CARBONDALE - Rita Hartung Cheng's experience with finance, research institutions, enrollment and understanding of the administrative process were all qualities that led to SIU President Glenn Poshard's selection of her as the next Southern Illinois University Carbondale chancellor.

Poshard made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference. He said the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where Cheng is the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, has the fastest-growing enrollment in the state, and he has heard nothing but "the highest praise from her colleagues at UWM." He said UWM has made up 85 percent of the enrollment growth in Wisconsin.

Poshard also said the university will benefit from her experience in finance, especially with the financial shortfalls the institution has to deal with because of the state's economic crisis. Cheng is a certified public accountant and has a doctorate in management from Temple University and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.

"Dr. Cheng has one of the strongest backgrounds in management and finance we could have ever hoped for in a chancellor candidate," Poshard said.

Undergraduate Student Government President Priciliano Fabian, a junior in kinesiology from Alto Pass, said he was "thrilled and excited" when he learned Cheng was the choice for chancellor.

"When she came to campus, I felt she could really connect with people," Fabian said.

Cheng said being selected as chancellor is a privilege and said she has met many talented faculty and staff on campus. Pending approval of the Board of Trustees, Cheng will begin her new job June 1.

She stressed her two pillars of success for a university, access and success of the students and research growth. She said she will do everything she can to help SIUC succeed.

"I will bring energy, direction, optimism, commitment and passion to my work, and I will focus on empowering the campus so that we together can reach our enrollment goals, honor our pledge to access and success and build strong academic programs linked to our research enterprise," Cheng said.

She thanked the campus and the community for the hospitality shown to her and her husband, Tom.

"We want to assure you all that we are here for the long haul because there are no quick fixes, and we all need to roll up our sleeves and get going," Cheng said.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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