When Eastern President Lou Hencken walks around campus, students frequently say hello to him and Hencken often greets them by name.

“He is very much a people person,” said Steve Rich, executive director of the EIU Alumni Association.

Some of the most important jobs of a university president are fundraising and community outreach, and Hencken has been involved in both of them.

Hencken has traveled across Illinois and the rest of country.

He has been very involved in fundraising, which has resulted in an increase in donors as well as in donations to the university, said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations.

Rich said Hencken, who announced his intent to retire at the end of June, has been helpful in getting alumni involved in the university.

“His outreach efforts have been very well received by our alumni,” Rich said. Hencken’s outgoing personality is a major part of why he is so good at connecting with people, he said.

Rich said he thinks Hencken’s background in Student Affairs has benefited him in relating to both alumni and students.

Hencken started working at Eastern in Student Affairs and became Vice President for Student Affairs in 1992.

In addition to working with donors and alumni, Hencken has been very focused on connecting Eastern to the community around it.

He is a member of Coles Together, a group of business and political leaders leaders who work on business projects in the county.

Bill Rowland, CEO of First Mid-Illinois Bank, is also a member of Coles Together. He said Henken and the job he’s done at Eastern has been a big part of Coles County.

“Lou has really given the Mattoon-Charleston area something to be proud of,” Rowland said.

Nilsen mentioned Hencken meets frequently with city officials to talk about issues concerning Charleston and Eastern.

“He meets on a regular basis with the mayor and city manager, as well as the superintendent of schools,” Nilsen said. “It makes the county (and Eastern) more integrated.”

As to whether the relationship between school alumni and donors and the president will change once a new president is appointed, Nilsen said she does not anticipate any problems.

“Each of the candidates expressed interest in both outreach and fundraising during their interviews,” Nilsen said.

Rich agreed that there would probably be no significant change beyond a period of adjustment.

“It’s a people-getting-to-know-people process,” Rich said. “The Alumni Association will be very supportive of the new president.”