University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert Jones has decided to step down at the end of the academic year.

“I truly believe this is the greatest university in the world, which makes this the most difficult decision that has confronted me in my 47 years in higher education. My time at Illinois has been the most profound experience of my professional life, and I thank every single campus community member for that,” Jones said in a news release. “We are at the high point in our 157-year history in terms of our educational and research impact. Next is a period of transition with our institutional strategy and collaborations. This is an appropriate time to look toward the next leader who will build on that momentum and promote the bold ideas for which Illinois is known.”

He strongly supports Illinois Athletics and is one of the warmest and kindest people ever. This is a huge loss for the university. Here’s hoping they find someone of equal character.