The following is an excerpt of a story published in The State Journal-Register on Feb. 9, 2023.
"In her eight months on the job, University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet L. Gooch has been keenly aware of the institution's presence in the capital city.
Gooch, who was formally invested as chancellor during a ceremony at Sangamon Auditorium Wednesday, said she has challenged UIS to expand ways students can learn beyond the classroom, including through civic engagement.
'I think it's important that UIS as the (university in the capital city) develops students who have a purpose for what they do,' Gooch said after the ceremony. 'We need to educate servant leaders for our communities and for the state. We need to put students out in the community to think about how they can give back, really challenge them to think about the problems our world is facing, and help be a part of the solution-making."