Meet the Chief of Staff to the President and Vice President for Strategic Operations

Brenda Stopher joined Indiana University as chief of staff to the president on January 1, 2022. In this role, Stopher advises and represents the president on various operational and organizational initiatives and oversees the office's day-to-day operations. In January 2024, she was appointed to serve in the additional role of vice president for strategic operations, working closely with executive leadership across the university to ensure the president’s strategic vision is fully executed. Her strategic operations portfolio includes strategic initiatives; enterprise enrollment; and enterprise effectiveness and accreditation. 

Stopher is a seasoned professional with a wealth of higher education and private sector experience in finance, business, audit, enrollment management, and athletics. Before coming to Indiana, Stopher held several integral positions at Kennesaw State University, most recently as vice president for enrollment management. Prior to that, she served as special assistant to the president and associate vice president for business and finance; director of facilities budget and finance, and associate athletic director of business affairs. She was also a consultant to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia where she assisted with a two-year review of intercollegiate athletics.

Prior to her 22 years in higher education, Stopher held various roles in the private sector including vice president, finance and controller at LandAmerica OneStop, as well as senior positions at CarMax and Coopers & Lybrand.

Throughout her career, Stopher has demonstrated exceptional leadership and financial acumen. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the University of Richmond and a master's in accounting from Kennesaw State University.