Daniels taps Chiang, Bertoline for strategic leadership roles

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue President Mitch Daniels on Friday (April 23) announced two senior leadership appointments as the university continues to position itself to achieve strategic initiatives, advance in Purdue’s core areas of strength and respond to national and international need.

“Having carefully selected targets for Purdue’s major new investments, it’s equally important that we put our best people on the job leading those initiatives and producing results,” Daniels said. "We don’t have finer or more proven leaders than these two, both great scholars with records of action to match.”

Beginning May 1, Mung Chiang, in addition to serving as the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, will serve as executive vice president for strategic initiatives, reporting in that role directly to Daniels. In his role as dean of engineering, Chiang will continue to report to Provost Jay Akridge.

Gary Bertoline, current dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, will step away from that role to take on the position of senior vice president for Purdue Online and learning innovation, effective May 17. Bertoline will report to Akridge, and Purdue Online will become a unit of the Office of the Provost. Gerry McCartney, the executive vice president for Purdue Online since its launch in December 2018, has announced his intention to retire, effective May 31. Carrie Berger, current executive associate dean for research and strategic initiatives in the Polytechnic Institute, will serve as interim dean while a national search is conducted for Bertoline’s successor.

As executive vice president for strategic initiatives, Chiang will be charged with using his experience in both state and national advisory roles to help position Purdue to lead the ambitious research and development, manufacturing, education and infrastructure initiatives expected from upcoming and unprecedented federal investment opportunities. He also will lead Purdue’s efforts in identifying and vetting additional major private-public opportunities that will propel the growth and success of the Discovery Park District and the Aerospace District.

“Significant federal investment into national R&D priorities, coupled with the post-pandemic demand for innovation, are pointing to the next several years as the most transformative period for American higher education in over half a century,” Chiang said. “President Daniels and the BOT’s strategic initiatives will make Purdue the most consequential public university in the U.S. I am honored to serve in the additional role, in which I look forward to working with all colleagues across the university as well as in Purdue for Life Foundation and Purdue Research Foundation.”

Chiang’s work will involve building relationships with government, industry and foundations to form strategic regional, national and international partnerships that deliver an integrated strategy to best serve the interests of the state of Indiana and Purdue — with particular areas of focus to include secure microelectronics and communications, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. These activities are expected to support Purdue’s Next Moves.

In his new and ongoing roles, Chiang will collaborate and coordinate with others in the president’s leadership team, Purdue for Life Foundation and Purdue Research Foundation.

Bertoline, in his new role, will be the chief administrative officer of Purdue Online, responsible for coordinating all online educational programs, courses and offerings — both credit and noncredit — for the Purdue system. Bertoline also will take a lead role in the Transformative Education 2.0 initiative of Purdue’s Next Moves, responsible for the development and implementation at scale of new learning technologies. 

“Purdue’s work to evolve and respond to changing needs and expectations in the delivery of education has never been more important,” Bertoline said. “I look forward to expanding on the work that has been done in this area and building new pathways, keeping students at the forefront of our thinking, planning and strategy.”

As senior vice president, Bertoline will develop and lead a systemwide strategy to support and expand the university’s online learning mission to meet the needs of both residential and nonresidential students, including the development and implementation of a long-term growth plan. Purdue Online includes all administrative and delivery functions for online programs as well as all personnel engaged in the design and execution of online programs at Purdue’s West Lafayette, Northwest and Fort Wayne campuses. Bertoline will coordinate Purdue Online programs and activity with those of Purdue University Global, a separate legal entity with a distinct model to reach adult learners. 

Daniels and Bertoline credited McCartney for his vision in the launch of Purdue Online, adopted as one of the Purdue Moves in 2018 and now an integral part of the institution’s mission and efforts.

“Gerry has been a visionary throughout his career at Purdue, from his time in Krannert School of Management through his innovations as our longtime CIO, and ultimately, his leadership and development of Purdue Online,” Daniels said. “Everyone at Purdue has benefited from Gerry’s efforts and the partnerships he has built, and I personally will miss his expertise, vision and good-humored support for everything we’ve worked to do here.”

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/. 

Media contact: Tim Doty, doty2@purdue.edu

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