The chancellor is appointed by the Board of Trustees following nomination by the president of the University of Illinois System.

The chancellor performs those duties that are assigned by the president and that are consistent with the actions of the Board of Trustees.

The current chancellor is Janet L. Gooch, who has held the position since July 1, 2022.

On February 28, 1995, Governor Jim Edgar signed a bill reorganizing higher education in Illinois, which in the process abolished the Board of Regents of Sangamon State University (SSU) and merged SSU with the University of Illinois System.

Naomi B. Lynn, the last president of SSU, continued as the new university's first chancellor.