IU goes inside for new IUPUI chancellor

Indiana University officials have selected Nasser Paydar as the next chancellor of IUPUI, replacing Charles Bantz, who is retiring in August.

Paydar has been the second-highest-ranking executive at IUPUI since 2012. He is also the campus’ chief academic officer.

Paydar was recommended by IU President Michael McRobbie to the academic affairs committee of the IU trustees, according to a statement released Thursday by IU. The committee voted Thursday to accept McRobbie’s recommendation. The full board of trustees is expected to confirm Paydar's selection at its meeting on Friday afternoon.

“As executive vice chancellor for the past three years, Nasser has shown a tremendous ability to bring disparate groups together to create a strategic vision for the IUPUI campus that will allow for a seamless transition,” McRobbie said in a prepared statement.

Paydar, who will become IUPUI’s fifth chancellor, is a mechanical engineer by training. He earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Syracuse University. He joined IUPUI immediately after earning his doctorate in 1985.

In 2004, he became vice chancellor overseeing IU’s Columbus campus, which operates as an arm of IUPUI. From 2007 to 2012, he was chancellor of the IU East campus in Richmond.

Since Paydar led IU East, the campus has seen an 87-percent enrollment increase, as well as improved retention and graduation rates.

Paydar will take over from Bantz on Aug. 16. Bantz, who is in his mid-60s, will take a one-year leave before returning to IUPUI as a member of the communications faculty.

During Bantz’ 12 years as chancellor, the campus boosted the number of degrees it awards each year, and also constructed numerous buildings, including the high-profile Campus Center as well as buildings for research, teaching and student housing.