Former student Rahul Shrivastav to lead IU Bloomington campus as executive vice president and provost: News at IU: Indiana University

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The flagship Indiana University campus will welcome a new leader on February 15, as former student Rahul Shrivastav assumes the role of IU Bloomington’s executive vice president and provost, pending the approval of the IU board of directors.

The Provost is the academic director of the IU Bloomington campus community, which has more than 45,000 students, 2,400 faculty and 5,700 staff. The Rector provides academic leadership and support for faculty and student initiatives that enhance education, research and creative activity. The provost role was previously held by Lauren Robel, who resigned in June, with John Applegate serving on an interim basis during the national search.

“Rahul brings a wealth of related expertise, including extensive experience in student services, teaching and research, as well as community service and outreach,” said IU President Pamela Whitten. “Rahul’s experience, skills and energy will prove essential in providing the vision and momentum for a successful and welcoming campus.”

In addition to his leadership role, Shrivastav will also hold a faculty position in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at the College of Arts and Sciences.

“We were fortunate to have five superb finalists, and Rahul stood out for his deep connection to the Bloomington campus community, his clear vision of our opportunities and the practical steps to achieve them, and his collaborative style and accessible, “said Fred Cate, Distinguished Professor, IU Vice-President for Research and Chairman of the Research Committee.

Distinguished Rudy Professor of Music Marietta Simpson, President of the Bloomington Faculty Council, served on the research committee and highlighted the legacy of strong leadership at IU that Shrivastav will continue.

“Today, as we welcome our new rector, we look forward to continuing this legacy with him, while strengthening our commitments to research excellence, shared governance, academic freedom and student success,” said she declared. “I am sure the faculty will join me in supporting him as he develops a bold and visionary plan for the bright future of IU Bloomington.”

Shrivastav received his doctorate in speech and hearing sciences, with a minor in cognitive science, from Indiana University. His undergraduate and postgraduate training is in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Mysore, India.

Shrivastav is currently vice president of education at the University of Georgia. In this role, he oversees enrollment management, student success initiatives, academic affairs and educational infrastructure, as well as student and faculty support services.

Prior to joining the University of Georgia, Shrivastav was professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and headed the Voice and Speech Lab at Michigan State University. The National Academy of Inventors elected him a member in 2020.

His research focuses on speech perception abilities as well as speech production deficits in people with various diseases.

“The excellent faculty, staff and students of IU, coupled with President Whitten’s ambitious vision and great energy, will continue to maintain IU as a leader in higher education,” said Shrivastav. “It is an honor to return to the very school that has helped me accomplish so much. I am delighted to be a part of IU’s continued success.”