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About President Pamela Whitten

As an innovative, action-oriented leader, Pamela Whitten leads with a student-focused approach. Under her leadership, Indiana University remains focused on students, research and service to Indiana and beyond. 

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A focus on students, research, and service

Pamela Whitten is the 19th president of Indiana University and the first woman to lead IU, a world-class public research university with nine campuses throughout Indiana.

Under her leadership, IU has emphasized three central pillars: providing broad access to an education for all students from Indiana and beyond; pursuing world-class research, scholarship and creative activity; and making meaningful contributions to improving Hoosier health and the economic, social, civic and cultural development of the state and the world.

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IU's impact

President Whitten is committed to a focus on student success, world-class research and scholarship, and to improving Hoosier health and the economy in Indiana and beyond.

Areas of focus

Building IU's future 

Since taking office as IU’s 19th president in July 2021, President Whitten has focused her administration on preparing students to succeed—and helping Indiana succeed. IU 2030, the university’s ambitious strategic plan, is designed to position IU students and the university to lead innovations that will make Indiana safer, healthier, and more prosperous.

Among the innovations she has championed:

  • Creating a new vice president position for a senior administrator responsible for ensuring that every IU student can succeed.
  • Spearheading the creation of IU Indianapolis, following the separation of the Indianapolis campus from Purdue, leading to IU Indianapolis receiving a top R1 rating for research activity, a first for the city and making IU one of the few universities with two R1-rated campuses.
  • Leading a drive to increase access to an IU education that includes fee reforms saving students more than $14 million and to half of IU bachelor’s degree students graduating free of student debt.
  • Attracting support such as a $138 million grant from Lilly Endowment to establish the IU Launch Accelerator for the Biosciences, an academic-industry initiative to position Indiana as a leader in biosciences discovery.
  • Raising university-wide research expenditures to $990 million, a nearly 30 percent increase from 2021.
  • Founding IU Innovates, an initiative to strengthen support for IU student and faculty business start-ups.
  • A $250 million investment to advance biosciences, biomedical engineering, and health and wellness research, and a $110 million investment in microelectronics innovation, helping strengthen Indiana’s global competitiveness in rapidly developing fields.
  • Development of a new IU facility in Washington, DC that will expand opportunities for students and faculty in the nation’s capital.

These initiatives support the three pillars of the IU 2030 plan—student success, innovating for Indiana, and serving the state and beyond. In implementing IU 2030, the university has developed detailed, benchmarked implementation plans for each campus, including campuses of the IU School of Medicine, the nation’s largest medical school.

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    President Whitten visits with volunteers in the IU booth during the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration in Indianapolis.

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    IU administration visit the construction site of the Neuroscience Center at Indiana University Indianapolis.

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    President Whitten and students from the IU Indianapolis' graduating class of 2024.

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    IU President Whitten speaks during the IU Bloomington Undergraduate Commencement in Memorial Stadium.

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    President Whitten presents the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies Global Voices for Change Award to Ukrainian lawyer and human rights activist Oleksandra Matviichuk, a co-recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, during the America's Role in the World Conference at IU Bloomington.

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    IU Indianapolis students held the 23rd annual Jagathon Dance Marathon at the Campus Center, where they raised $307,605.24 to benefit Riley Children's Hospital.

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    President Whitten and Chancellor Latha Ramchand host a faculty tea at University Library at IU Indianapolis.

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    IU is spearheading the “Bring On Tomorrow” initiative, dedicated to advancing a better future through research, education, and service to local and global communities, launching bold initiatives in business, healthcare, science, technology, and the arts.

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    Jaydi Jones, a freshman at IU Kokomo and the inaugural recipient of the President Whitten First Generation Scholarship, share a moment with President Whitten, Lacy Johnson (a partner at Taft Stettinius and Hollister), and Jones' mother.

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    Universität Hamburg President Hauke Heekeren meets with President Whitten here at IU in Bloomington. Universität Hamburg and IU have worked together since 1966 and in 2020, Universität Hamburg has designated Indiana University a strategic partner.

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    President Whitten and IU East's Chancellor Dennis M. Rome pose with their hoodies before a men’s basketball game against Northwestern. Rome was recently publicly installed as the new chancellor for IU East.

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    In collaboration with IU’s First Nations Educational and Culture Center, Union Board, Native American and Indigenous Studies, and the Kelley Office of Diversity Initiatives held several events at the Indiana Memorial Union in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The events included Ryan Singer of the Navajo Nation presenting his work on Indigenous Futurism, a Native crafts vendor, live painting, and dancing.

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    President Whitten attended IU Northwest's kick-off for Hispanic Heritage Month. IUN is the only public comprehensive higher education institution in Indiana designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

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    IU Indianapolis deans help lead the campus’s academic units and fulfill IUPUI’s mission of advancing Indiana and the intellectual growth of its citizens through research and creative activity, teaching and learning, and civic engagement.

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    IU is proud to celebrate 10 years of the Civic Leaders Center. The CLC emphasizes public service and leading for the greater good which has made IU a better place.

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    The deans who lead the Indiana University Bloomington Office of Student Life are here to help students have the best possible experience during their time at IU.

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    Celebrating the 34th Wells Scholars class, which embodies our commitment to nurturing talent for leadership. These scholars possess academic excellence and social responsibility, poised to drive impactful change.

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    Indiana University's partnerships with life science partners are a critical part of IU's dedication to innovation, research, and bettering health and wellness here in Indiana and across the globe.

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    President Whitten shakes hands as she meets with students during the Groups Scholars Program Summer Experience, which was created as a way to increase college attendance among first-generation, underrepresented students at Indiana University.

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    President Whitten gives high fives to degree candidates after the IU Southeast Commencement.

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    The sixth annual Launch(ed) Women in Technology conference aims to inspire middle school girls to pursue their interest in STEAM fields: science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

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    President Whitten led the Vision 2024 all-task force meeting at the Madam Walker Theatre.

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    The Luddy Living Learning Center is designed as a housing option for students who love technology. Here students can take advantage of special opportunities, like a trip to Silicon Valley.

Connect on social media

Follow President Whitten to learn more about her vision for Indiana University, and to see what our students, faculty, staff and alumni are up to on a daily basis.

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Across the state, I have witnessed the dedication and passion of our students, faculty, and staff who are committed to IU’s future and work tirelessly to enhance it. This experience has deepened my love for Indiana University and the state we serve

President Pamela Whitten 2025 State of the University Address

Career and honors

Before joining IU, Whitten held a variety of leadership roles in higher education, including serving as a dean at Michigan State University, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, and as president of Kennesaw State University. She is an internationally recognized expert in the field of telemedicine, holding a Ph.D. in communication studies and a Master of Arts in communication.

  • 2021-  : President, Indiana University
  • 2018-2021 : President, Kennesaw State University
  • 2014-2018 : Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost,  University of Georgia
  • 2009-2014 : Dean of the College of Communication Arts & Sciences,  Michigan State University
  • 2007-2009 : Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education,  College of Communication Arts & Sciences, Michigan State University
  • 2006-2007 : Assistant Dean, College of Communication Arts & Sciences, Michigan State University
  • 2005-2006 : Professor, Department of Communication and Regenstrief  Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University
  • 2005-2014 : Professor, Department of Telecommunication, Information  Studies & Media, Michigan State University
  • 2004-2005 : Professor and Director, Health & Risk Communication Center, College of Communication, Michigan State University
  • 2001-2005: Associate Professor, Department of Telecommunication,  Michigan State University
  • 1998-2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Telecommunication,  Michigan State University
  • 1998-2005: Research Fellow, College of Human Medicine, Institute of  Healthcare Studies, Michigan State University
  • 1995-1998: Inaugural Director of Information Technology Services and Research and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center
  • 1993-95: Teaching Assistant, University of Kansas
  • 1988: Instructor, University of Maryland, Frankfurt, West Germany Campus

  • Sagamore of the Wabash (2025)
  • IBJ Media’s Inaugural Indiana 250 – Indiana’s Most Impactful & Influential Leaders (2022 and 2023)
  • IBJ Media’s Women of Influence (2022)
  • Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Who’s Who in Education – Top 100 Educators (2019, 2020 and upcoming May 2021)
  • Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500: Education & Healthcare (2020 and 2021)
  • Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEOs (2020)
  • American Telemedicine Association Fellowship (2011)
  • Michigan State University Distinguished Faculty Award (2010)
  • Michigan State University Outreach Scholarship Award (2008)
  • Linkugel Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series Award, University of Kansas (2006)
  • National Library of Medicine and American Medical Women’s Association: Local Legends in Medicine (2004)
  • Michigan State University Teacher-Scholar Award (2002)

Get to know the president

Learn more about Pamela Whitten, IU's 19th president.

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  • From the desk

    Read the president's newsletter and see her latest speeches and statements