The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees deadlocked on appointing interim president Dr. Martin Abraham as the university's 12th president. Instead, the board voted to form a search committee to find a successor to Jack Thomas, who stepped down earlier this year.

At the beginning of their June 14 meeting, Western Illinois University trustees agreed to a plan that calls for WIU President Jack Thomas to step down on June 30.  After the 7.5 hour meeting, Tri States Public Radio talked to Board of Trustees Chairperson Greg Aguilar about the deal.

Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas said his final day on the job will be June 30, 2019, ending a presidency marred by employee layoffs, declining student enrollment, and increasing tensions between the administration and faculty. 

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced seven new Western Illinois University new board members on Thursday, less than 24 hours before trustees met on Friday.