This is a transcript of the address delivered by Dr. Dean Pribbenow, Millikin University's 17th President, at the 2026 Fall Opening Kick-Off, held on August 12, 2026.
Good morning,
Today has quickly become one of my favorite days of the year because it reminds us of what makes this University so special — our people. It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together as colleagues, welcome the newest members of our faculty and staff, learn more about the remarkable students who will continue to arrive over the coming days, and discover new ways to engage with our community and with one another.
Although Kris and I have now been part of the Millikin and Decatur communities for just over a year, we continue to be grateful for the support and encouragement we’ve received. Thank you for the kindness you’ve shown us, for your collaboration, and for the passion you bring to this institution every day. It has been a privilege to become part of the Millikin family.
During last year’s Kick-Off, I outlined four principles that would serve as guideposts for both my leadership and that of our broader community: Presence, Purpose, People, and Partnerships. These principles have shaped every conversation, every decision, and every opportunity we’ve pursued over the past year. And they continue to guide our work, demonstrating what is possible when an entire University comes together. But today, as I reflect on the past year at Millikin, a fifth P comes to mind: Progress.
Not progress measured simply in numbers — although there are certainly encouraging numbers to celebrate, many of which I will talk about today. Rather, progress measured in students who discovered new possibilities. In faculty who responded to our increased enrollment and inspired innovation. In staff who served with excellence. In alumni and donors who invested in our future. And in community partners who reminded us that Millikin’s impact reaches far beyond our campus. The accomplishments we’ll celebrate today reflect the intentional work of a University community that understands both the opportunities and the challenges before us thatwe must address.
During my inauguration this past spring, I articulated my belief that we must BOTH embrace tradition and pursue transformation and that, doing so, we are honoring those who have set that example for us. I spoke about four truths that serve as expressions of our tradition. We believe relationships are central to the educational experience and that students thrive when they are known, challenged, and supported. We further recognize that those relationships and connections don’t stop at the edge of campus. Millikin has always been deeply connected to our community, and our students are enriched when they learn alongside our partners, alumni, employers, and neighbors.
We remain steadfast in our belief in the enduring value of the liberal arts, because in a world that is changing at an extraordinary pace, the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and lead with integrity has never been more essential. And we continue to believe that Performance Learning is not simply something we do — it is who we are. It is the distinctive educational model that prepares our graduates to make meaningful contributions from the earliest days of their careers.
Those truths are timeless. But they also serve as our call to action. That is why I also challenged our community to pursue four strategic imperatives, and as I look back on this past year, I see these imperatives not only as aspirations for the future, but as the lens through which we can understand the remarkable progress we’ve made together.
First, I said we must become increasingly student-ready. Tia Brown McNair and her colleagues amplify this point: “Student-ready colleges are committed not only to student achievement but also identifying and removing systemic barriers to the achievement of every student.” Over the past year, we’ve taken meaningful steps toward meeting students where they are and helping them succeed from the moment they chose Millikin.
Last fall, we welcomed the largest incoming class since 2020, including our largest transfer class in more than a decade. Next week, we will welcome nearly 600 new traditional undergraduate, transfer, and international students to our campus. Those students arrive with diverse backgrounds, varied life experiences, and high expectations — not only for an outstanding education, but for an institution that understands their goals, supports their success, and values them as humans.
That’s why we continue investing in initiatives like the Millikin Tuition Promise and Big Blue Pledge, making a Millikin education affordable to more families. It’s why we’ve expanded student support through initiatives like the Millikin Market, the NetVUE Professional Development Grant, a revamped EDGE program, and the TRIO Grant, and it’s why we received national recognition for our commitment to first-generation students – ~40% of the incoming new students have identified as first generation! Being student-ready is more than a goal; it’s a mindset that asks us to continually examine every interaction, every policy, and every program through the eyes of our students.
Our second imperative challenges us to evolve to serve new and expanding populations of students. Today’s learners don’t all follow the same educational pathway, and our future depends upon recognizing that reality. This year, we launched our Online Elementary Education Program, providing a flexible pathway for working adults to become licensed teachers. We strengthened graduate student pipelines through Direct MBA Admit partnerships with Bradley University and Blackburn College while continuing to grow our hybrid MBA with specializations in fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Cybersecurity, Finance, and Healthcare Administration, all while continuing to explore potential new graduate programs.
We’re also seeing tremendous momentum among transfer students, thanks to stronger articulation agreements with community colleges and more intentional transfer pathways. These efforts are part of the reason that Millikin has been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll for the sixth consecutive year.
But growth isn’t only about increasing enrollment. It’s about expanding opportunity while remaining true to our mission. We were founded on the belief that this university should be open to individuals from all walks of life, and we honor our tradition when we extend our educational excellence to new populations.
Our third imperative is to align our academic offerings with the workforce needs of Decatur, Macon County, and Central Illinois. We must be laser-focused on aligning our expertise and resources with the needs of the times.
Whether MBA students are developing AI-powered solutions for S.I.C. Recycling, Education students are preparing to become life-changing educators through Interview Boot Camp, or Nursing students are advancing the future of community health through our new Memorial-Millikin Nursing Scholars partnership with Decatur Memorial Hospital, our students are developing as scholars and addressing real challenges while preparing for meaningful careers.
This year also brought reaffirmation of accreditation for the Tabor School of Business and our DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program, and initial accreditation of our Master of Science in Athletic Training, affirming the quality of education that our students receive. When our graduates leave Millikin prepared to lead in their careers, they become the teachers, business leaders, healthcare providers, artists, scientists, and innovators who strengthen Central Illinois and beyond. In fact, the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities has captured Millikin’s economic and social impact: $72M annual economic impact in Decatur and Macon County, including 765 jobs supported across the county. Our alumni through Illinois have an $885M annual economic impact, with over 3700 jobs supported across the state. The impact is real!
Finally, we must deepen the partnerships that strengthen both Millikin and our region. Partnerships have always been one of Millikin’s greatest strengths, and this year we’ve seen their impact in extraordinary ways.
Last fall, more than 500 students, faculty, staff, and ADM volunteers participated in Day of Service across Decatur, and we anticipate the same next Thursday, when the Millikin community visits St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to conduct volunteer service for Feed My Starving Children. Millikin continued its partnership with the WSOY Community Food Drive, surpassing our fundraising goal of 5000 dollars/pounds. The revived Millikin-Decatur Executive Association partnered with the Center for Entrepreneurship to provide panels to local executives and community members. We expanded collaborations with the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce; joined the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation to promote the Illinois Gives Tax Credit; and worked closely with Richland Community College, local school districts, and numerous nonprofit corporations on a variety of initiatives.
The arrival of the Decatur Bean Ballers at the Workman Family Baseball Complex represents another exciting example of working together toward a shared vision, as do the previously mentioned Memorial-Millikin Nursing Scholars Program and the Millikin Market, a collaboration with Northeast Community Fund and supported by the United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois and others. We are also deepening our participation in plans to revitalize the Oakwood business and neighborhood.
And, while it isn’t yet finalized, we are deep in public-private planning discussions to host the construction of a new Natatorium on the south side of the campus. Funded by a community organization, this facility would be the host for numerous youth competitive swimming and diving teams, in addition to being the home pool for our Big Blue swim teams. This is further evidence that the future for institutions like ours is in the extent and quality of our partnerships!
The progress we have made this year is the result of countless contributions across our campus. And while these imperatives provide a framework for our future, they are also a reminder that excellence at Millikin takes many forms. Throughout this past year, we have seen that excellence recognized through national rankings, celebrated through student achievements, demonstrated through the generosity of those who believe in our mission, and strengthened through investments in our facilities and programs.
This year, Millikin was once again recognized nationally across disciplines. U.S. News & World Report ranked the University No. 2 among Regional Colleges in Illinois and No. 4 for Best Value Schools in the Midwest. Further, our Doctor of Nursing Practice program earned distinction as one of the top programs in Illinois, ranking No. 4 in the state and No. 1 among programs located outside the Chicago metropolitan area.
Our students and faculty continued to represent Millikin with distinction. Fine Arts students swept top honors at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Student Auditions. School of Art & Creative Media students received recognition at the 2026 American Advertising Awards, winning seven gold and eight silver ADDYs. Students earned top individual honors at this year’s Model Illinois Government Conference. They showcased their artistic and research accomplishments during our annual Celebrations of Scholarship and Poster Symposium. And during Honors Convocation, we recognized 140 students and five faculty members who collectively received awards totaling more than $85,000.
These accomplishments reflect something each of us knows well: excellence happens every day at Millikin because of the dedication of our people. That commitment to excellence is also evident in our Athletics programs.
This past October, we celebrated the grand opening of the David J. & Debra C. Rathje Athletic Center, a $12.3 million, 17,655-square-foot facility that enhances the strength, wellness, and training opportunities available to our student-athletes. We also announced the addition of Women’s Wrestling and Women’s Flag Football, expanding opportunities for female student-athletes during the 2026/27 year.
On the playing field, our teams continued to demonstrate the competitive spirit and commitment that define Big Blue Athletics. Millikin Baseball captured an historic CCIW Championship and earned the opportunity to host an NCAA Regional Tournament — and on a related note, as a reminder, Workman Family Softball Field will be hosting the NCAA Softball Championships this coming spring! But our student-athletes continue to demonstrate that success is about more than competition. They excel in the classroom, serve their communities, and represent Millikin with pride. That commitment was recognized when Millikin Athletics finished among the top four institutions nationally in the NCAA Division III Community Engagement Impact Challenge. Whether in competition, in the classroom, or in the community, our student-athletes embody the values of Millikin.
Our Forever True Blue Challenge brought in $685,000 in gifts, nearly doubling the $350,000 goal. Our All Heart, All In Athletics giving initiative generated more than $100,000 in support, doubling the original goal of $50,000. And a transformational estate gift of $3.3 million, the largest scholarship gift in the history of the College of Fine Arts, created the Helen Cox Kersting ’56 & Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting Scholarship Fund, providing renewable scholarship opportunities in the School of Music.
Our overall fundraising goal for FY26 was $10 million, and we were able to generate $15.78 million in cash and an overall total of $32.23 million in cash, pledges and new business. Notably, our Millikin Fund/Unrestricted and Annual Scholarship gifts both significantly exceeded their goals for the year, at 137% and 183%, respectively.
We have a compelling and convincing story to tell. Investments are powerful reminders that people believe in Millikin. They believe in our students. They believe in our faculty and staff. And they believe in the role this University plays in shaping the future of our region.
I look forward to providing you all with a more comprehensive update on the University’s budget and financial outlook during an upcoming budget session. Once those sessions are scheduled, we will share the dates and details with the campus community. In the meantime, I want to provide a brief update on our bond financing, which is an important component of our long-term Plan of Finance.
Our bond offering remains active, and we continue to work closely with our advisors as the financing process moves forward. As is often the case with financing of this scope, we adjusted the structure for investors and to position the University for a successful outcome. The Board of Trustees has been supportive of these efforts, with the Executive Committee meeting regularly to provide guidance and receive updates. While these efforts have extended our timeline, they reflect our commitment to making thoughtful decisions that support Millikin’s long-term financial health.
One important element of this work is our pursuit of accelerated ownership of The Woods Apartments, which was originally scheduled for 2033. Following extensive analysis with our financial advisor, Columbia Capital Management, and our legal counsel, Chuhak & Tecson, we believe this approach will strengthen the University’s financial position by increasing operational flexibility, reducing long-term financial obligations, and enhancing our overall financial flexibility.
Direct ownership of The Woods will allow us to more fully integrate this residential community into the Millikin experience, aligning housing operations more closely with our educational mission and enabling us to respond more effectively to the evolving needs of our students. Additionally, direct ownership of The Woods will improve our operational results significantly, transitioning a contract that was serving as an operating expense for many years into a revenue generator.
Because aspects of this transaction remain subject to ongoing financial and legal processes, we are limited in what we can share at this time, but I look forward to providing you with additional information as appropriate once those processes are complete. In the meantime, I want to assure you that this decision reflects careful planning and thoughtful stewardship.
As we look back on this remarkable year, it is important to remember the significance of the moment we are in. This year, we officially kicked off our year-long 125th anniversary celebration. The City of Decatur recognized that milestone by declaring April 30, 2026, as Millikin University Day, and our community came together on that day — Founder’s Day — to celebrate not only where we have been, but where we are going. As part of our anniversary festivities, we also had the opportunity to share James Millikin’s story with our community as we hosted the premiere of “The Original Big Blue: The Life and Times of James Millikin,” a documentary chronicling the life and legacy of our founder.
Anniversaries provide an opportunity to honor our history, but they also challenge us to think about our future. For 125 years, Millikin has adapted to changing times while remaining grounded in its mission.
That is the balance that stands before us today and always: tradition and transformation.
We will continue to honor the traditions that have made our University special — our close relationships, our commitment to our community, the liberal arts foundation that prepares our graduates to lead, and the Performance Learning experiences that set a Millikin education apart.
But we will also continue to transform. We will explore new opportunities. We will expand access. We will strengthen partnerships. And we will prepare our students for careers and communities that look different than they do today.
A year ago, I spoke for the first time about moving Millikin forward. Today, I can say with confidence that we are doing exactly that.
The next 125 years of Millikin’s story will be written by all of us, together.
It has been a true joy to serve alongside you over the past year and to witness firsthand the passion, dedication, and care that define this University. Thank you for the work you do each and every day on behalf of our students and for the many ways you continue to move this institution forward.