Illinois College names new president

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Illinois College has picked Barbara Edwards Farley to serve as the 14th president of the 183-year-old liberal arts college in central Illinois.

Farley was named to the post Tuesday and will be the first woman to hold the position on a permanent basis. Martha Church held the position on an interim basis in 2002-2003.

Farley is slated to take over when President Axel Steuer retires at the end of the current academic year.

The South Bend, Ind.-native currently serves as vice president of academic affairs and dean at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. She’s held that position since 2006 and has worked in higher education for more than 25 years.

About 1,000 students attend Illinois College, which is in Jacksonville — about 30 miles west of Springfield.