. Jenny Wilcoski ’00,
    Vice President, Product Management, Medium Tractor Products Caterpillar Inc.
  • Mr. Garrett Williams, ’92,
    Chief Legal Officer, American National Insurance Company

Meet this additional body of Bradley University leadership: a small executive-level group comprised of those who represent the academic constituencies, the student constituency, the external constituencies, and financial and business perspectives.

Dr. Dan Moon

Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Betsy Hull

Betsy Hull

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Charlie Roy

Charlie Roy

Interim Vice President for Advancement

Angie Cooksy

Dr. Angie Cooksy

Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing & Communications

Chris Reynolds

Dr. Chris Reynolds

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

Erin Kastberg

Erin Kastberg

Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Warren Anderson

Dr. Warren Anderson

Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Nathan Thomas

Nathan Thomas

Vice President for Student Affairs

Past Presidents