Dooley named next Purdue University Global chancellor

Frank Dooley Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University President Mitch Daniels on Thursday (March 26) announced that Frank Dooley, senior vice provost for teaching and learning, has been named chancellor of Purdue University Global, effective May 1.

Dooley will replace Betty Vandenbosch, who announced earlier in March her intention to step down to become chief content officer at an education technology company. Vandenbosch will continue to oversee most Purdue Global activity through the month of April.

“Frank has been closely connected to Purdue Global since its launch and is ideally qualified to assume the role of chancellor,” Daniels said. “He is widely respected on our residential campuses and well-suited to building new collaborations across the entire Purdue family of schools. The current crisis is certain to propel an acceleration of online learning across colleges both virtual and traditional. Frank is just the person to lead us in adapting and competing in that new environment.”

Dooley was a key leader of the Purdue team that secured the regulatory approvals and helped launch Purdue Global in 2017, extending Purdue’s land-grant mission to students from across the state and around the nation.

“I am honored and humbled by this appointment, and excited to build upon the outstanding work of Chancellor Vandenbosch, her senior leadership team and the Purdue Global faculty,” Dooley said. “Purdue Global provides a higher education opportunity to thousands of students from coast to coast who otherwise would not be able to pursue their degrees – fulfilling our mission as a land-grant university in the 21st century.”

As chancellor of Purdue Global, Dooley will be responsible for overseeing academics for the more than 31,000 students who earn their degrees online, students who are predominantly female, over the age of 30, lower-income and have families.

In his current position, Dooley provides leadership for undergraduate education, academic planning, program evaluation, and general academic policy development and implementation. His responsibilities include fostering program initiatives and providing guidance related to the areas of career success, student success, undergraduate academic affairs and teaching success at Purdue. During his time in the provost’s office, Purdue’s four-year graduation rate has climbed from 46 percent to more than 60 percent. He also reviews academic budgets and serves as the Office of the Provost liaison to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Educational Policy Committee.

Dooley came to Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics in 1998. He has served as professor of agricultural economics, associate head of the department, Provost Fellow, associate vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs and vice provost for teaching and learning.

Dooley has received numerous awards for teaching, research and service, including the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2009 and the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher in 2011. He was inducted into Purdue’s Teaching Academy in 2002 and into the university’s Book of Great Teachers in 2014. His research interests include logistical and supply chain management for food and agribusiness. His publication record includes chapters in six books and over 200 articles or other publications. 

Dooley received his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota and his doctoral degree from Washington State University.

On May 1, Jenna Rickus, who currently serves as associate vice provost, will assume the role of interim vice provost for teaching and learning for Purdue West Lafayette. Details on a search for the position will be announced at a later date.

About Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global is the extreme personalization online university, providing students the competitive edge to advance in their chosen careers. It offers a hyper-tailored path for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, desired pace, military service, previous college credits and other considerations – no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global serves more than 31,000 students (as of January 2020) who earn their degree online. It also operates several regional locations nationwide. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. It is affiliated with Purdue University’s flagship institution, a highly ranked public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue University also operates two regional campuses in Fort Wayne and Northwest Indiana, as well as serving close to 6,000 science, engineering and technology students at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. For more information, please visit PurdueGlobal.edu.

Media Contact: Tom Schott, 765-494-9318, tschott@purdue.edu 

Sources: Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu 

Frank Dooley, dooleyf@purdue.edu