Urbana appoints new city administrator

Darius White
Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams new city administrator Darius White.


Urbana has selected a new city administrator to oversee staffing and municipal operations.

The City Council appointed Darius White to the position Monday night, who is a former city employee who has held multiple economic development positions.

This includes Senior Regional Economic Development Manager – East Central Region within the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and director of the now-defunct Urbana Business Association.

Mayor DeShawn Williams said the new administrator’s roots in the community make him a good fit.

“Darius understands the direction that I want to take the city towards greater equity stronger neighborhoods and stronger more inclusive growth, ” he added. “I believe he’s exactly the partner we need to help turn this vision into a reality.

White will officially begin his duties on August 4. 

During Monday night’s meeting, the city council also approved a new Urbana Comprehensive Plan and endorsed a Regional Planning Commission study to redesign a portion of Lincoln Avenue.

Arjun Thakkar

Arjun Thakkar leads day-to-day news coverage as the Senior Editor for Illinois Public Media. He joined the station in 2024 after two years as a politics reporter with WKAR in East Lansing, MI. Arjun received a Regional Murrow award for his reporting on cycling infrastructure and advocacy in Michigan's capital city.