Penn State set to name next university president, reports say
Dr. Neeli Bendapudi will be Penn State’s next president, according to multiple reports.
Bendapudi has served as the president at the University of Louisville since April of 2018. Before that, she filled the role of Provost and Executive Vince Chancellor at Kansas.
With a background in business and marketing, Bendaputi also has teaching experience at Texas A&M and Ohio State.
She will replace President Eric Barron, who will retire following the conclusion of his contract in June.
Bendaputi was born in India, where she earned her undergraduate degree. She will become the first woman and the first person of color to serve as Penn State’s president.
Bendapudi is a decorated academic mind, with the bulk of her research relating to consumer behavior, and a highly respected keynote speaker.
Her arrival comes at a key pressure point for Nittany Lion athletics, just after head football coach James Franklin signed a 10-year contract extension. Alignment with the university’s administration proved a key point in that agreement.
“To be honest with you, that’s what it’s all about,” Franklin said. “That’s what the whole contract is about. And, I do think you guys have heard me talk for a long time about alignment. Alignment with the board and specifically the chair of the board, you know, the president of the university, the athletic director, the head coach; you guys have heard me talk about that for a long time. So that’s what it’s all about.”
New Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi’s impact on athletics
Bendapudi arrived at Louisville shortly after Athletic Director Vince Tyra was made permanent in his role following a stint as interim Athletic Director.
The major athletic inflection point of her nearly four-year tenure came with the hiring of football coach Scott Satterfield. He replaced Bobby Petrino, who was fired during the 2018 season.
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Louisville hired Scott Satterfield from Appalachian State in December of 2018. Penn State fans may remember that Satterfield’s App State team took the Nittany Lions to overtime that season.
Satterfield owns an 18-18 record as the Cardinals head coach heading into Louisville’s bowl game.
The athletic facility upgrades made at Louisville since Bendapudi’s arrival include a $23,500,000 residence hall for students and student-athletes, as well as a commitment to a new indoor practice facility for the Cardinals’ baseball team.
The recent happenings in the Louisville athletic department have been chaotic.
The university recently suspended head basketball coach Chris Mack for 20 days, after Mack failed to follow school policies as his former assistant coach attempted to extort him.
This week, the Louisville administration reportedly waived a non-compete clause, clearing the way for Tyra to take the open athletic director job at Florida State. Bendapudi came under media criticism for declining to explain why.
However, after news broke Thursday morning that Bendapudi is off to Penn State, reports emerged that Tyra is now unlikely to take the FSU job. Whether he remains at Louisville or not is uncertain.
It’s unclear when exactly Bendapudi will step into her role as Penn State’s next president. A Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday to formally approve her appointment.
