CARBONDALE - SIU President Glenn Poshard made the selection of Rita Cheng as SIUC's next chancellor official today.

Poshard spoke of Cheng's experience at a news conference, citing her experience with finance, enrollment and understanding of the administrative process. Poshard said University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), where Cheng is the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, has the fastest growing enrollment in the state. He said he has heard nothing but "the highest praise from her colleagues at UWM."

Cheng said being selected as chancellor is a privilege and said she has met a great deal of talented faculty and staff on campus. She stressed her two pillars of success for a university, access and success of the students and research growth. She said that she will not be chancellor for a blink of the eye.

"I want to assure you all that I'm here for the long haul because there are no quick fixes," Cheng said.