February 19, 2010
Jake Baggott named assistant to the chancellor
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A 25-year veteran of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Student Health Center has been named assistant to the chancellor.
Jake Baggott, currently associate director of the health center, will begin his new duties March 1. He will replace Susan Ferry, who is retiring after a 30-year career at SIUC, including the past 11 as assistant to the chancellor.
The appointment requires ratification by the SIU Board of Trustees.
Baggott, who lives in Cobden, earned three degrees from SIUC, including a master’s of legal studies-health law and policy from the School of Law.
His previous positions with Student Health included administrator, manager and assistant director. Baggott currently has operational and fiscal officer responsibility for development and management of all aspects of a $16 million annual budget. He also has principal responsibility for the development, implementation and review of all administrative and business operations policies, along with overall management of SIUC’s self-administered insurance program that covers 18,000 students.
Baggott also has extensive experience on various campus committees. He is a member of the Saluki First Year Experience Implementation Committee and is serving as chair of the Administrative Professional Staff Council for the third time. He has been a member of the All-Hazards Planning and Response Committee since 2000 and the Chancellor’s Planning and Budget Advisory Committee since 2006. He also has served on a variety of search committees during his tenure at the University.
“There are few positions that would entice me to leave Student Health, where I have had a rewarding and successful career,” Baggott said. “This position intrigued me. I believe my familiarity with so many aspects of the University will be beneficial to the chancellor’s office. This is an important position in moving our campus forward.”
Chancellor Samuel Goldman said Baggott’s experience, both at Student Health and campus-wide, will contribute to a smooth transition after Ferry retires.
“This position requires a thorough understanding how the entire University works, which Jake certainly has,” Goldman said. “In addition, he has extensive experience with personnel, budgets and policies, all of which are important parts of the responsibilities of this position.”
Rita Cheng, who will become SIUC chancellor June 1, participated in the selection process. She noted that all five finalists for the job “are very, very talented.”
“Jake’s unique set of experiences on the campus gives me the confidence that he is the best fit at this time,” she said. “His knowledge will contribute greatly to our efforts in the chancellor’s office.”