Dr. Dean Pribbenow 'honored' to join the Big Blue as next Millikin University President

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Dr. Dean Pribbenow will become the 17th President of Millikin University, effective July 1.

Pribbenow succeeds Dr. Jim Reynolds, who stepped down on March 1 after nearly five years in the position.

Millikin Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ronald Branch (class of 1981) is serving as Acting President in Reynolds’ absence.

Pribbenow is no stranger to higher education. He currently serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, Ill., a position he’s held since 2020. He served as Acting President from July-August 2023.

Pribbenow has over 20 years of experience in academic leadership and served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisc., before moving to Elmhurst. He says there are many characteristics of Millikin that drew him to the institution, but he loves its model of performance learning.

"It's about the experience of learning and providing students opportunity to apply what they're learning in a real setting in all the different ways that that take shape and all the different disciplines and majors." said Pribbenow. "That matches with what I think is most impactful and powerful and transformative about higher education is the chance to learn deeply, but then apply it. The ways in which learning transforms once you apply it is amazing."

Pribbenow is committed to maintaining partnerships with the surrounding community and says Millikin and Decatur must continue to benefit each other. He cited the University's "Big Blue Pledge," which covers 100% of tuition costs for qualifying Illinois residents.

“I am honored to join Millikin University and the Big Blue as its next president. During my time on campus, the love for Millikin, and the abiding commitment to students and the broader community, was evident among all those I met,” Pribbenow said. “This institution has a strong and distinctive reputation for academic excellence through performance learning. I look forward to working alongside everyone to build on these strengths and deepen our connections both on and off campus. Together, we will ensure that the University remains an integral part of the region’s future.”

“During his career, Dean has worked in both challenging and thriving institutions, which have provided him with valuable insight into institutional challenges and opportunities. As Vice President of Academic Affairs, he also contributed to comprehensive campaign activities and has a breadth of experience in fundraising and institutional advancement,” Branch said. “During his on-campus visit, Dean emphasized the urgency of taking action and understands and believes that Millikin’s financial plan is attainable and achievable.”

Pribbenow earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Luther College and a Master of Science in Counseling with a Higher Education Concentration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"As Millikin undergoes this exciting transition, we are grateful for Dr. Jim Reynolds’ leadership and service during his tenure. Over the past five years, President Reynolds was a dedicated leader for Millikin, guiding us through unprecedented challenges and positioning the institution for long-term success,” Branch said. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank him for his service and leadership during his tenure as Millikin’s 16th President.”

At Elmhurst, Pribbenow oversaw a $35M operating budget. He co-led the effort to secure the designation of Elmhurst University as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

“I have had the pleasure to know Dean for several years, and I’m confident he possesses a deep understanding of academic affairs and its central role in institutional success,” Millikin Provost Mary Black said. “Dean is an inclusive leader who respects and seeks out a wide range of opinions when making decisions. He has also demonstrated openness in communication and has a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership.”

Pribbenow and his wife Kris Mickelson have six grown children – Adam (26), Emma (26), Jonah (23), Leah (23), Micah (20), and Sam (19) – who live in Wisconsin, Washington State, and Colorado. Mickelson is a Professor of Education at Morningside University (Sioux City, Iowa), where she holds a remote faculty appointment and teaches full time in the School of Education.

"As Millikin’s president, I will set the example and the expectations for strengthening a culture that centers around student learning and belonging. While some people emphasize that students need to be more ‘college-ready,’ I believe it is equally important for our institutions to be “student-ready,” Pribbenow said. “Focusing on inclusion and equity in policies, recruitment, services, and campus climate — being student-ready — leads to a sense of belonging essential to institutional health and long-term viability.”