June 29, 2023 – Millikin University has named its next Chief Human Resources Officer, who will serve as the lead advisor and partner to university administration for HR-related matters.
Todd Ray, a Decatur native with family who have worked at and attended Millikin, will begin his new role starting July 1. Ray will replace long-time Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator Diane Lane, who will retire after years of service to the university. After spending more than 25 years as Decatur Foundry, Inc.’s Vice President of Human Resources, Ray said he’s excited to join the university after a lifetime of connections to the campus community.
“I have been associated with Millikin in one form or another, personally or professionally, all the way through,” Ray said in a press release. “Millikin has a great reputation, and it has a lot of good people. I am excited about joining them.”
Ray earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at Eastern Illinois University and his master’s degree in public administration at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Before his time spent with Decatur Foundry, he previously directed the HR departments at Crawford County Memorial Hospital and Greenville Regional Hospital in Dennison, Iowa and Greenville, Illinois, respectively. In addition to his studies, he also holds several senior-level human resources certifications. Ray said he feels his breadth of experiences has prepared him for his position at Millikin.
“At the end of the day, HR is meant to be an advocate for the team,” Ray said in the release. “Whether you are in manufacturing, higher education or healthcare, the employees need someone they can trust. I feel like I can bring that to the table for them.”
As a proponent of Performance Learning, hands-on experience is key to a Millikin education. With Ray’s experience as a leader in various fields, he said he’s excited to continue building the already strong connections within the department and at the university as a whole.
“I like to spend a lot of time making rounds and meeting people, and I anticipate doing that often at Millikin,” Ray said. “I want to ensure that HR continues to be seen as a department of collaboration that is approachable, fair and consistent.”
