Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr.
Interim President of Purdue University, President Emeritus
Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. is Purdue University’s President Emeritus, former board chair of the Purdue Research Foundation, and returned as Purdue’s interim president on July 1, 2026. He previously served as Purdue’s 12th president (2013-2022) and as Indiana’s governor (2005-2013). As governor, Daniels was elected and re-elected by record margins, guiding Indiana from an $800 million deficit to its first AAA credit rating.
His administration advanced major infrastructure investments, education and healthcare reforms, tax reductions, and regulatory modernization, helping position Indiana among the nation’s top states for business climate, infrastructure, and government effectiveness. As Purdue president, Daniels focused on affordability, student success, and institutional excellence. He ended 36 years of consecutive tuition increases by freezing tuition and mandatory fees at 2012 levels, a policy that continues through at least the 2026-27 academic year. Purdue also became the most affordable Big Ten institution for room and board, while aggregate student borrowing declined 37% during his tenure. Under his leadership, Purdue earned recognition as the nation’s most recognized public university. Daniels was named one of Fortune’s Top 50 Greatest World Leaders in 2015 and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019. His distinguished career also includes leadership roles with the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations, Eli Lilly and Company, and the Hudson Institute. He holds degrees from Princeton University and Georgetown University.
