Latha Ramchand will be the first chancellor of Indiana University Indianapolis. She will also serve as executive vice president and a professor of finance.
(Courtesy of Indiana University)
Indiana University announced Monday Latha Ramchand will be the first chancellor of IU Indianapolis.
Ramchand, who will also hold an executive vice president position, is currently executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of Missouri, according to an IU release. She begins Feb. 12, months before IUI launches July 1. She will oversee the IUPUI split between IU and Purdue University.
“Latha Ramchand will provide the bold, visionary and entrepreneurial leadership necessary to advance our ambitious vision for IU’s Indianapolis campus,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in the release. “Her expertise will accelerate our momentum at this critical time, firmly establish IU Indianapolis as one of the nation’s premier urban research universities, and expand the university’s impact in central Indiana and beyond.”
Ramchand will succeed IUPUI Interim Chancellor Murdoch-Kinch. The campus had a 54-year run as IU and Purdue Universities’ shared a stake in the capital city. IU will retain 85 percent of the IUPUI student body — over 23,000 students — and will own and operate the current IUPUI campus after the split.
Ramchand will oversee more than 400 undergraduate, graduate, professional and certificate programs, and “an extensive and growing research portfolio,” the release said. She said she cannot wait to get started.
“The energy and momentum around this campus is palpable, and impressive,” Ramchand said. “From the focus on student success to the impactful research led by IU faculty in Indianapolis, it is clear to me that this campus is poised to become one of the most vibrant urban public research universities in the country. The opportunity to serve as the inaugural chancellor for an institution such as IU Indianapolis at this point in its history is truly special.”
According to the release, Ramchand currently serves as chief academic officer and leads the development, implementation and improvement of all academic programs at Missouri.
In addition to her role as IUI Chancellor and the executive vice president position, she will be part of the Kelley School of Business’ faculty as a professor of finance, the release said. She received her doctoral degree in finance from Northwestern University and both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in economics from the University of Mumbai.
Quinn Buckner, chair of the IU Board of Trustees, said in the release Ramchand has a “proven track record of impact.”
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Indiana University will take over IUPUI's campus and facilities in July. IU to build up its new campus, including creating a SciTech Corridor in Indianapolis. (Courtesy of Indiana University)
“Together with President Whitten, I’m confident Dr. Ramchand’s leadership will position our Indianapolis campus to expand its extensive academic and research portfolios, enhance talent attraction and retention, and shape crucial investments in our campus while driving the economic and social vitality of communities in Indiana and beyond,” Buckner said.
IU announced the search team for the new chancellor in August, led by Susan Sciame-Giesecke, vice president for regional campuses and online education, and Russell J. Mumper, vice president for research. Isaacson, Miller, an executive search firm, helped in the search for the chancellor.
IU has announced new collaborations and investments ahead of IUI’s first day.
In September, the university said graduating seniors in Indianapolis Public Schools will be automatically admitted if they maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher and fill out a short form online.
The campus will also begin a program to directly admit eligible School of Science students into the IU School of Medicine and double in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Whitten said in an August interview.
Whitten said IUI will expand, particularly in STEM fields. IU recently announced investing $250 million in life and health sciences and $111 million in microelectronics — IUI will get a piece of both investments. Indiana’s General Assembly also gave IU $60 million to build lab and research buildings. Whitten said the university plans to enroll more students in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @aubreymwright.
