Sethuraman Panchanathan
National Science Foundation
& U.S. Sen. Todd Young
R-Indiana
Date: Thursday, April 25
Time: 11 a.m. ET
Location: Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall
This event is free and open to the public with a general admission ticket.
Sethuraman Panchanathan, a computer scientist and engineer, was selected as director of the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2020 after serving as executive vice president of Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise, where he also was chief research and innovation officer.
As NSF’s 15th director, Panchanathan maintains leadership roles on several key interagency councils and committees, including serving as co-chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and is a member of the White House CHIPS Implementation Steering Council and the White House Gender Policy Council. He also is chair of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee and co-vice chair of the Council for Inclusive Innovation.
A leader in science, engineering and education over three decades, Panchanathan has had a distinguished career in higher education and government. He has designed and built knowledge enterprises that advance research innovation, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, global development and economic growth.
His scientific contributions have advanced human-centered multimedia computing, haptic user interfaces and ubiquitous computing technologies to enhance the quality of life for those with different abilities; machine learning for multimedia applications; and media processor designs.
Prior to joining NSF, Panchanathan was appointed to serve on the National Science Board, where he was chair of the Committee on Strategy and a member of the External Engagement and National Science and Engineering Policy committees.
While he was at ASU, the university increased research performance fivefold, earning recognition as the nation’s fastest-growing and most innovative research university. He also was founder and director of ASU’s Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing.
U.S. Sen. Todd Young, a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps in his first term as Indiana’s senior senator, holds several leadership positions in the Senate, serving on the committees on Finance; Foreign Relations; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
A fifth-generation Hoosier, Young enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he participated in varsity athletics and was elected a class officer. Graduating with honors, he accepted a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps, training as a rifle platoon commander and serving as an intelligence officer.
While stationed in Chicago, Young earned an MBA from the University of Chicago. Honorably discharged from active duty in 2000, he spent a year in England, earning a master’s degree from the School of Advanced Study in London. Returning to the U.S., he joined The Heritage Foundation and later worked for U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar. In 2003, Young volunteered to work for Mitch Daniels’ successful Indiana gubernatorial campaign.
He earned a law degree from Indiana University in 2006 and served as assistant deputy prosecutor for Orange County, Indiana. He founded the National Organization for People vs. Irresponsible Government Spending in 2007.
Young announced plans to run for the congressional seat in Indiana’s 9th District as a Republican in January 2009. He served three terms as a representative before launching his successful bid for U.S. Senate in 2016.
