WEST LAFAYETTE— Purdue Global Chancellor Frank Dooley announced that he will step down at the end of 2024 from his role since 2020. The university will soon name an acting chancellor until a permanent successor is identified.
“Purdue Global is a national leader in working adult learning because of Frank Dooley and his dedication to its mission, its growth, and its people,” said Mike Berghoff, chair of the Purdue Global Board of Trustees. “Under Frank’s leadership, the university has improved in every way that matters.”
Since being named chancellor, Dooley has focused on supporting student success and aligning Purdue Global more closely with the Purdue University system. Under his leadership, student retention rates reached record highs, enrollment grew over 20%, various administrative services returned to West Lafayette, and the university is operating from a strong financial position.
Purdue Global interim CEO and Purdue Chief Financial Officer Chris Ruhl said the goals Dooley and the Purdue Global team have worked toward — student success, enrollment growth and innovation — will continue as priorities under the leadership of a new chancellor and Purdue Global Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Eva Nodine.
Purdue President Mung Chiang said, “We thank Professor Dooley for his excellent leadership over the years both as senior vice provost for West Lafayette and chancellor for Purdue Global. Frank has made numerous contributions to the entire Purdue family, with his contagious enthusiasm for learning, online and residential. We will always share his pride in providing education pathways for adult learners with positive impact that changes their lives.”
The university saw significant gains under Dooley’s leadership. Since 2019, three-month retention rates, which typically lead to higher completion rates, have increased by 10 percentage points. In terms of enrollment growth, census has climbed from 31,000 to 37,000 students. Addressing the third goal — to be more innovative — Dooley positioned Purdue Global to become a national leader in prior learning assessment (recognizing transfer credit and experiential credit from work or military experience) and as a leader in the recognition of skills as employers seek new ways to hire.
“The result of Frank’s leadership is that not only are Purdue Global students achieving their academic goals at higher rates, but the school’s financial position is healthy and fully secure,” Ruhl said. “Recent investments in student success and the infrastructure for growth have put the school in a great position to continue a positive trajectory.”
Dooley has been involved with Purdue Global since its launch in 2018. Then-Purdue President Mitch Daniels tasked Dooley to work with Purdue faculty to integrate the new school into the Purdue system. Before being named chancellor, Dooley was the senior vice provost for teaching and learning on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus and a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Economics.
As chancellor emeritus, Dooley will return to the College of Agriculture and begin the first sabbatical of his career.
“Changes in life are never easy, but I am confident now is the right time for this transition,” Dooley said. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished, and I am confident in Purdue Global’s continued growth and success.”
