Penn State University on Thursday appointed
Neeli Bendapudi as its 19th president and its first woman president in its
166-year-history. She will be both the first woman, and person of colour, to
hold the university’s highest office.
Bendapudi was born in India and
moved to the United States to attend graduate school at the University of
Kansas where she earned her Ph.D. She is an American academic and the 18th
president of the University of Louisville. Ms. Bendapudi completed her BA
& MBA from Andhra University, Vizag. With a nearly 30-year career in
academia, she has taught marketing and served in a variety of administrative
roles over the years.
Previously, she served as chief customer
officer of The Huntington National Bank and was actively involved in business
outreach through consulting and executive education programs. Her work has been
featured by popular media outlets including The New York Times, CNBC, CNN,
MSNBC, WebMD and Fox News Network.
Neeli Bendapudi, on becoming the president, said,
“Penn State is a world-class university, and I couldn’t be prouder and more
excited to join this vibrant community of outstanding students, faculty, staff
and alumni throughout the commonwealth and beyond. Thank you to the Penn State
community and Board of Trustees. I am grateful for this opportunity and will
make it my mission to help Penn State reach new heights across each of our
campuses.”
Bendapudi will succeed President Eric J Barron,
who will retire after serving Penn State for more than 30 years.