Reflections From The President Of The EIU Foundation
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, I would be remiss as the new Foundation President if I did not recognize the excellent work of the two proceeding Foundation Presidents, Dr. Jill Nilsen and Ms. Susan Young, the Foundation Board, and of course, President David Glassman, for the tireless work they all did for EIU. During this challenging time, they kept the Foundation on task and focused, building upon the “foundation” created in 1953 and strengthened by their predecessors. They helped Eastern survive the budget impasse and the additional financial challenges to the University. They supported President Dr. Glassman as he negotiated these unchartered waters, gaining recognition for EIU during this time.
Today. Tomorrow. Together.
Today, Eastern remains dynamic, having risen like the Phoenix from these setbacks with the help of countless students, faculty, staff, administration, alums, and donors. So many EIU supporters, all dedicated and committed to seeing EIU grow into the evolving Tomorrow. The continued analysis and evaluation of Today and Tomorrow can best be expressed as “You Can’t Really Know Where You Are Going Until You Know Where You Have Been” (Maya Angelou, Jan. 9, 2021). What is needed is a foundation made of personnel and support dedicated to the success of EIU by Working Together. For example, generous donors, the local medical community, and EIU Together have all teamed up to introduce a new College of Nursing at Eastern. This type of commitment will give back not only to the community, county, and the state of Illinois but nationwide.
This year (2022-2023) is extraordinary for EIU, not only for the successes made by the University, its faculty, students, and alums, but also in the works, achievements, and vision of its 12th President, Dr. David Glassman. He has announced his retirement at the end of this year. Let us all recognize and congratulate his work, commitment, and the outstanding contributions he has made to us together. I am nearly a “lifelong” EIU supporter, having come to Charleston at the age of two as the son of a new faculty member and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Louis Grado. The first years were spent living “on campus” in old army barracks for faculty parked on the shore of “TC Lake” (Teachers College Lake). I was enrolled and went through the Buzzard Laboratory School through ninth grade, coming back to go to EIU for my undergraduate degree. I am honored to have served as a member of the Eastern Illinois University Foundation Board and am now honored to serve as the President for 2022-2023.
I look forward to your continued generous support to help the Foundation promote the interest and welfare of the University in the present and future.
Thank you very much for your support of EIU!
Dr. Gordon Grado, MD,DABR,FACRO, FACR, PhD (hc)
President
Board of Directors 2022-2023
Eastern Illinois University Foundation
