Martin Abraham

Western Illinois University's interim president said he is optimistic about the year ahead. But he added there are plenty of challenges to tackle.

Western Illinois University intends to hold in-person classes beginning August 24 in Macomb and the Quad Cities. But the union representing faculty members is fighting that plan.

Western Illinois University Interim President Martin Abraham is not mincing words when it comes to systemic racism in Macomb.

When the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees met on May 6, Chairperson Polly Radosh warned the COVID-19 crisis is saddling Western with a new set of budget challenges.

Western Illinois University hired Dr. Martin Abraham about a year ago to serve as its next provost.  But when President Jack Thomas announced he would step down at the end of June, 2019, the university's Board of Trustees asked Abraham to serve as acting president.

Western Illinois University Board of Trustees Chairperson Polly Radosh said leaders of the school's presidential search committee made progress the first two-and-a-half months of the year. But in mid-March, the state issued stay-at-home orders and bans on large gatherings in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

So goes Western Illinois University, so goes the City of Macomb. Western Illinois University and the City of Macomb have a longstanding partnership, and together we work to ensure the town and gown relationship remains steadfast.

The ball was in Dr. Martin Abraham’s court last week.  It was up to Western Illinois University’s interim president to decide what course of action to follow as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus increased rapidly.

Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio announced it hired Dr. Jack Thomas to serve as the ninth president in school history. Central State is a public, historically black university with an enrollment of 2,100.

The interim president of Western Illinois University used the start of the new semester to deliver an upbeat speech to faculty, staff, students, and community members.  Dr. Martin Abraham told the audience in the University Union Grand Ballroom that he believes WIU's struggles are in the past.

The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees (BoT) split right down the middle on whether to name Dr. Martin Abraham as the school’s next president.  Tri States Public Radio spoke with a board member from each side of the issue to get their thoughts.   

The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees has held 11 public forums on campus and in the community to gather input about the search for the school's 12th president.

Dr. Martin Abraham acknowledged he was nervous before Thursday's meeting of the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees (BoT). "It's a big decision, a lot riding on it both for me and the university – and the community too, quite frankly," he said.

The head of Western Illinois University said plans are already in the works to attract more students, though it might take a couple years to turn around enrollment numbers that have declined for more than a decade.

Acting WIU President Dr. Martin Abraham took part in his first University Assembly  Thursday morning, delivering a nearly hour-long speech to hundreds of faculty, administrators and staff members in Western Hall on the Macomb Campus and to countless others watching online. The bulk of his time was spent on a single topic.

Dr. Martin Abraham moved to Macomb a few weeks ago to serve as the new provost at Western Illinois University. But following Dr. Jack Thomas' decision to step down as president, Abraham has been thrust into the role of acting president.