Technology issues on Eastern’s campus will get a new leader with a new position being filled.

Bill Hoadley will be the filling the new position of Eastern Illinois University’s assistant vice president for academic affairs for technology.

Hoadley’s main duties will be widespread in the area of technology. His main duty will be supervising the Center for Academic Technology Suppport (CAPS).

This position will provide the university much needed leadership in techology areas,” said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“Hoadley will help deal with technology issues that continue to change in ways we can’t even forsee.”

“The idea for this new position goes back a few years,” said Lord. “President Surles wanted to improve course work and technology inhanced work by introducing a new technology position.”

The search for someone to fill this position was not easy.

“A year ago last spring we interviewed three people in the early part of last semester and we were unable to fill the position,” said Lord.

Lord said the search was reopened this year. A search committee chaired by James Tidwell, professor in the journalism department, narrowed a list of around fifty canidates down to only four.

Hoadley was selected from the four to fill the position

“It was our job to make recommendations to the provost, said Tidwell.”

” We only advised, but we viewed Hoadley as an acceptable canidate. It was the provost’s job to hire him.”

Eastern’s Board of Trustees recently authorized Lou Hencken to offer Hoadley a three year contract. This contract will run through Aug. 18, 2005.

Hoadley is expected to begin his duties Aug. 19.

Hoadley currently serves as the chair for the University of South Dakota’s School of Education’s Division of Technology for Training and Development and professor of health studies.

Before going to USD Hoadley served as an instructor and graduate teaching and research assistant at the University of Illinois.

Hoadley received his doctorate in health and safety education in 1982, his masters of science in school health education in 1980 and his bachelor’s of science in secondary mathematics education in 1978.