IRVINE : UC Irvine Official to Head Illinois College

John R. Miltner, a UC Irvine vice chancellor for eight years, has been named president of Millikin University, a small undergraduate school in Decatur, Ill., officials at both institutions announced Monday.

Miltner, 44, was selected from 121 candidates to head the 90-year-old private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. He succeeds Roger Miller, who is retiring after 21 years as president. Miltner begins his new job July 1.

Miltner was selected not only for his strong fund-raising abilities, but because he was clearly “the best of the best,” said Reggie Syrcle, Millikin’s director of university relations.

In a prepared statement, UC Irvine Chancellor Jack Peltason described Miltner as “a great personal friend” who “has made major contributions to UCI and has been extremely important to its growth.”

Miltner was not available for comment.

Former UCI Chancellor Daniel G. Aldrich appointed Miltner vice chancellor for university advancement in 1983. In that post, his responsibilities included fund raising and community relations.

During his tenure, private gifts to UC Irvine increased from $10.1 million in 1982-83 to $27.3 million last year. For several years, UC Irvine has been the largest fund-raising institution in Orange County.

Miltner is a past chair of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. Before joining UC Irvine, he served as assistant vice president and director of development for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Syrcle said he did not know Miltner’s salary, but at UC Irvine, Miltner was expected to earn $120,696 this year, a campus official said. As Millikin’s new president, Miltner will also have the title of professor of business.