Rohn, Former EIU Dean, Joins EIU Office of Philanthropy
May-09-2007
A retired Eastern Illinois University dean who spent many years as a K-12 administrator is looking forward to working with old friends and making new ones in his latest role.
Charles Rohn has joined EIU’s Office of Philanthropy (formerly the Office of Development), where he will be the staff’s primary contact for the Springfield area.
“During my time here and since my retirement, it has become clear to me how closely tied alumni and others are to the university,” Rohn said. “Having spent 35 years in K-12 and higher education, I’ve made many contacts throughout the state of Illinois, many of whom have a great connection with and affection for Eastern. So I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue to build those contacts and friendships.”
Rohn, who retired in June 2006 as dean of EIU’s College of Education and Professional Studies, finds it easy to call Springfield home for many reasons.
In addition to having family in the area, including three grandchildren, Rohn and his wife have long-standing ties to the region.
Rohn, a native of Beardstown, about 45 miles west of Springfield, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
He started his career as a teacher and coach at Beardstown High School, and many years later, he worked in Springfield as an administrator with the Sangamon Area Vocational Education Region.
But he has also spent a good deal of time away from home, too. During most of his career, he was a K-12 principal and superintendent, serving in Cannelton, Ind.; and New Berlin, Waverly and Lebanon, all in Illinois.
Rohn earned his educational specialist and doctorate degrees at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and later joined the faculty at the University of Montevallo in Alabama for a two-year stint before coming to EIU as department chair and professor of educational administration in 2000.
While at EIU, he served on many on-campus committees and councils, as well as a variety of professional organizations. He was also active in leadership roles at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Charleston.
“During my time here, I grew to have a great appreciation for what Eastern provides for students and the exceptional job the university does,” Rohn said.
After his retirement, Rohn said, he kept running into people in and around Springfield who had connections with Eastern, and those people “had wonderful experiences to share.”
“Eastern has an exceptional reputation throughout Illinois and beyond,” Rohn said. “The opportunity to continue working with the university to further those efforts in a part-time role was certainly very appealing to me.”
Karla J. Evans, director of the EIU Office of Philanthropy, said she was “thrilled” to add Rohn to her staff.
“His experience in education, coupled with his relationships across the country with alumni and friends of education, will serve as a real asset to advance philanthropy at Eastern Illinois University,” Evans said.
“Charlie will focus on assisting EIU achieve its goals for private philanthropy at a time when the cost of education is on the rise and money from the state is on the decline. Well-known and well-liked in academic circles and beyond, Charlie will be an asset to those alumni and donors who wish to invest in higher education.”
Rohn may be contacted via e-mail at carohn@eiu.edu. He may also be reached by calling the Office of Philanthropy at 866-581-3313.
