Neeli Bendapudi has been selected as the next president of Pennsylvania State University. When she takes office in the spring, she will be the university’s nineteenth president and the first woman to hold the position. She will receive a base salary of $950,000.
“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,” Dr. Bendapudi said. “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.”
Dr. Bendapudi has been serving as president of the University of Louisville since May 15, 2018. Earlier, Dr. Bendapudi was executive vice chancellor and provost at the flagship campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Previously, Dr. Bendapudi was the dean and H.D. Price Professor of Business at the University of Kansas School of Business. She held that post from 2011 to 2016. From 1996 to 2011, Dr. Bendapudi served on the faculty at Ohio State University and was promoted to full professor of marketing in 2008. Earlier in her career, Professor Bendapudi taught marketing at Texas A&M University.
Dr. Bendapudi holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Andhra University in India. She earned a Ph.D. at the University of Kansas.