Federal judge James E. Shadid has been hired as Bradley’s 13th university president, according to an announcement from the Office of Marketing and Communications on Friday.
The decision to hire Shadid, who will assume his duties starting April 1, comes slightly less than a year after former University President Stephen Standifird resigned in June 2024.
The official presidential search began in November and involved a search committee made up of Board of Trustees members, faculty, staff and the student body president.
Shadid currently serves as a United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, a job he started in 2011 after being appointed by former U.S. President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
A Peoria native and 1979 Bradley graduate, Shadid sat down with The Bradley Scout to discuss his plans and ideas for the university.
Stepping into the role of Bradley’s leader was not something Shadid ever imagined he’d do, but he’s confident he has what it takes to fulfill the job’s responsibilities.
“I believe that you conduct yourself in a positive way and then timing and opportunity arrives, and…when this moment arrived, I felt like the things that I would have to offer Bradley University were what Bradley University needs now in terms of relationship-building and creating an environment that’s attractive,” Shadid said.
Further, Shadid said his life experiences embody the vision set forth by the university’s founder.
“In [Lydia Moss Bradley’s] words, being a useful student meant giving back to your community, being part of your community, making an impact in your community, and I believe that has been a story of my life as well,” Shadid said.
Shadid graduated from John Marshall Law School (now the University of Chicago School of Law) in 1983 and then worked as an attorney in private practice in the Peoria area. Later, he served as a state judge for 10 years in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
Although the legal profession is drastically different from a career in higher education, Shadid believes the temperament he developed as a judge will translate well in the university space.
“I think that people would describe me as a judge as fair minded, even-tempered and somebody who gives a level playing field,” Shadid said. “I made my decisions based on facts that matter, not facts that don’t.”
“In the university area, the larger stakeholder community, in a courtroom, the participants have had a full and equal opportunity to be heard,” Shadid continued. “I think those attributes, those characteristics, will serve me very well as a university president.”
While an adjustment period is typical for one to adapt to a new role, Shadid says he’s prepared for a smooth shift.
“I think the transition is going to be very natural,” Shadid said. “I have a lot of relationships on this campus already, a lot of relationships around the community, a lot of relationships with donors and alums, and I’m looking forward to transitioning into this role.”
The official announcement revealed that a few of Shadid’s immediate priorities are increasing enrollment and stabilizing Bradley’s financial condition. Shadid says a potential part of the enrollment solution is upgrading aspects of the campus to appeal to student needs.
“I think the perimeter of the campus needs to be more attractive in terms of residential [areas], the student center and dining and things that kids want,” Shadid said. “We have good programs. We have the faculty and student relationships, so I think when we put those two things together, we can make this a place that’s attractive for students.”
Following the tumultuous events of the 2023-24 academic year, in which the former president announced program cuts to resolve a $13 million budget deficit, students and faculty spoke out repeatedly, through protests and town halls, to express their discontent with the decision itself and the overall communication from the president’s office.
Building relationships and cultivating trust with the student body is something Shadid hopes to accomplish.
“If the students felt that way, I think it’s because of the relationship they have with the faculty,” Shadid said. “I don’t think we should make any decisions on this campus, whether it’s program cuts or anything else that impacts students or faculty or impacts our mission, without effectively communicating why we’re doing what we’re doing, how we’re better off because of it and what we’ll look like when we get through it.”
This cooperative mindset ties into how Shadid views his leadership style.
“I’m a listener. I’m a collaborator,” Shadid said. “I want people to be part of the team, all focused on the mission. I want people to tell me the truth. I don’t want them to tell me what I want, what they think I want to hear, and I want us to tell everybody else the truth.”
Being a Bradley alumnus will be a huge part of Shadid’s presidency, and he says he aims to preserve the university’s storied traditions while also moving it forward.
Ultimately, Shadid says he’s grateful for the chance to lead. He believes he can offer Bradley what it needs right now and establish a distinct presence on the Hilltop.
“I’m going to be a very visible and engaged president on campus and off,” Shadid said. “Bradley is a place that I love. It’s a place that I grew, and so I think that my story is actually the Bradley story. I’m willing and capable to tell it, and I think that mission will serve the university.”
