NIU Provost Ivan Legg, 67, has announced his retirement effective July 1, 2006. A committee will soon search for a new provost to replace Legg.

President John Peters said he accepted Legg’s letter of resignation about a week ago “with reluctance.” Legg was appointed executive vice president and provost July 1, 2001.

“There was really no one particular reason [for retirement],” Legg said. “I’ve been in higher education for 50 years. I entered college in 1956 and I’ve never left.”

Higher education is a unique experience few have a chance to participate in, Legg said.

“I added a few personal reasons to retiring … everything was in place and I think the timing was perfect,” Legg said. “You have to bite the bullet and say, ‘OK, it’s time to leave.’”

Administrative assistant Chris Welch worked directly with Legg for one year, but worked within his office since Legg started at NIU.

“I really do hate to see him go,” Welch said. “He’s very nice to talk to, very available to students. He’s good at what he does and has been a good administrator.”

Similar sentiment was expressed about Legg by Paul Stoddard, president of the Faculty Senate.

“I think he was hired at a time of transition in the university and did a good job of helping guide us through that transition,” Stoddard said. “Personally, I’ll miss working with him.”

Legg has enjoyed his experience of working with students.

“The students here have been marvelous, and working and helping them get their education is very important, and I like to think I helped a bit toward that,” Legg said.

Legg not only worked with students, but also lived in Stevenson Towers for a year and a half.

“He’s the only provost I know who had to ask students how to do laundry,” Peters said. “He’s really proud [he lived with students] and so am I. He had a good feel for the students.”

Legg said he enjoyed living in a residence hall again and will never forget that year and a half-long experience.

“The students here are particularly friendly,” Legg said. “I got to know a number of students well. I was near the stadium and saw the Convocation Center being built. It was a special experience that I enjoyed and miss.”

Legg was raised in South America and attended Oberlin College, a private four-year school in Ohio. He attended the University of Michigan for his Ph.D. in chemistry and conducted his post-doctoral study at the University of Pittsburgh.

He began his career as a faculty member at Washington State University and worked there for 21 years except for a year and a half sabbatical at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He became dean of sciences and mathematics at Auburn University before moving to the University of Memphis as provost. Legg then became provost of NIU.

Coming to NIU was a double benefit because my family lived in the Chicago area, so it brought me close to my family as well as to a good university, Legg said.

Although Legg worked at NIU for just four years, he had a big impact on the university.

“He just loves universities and is enthusiastic about what we do with our students and our faculty,” Peters said. “He beams every time a student wins an award or a faculty member has a significant publication or research grant or teaching award. In my way of thinking, he represents the best in American higher education.”

Legg will remain provost for the rest of this school year, which gives the university time to run a national search for his replacement, Peters said. The university will select from a diverse pool of candidates and Peters said the search will be difficult.

“[Provost] is one of the most important positions at the university for students and faculty,” Peters said. “The provost sets the academic standards. I just feel so fortunate that I was able to attract someone of Ivan’s caliber and experience here. He’s been very good for NIU.”

In his letter of resignation to President Peters, Legg stated, “It has been a privilege to work with you and indeed a privilege to have spent 50 years of my life in higher education … My teachers have ranged from the professors who sold me on the beauty of chemistry to you, who showed me the strength of administrative leadership effective to run a university in a period of high expectations and accountability. Thank you for your friendship and support. I look forward to seeing NIU grow under your guidance.”