Illinois Institute of Technology President Alan W. Cramb is stepping down next year.
Cramb, who assumed the top role at the tech institute in 2015, will retire as president at the end of May 2021. Cramb announced his retirement to Illinois Tech Monday, saying he intends to return to the classroom as a professor of mechanical, materials and aerospace engineering at Illinois Tech.
His successor has not been chosen yet, but Illinois Tech’s Board of Trustees has begun a national search for its next president.
Cramb originally came to Illinois Tech as provost in 2008 from Carnegie Mellon University. During his tenure, Cramb led Illinois Tech into a new era of innovation and tech entrepreneurship by developing the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship, which was the first new academic building on campus in 40 years. The Ed Kaplan Family Institute is home to a maker space and classrooms.
Cramb also led the college in creating its new College of Computing, which opened earlier this year and houses the school's computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, applied mathematics, cybersecurity, and information technology and management programs.
Under Cramb’s leadership, Illinois Tech also fully renovated its Mies van der Rohe-designed residence hall. 2020 fall enrollment topped 6,300 total students, according to Illinois Tech’s website.
Cramb said in a statement that he is aligning his retirement with Illinois Tech’s strategic plan to raise $500 million for the college. So far, it has raised about $300 million, which included a recent $20 million gift from cell phone pioneer and alum Marty Cooper, as well as a $150 million gift last year from a group of 10 donors.
“Our campaign and the strategic plan will take at least five more years to complete due to the effects of the pandemic and other external factors,” Cramb said in a statement. “As I reflected on this reality, I realized that the university needs a leader who can commit to this time frame. I am sure that this is the right time and the right decision for myself and the university.”
