 At the July 2009 meeting of the WIU board of trustees, Goldfarb officially announced his intention to retire on June 30, 2011.It was announced that President Goldfarb would be succeeded as president of the university by Western's

provost and vice president for academic affairs, Jack Thomas, who succeeded him on July 1, 2011.At Illinois State University, Goldfarb was involved in establishing an internship program with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and constructing new center for the performing arts.