Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles R. Bantz has announced Nasser Paydar, chancellor of Indiana University East and professor of mechanical engineering, as IUPUI’s next executive vice chancellor effective June 15, pending approval by the Trustees of Indiana University.

Paydar was selected for the post after an extensive national search, chaired by William Blomquist, dean of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI and professor of political science. Paydar succeeds Uday Sukhatme, who is leaving to become the provost at Pace University.

As executive vice chancellor, Paydar will play an important role in developing and guiding the implementation of the campus’s academic plans and programs. Additionally, he will oversee the process for the recruitment, hiring and advancement of the faculty, including promoting the continued success of the campus’s efforts to increase the quality and diversity of faculty.

“Nasser is a well-respected leader within Indiana University and the state and brings a strong record of administrative and academic accomplishments to IUPUI,” Bantz said. “We know his collaborative and dynamic leadership style will not only benefit our students, faculty and staff, but the greater Indianapolis community.”

Paydar joined IUPUI in 1985 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Since that time, he has risen through the ranks as a faculty member and held various administrative positions including department chair, associate dean, executive associate dean, vice chancellor at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus and his current position as chancellor at IU East, which he has held since 2007.

At IU East, Paydar implemented a campus strategic plan focused on enrollment growth and shaping, academic excellence, reputation-building and resource enhancement; employed a new business model to generate new revenues and cost-control strategies; led an image makeover to attract top high school students; implemented online programming to expand reach and attract out-of-state students; and promoted academic excellence and nurtured faculty growth.

“Under Nasser’s tenure at IU East, student enrollment increased 68 percent,” said John Applegate, IU’s executive vice president for university regional affairs, planning and policy. “His creativity and support for the Blueprint for Student Attainment, which charts a path to greater success for students at IU regional campuses while addressing the evolving role and growing importance of the campuses to the state and regions they serve, will truly benefit the IUPUI campus.”

“I am extremely honored to be selected as executive vice chancellor,” Paydar said. “IUPUI’s role as a vibrant and growing urban research campus is critical to the overall success of IU, and I look forward to working together with the entire IUPUI community as we build on its strong foundation.

“I take comfort in the fact that together, with my friends and colleagues at IU East, we accomplished so much in the last five years and that I leave the campus much stronger than I found it many years ago,” Paydar added. “Our student body increased dramatically in this period and student retention and graduation rates also increased significantly. As they graduate and remain in the community, they will contribute enormously to the economic development of this region and enhance the quality of life of its citizens.”

Paydar holds a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Syracuse University, was the principal investigator on 18 grants totaling more than $1.3 million in funding and has been published numerous times in a variety of scientific journals.

The interim chancellor for IU East will be named in the near future.