Durbin Honors Glenn Poshard, President of Southern Illinois University
[WASHINGTON, DC] – In a statement for the Senate record, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored Dr. Glenn Poshard, President of Southern Illinois University, who is retiring after over seven years of service. Dr. Poshard has had a forty year affiliation with Southern Illinois University, and is the second longest serving president in the history of the college. Durbin and Dr. Poshard also served together for eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 1997.
“Today, Dr. Poshard will be stepping down as President of Southern Illinois University, a position he has held with honor and distinction for more than seven years. Under his leadership, Southern Illinois University has been able to keep tuition costs low and the university’s finances sound, despite financial problems that have plagued the state,” Durbin said.
“Mr. President, I congratulate Glenn on his outstanding career and thank him for his dedicated service to the people of Illinois.”
The full text of Senator Durbin’s statement for the record is below:
Senator Richard J. Durbin
Glenn Poshard, President Southern Illinois University
May 1, 2014
MR. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to thank Dr. Glenn Poshard for his years of public service to Illinois.
Today, Dr. Poshard will be stepping down as President of Southern Illinois University, a position he has held with honor and distinction for more than seven years. Under his leadership, Southern Illinois University has been able to keep tuition costs low and the university’s finances sound, despite financial problems that have plagued the state.
Dr. Poshard has dedicated his life to working for the people of southern Illinois. In 1984, he was appointed to the Illinois State Senate until the people of the 22nd Congressional District sent him to the United States House of Representatives in 1989. I was fortunate to serve with Dr. Poshard for eight years in the House of Representatives, where he was a strong proponent of campaign finance reform. Due to his commitment to reform, he limited individual donations to his gubernatorial campaign in 1998 and refused to accept contributions from political action committees.
Following his tenure in Congress, Dr. Poshard and his wife, Jo, founded the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children. For the last fourteen years, the Poshard Foundation has worked to help abused, abandoned, and neglected children in southern Illinois.
After a forty year affiliation with Southern Illinois University, Dr. Poshard is leaving his alma mater in good shape. He retires as the second longest serving president in the history of the Southern Illinois University system, an experience he calls “the greatest honor of my life.”
Mr. President, I congratulate Glenn on his outstanding career and thank him for his dedicated service to the people of Illinois.
I wish him and his family all the best.
Thank you, Mr. President.