Cheryl Green, president of Governors State University, announced her retirement, effective March 1, 2025.
In an email addressed to the GSU community, Green shared that her decision to retire from a 37-year career in higher education comes after receiving cancer treatment last year, during which she took a brief leave of absence.
“After much prayer, reflection and consultation with my family and doctors, I have determined that the time has come for me to put my health above my professional aspirations by retiring,” Green wrote.
Green, who became the sixth president of GSU in 2020, highlighted the significant challenges and achievements that took place during her leadership. She noted that her presidency coincided with unprecedented global and national events, including the pandemic. Despite these challenges, Green emphasized that the university remained steadfast in its mission to provide exceptional and accessible education.
While Green was president, GSU experienced numerous changes, including adding new administrative roles and initiatives, creating the Social Justice Center and the Center for Community Media, opening a College of Graduate Studies and Honors College and accrediting several programs.
In her announcement, Green expressed gratitude to the GSU Board of Trustees, her cabinet, and the broader university community for their unwavering support. She also pointed out that GSU graduated its first class of Ph.D. candidates and secured unprecedented financial gifts to the university’s foundation during her tenure.
Green stressed that she would ensure a smooth transition to her successor in the coming months. “The Board of Trustees will follow a similar process as they did when they recruited me by engaging a search firm to conduct a national search,” Green wrote. “More information will be forthcoming soon about how the entire campus community will be engaged in the process to find the university’s seventh president, including ensuring representation from across the campus on the presidential search committee.”
Reflecting on her time at GSU, Green expanded on a statement she frequently made to the campus community: “Together we can; together we must. And now, I can say with immense pride, together we did.”
She expressed confidence that the university would continue to reach new heights under future leadership and conveyed her best wishes to the GSU community.