President Lisa Freeman announced Thursday Beth Fisher Ingram will take on the role of executive vice president and provost beginning May 16.

“We are very excited to welcome  Ingram,” Freeman said. “She is an accomplished academic and administrator with a wealth of experience at top-flight public research universities. She not only understands the challenges facing public higher education but also has a demonstrated ability to find solutions that respect the mission, vision and values of institutions like ours.”

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Ingram comes to NIU after four years as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at North Dakota State University. During her time at NDSU, Ingram was involved with the creation of an early alert and advising system and the development of curriculum maps and four-year plans, according to NIU Today.

While acknowledging the university’s struggles, Ingram said she was drawn to NIU and maintains a positive outlook on the university.

“NIU clearly embraces the mission of a public university, demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity, access and affordability,” Ingram said. “Freeman has put together a great leadership team and everyone is pulling in the same direction, working to create a great educational experience for students and to have a positive impact on the community.”