John Eckman

Assistant Vice Provost for Student Life

John Eckman serves as assistant vice provost for student life, overseeing University Residences and Purdue Dining & Culinary. These two operations house more than 17,000 residents and serve more than 5 million meals per academic year at West Lafayette and Indianapolis.

Under Eckman, University Residences and Dining & Culinary focus on student satisfaction and success. The departments offer numerous leadership development programs, student employment opportunities, clubs and programs while adapting processes to fit student needs. For example, Eckman led the implementation of University Residences’ new reapplication system in 2024-25 to streamline the housing process for returning residents.

Eckman is currently leading both organizations into the future by expanding on-campus residential opportunities for students in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. In West Lafayette the 3rd & West apartment community opened in fall 2025, providing high-demand residential space. Under Eckman’s leadership, the South Hall construction project is scheduled to open in fall 2026. These new projects will contribute to a 35% increase in on-campus beds in West Lafayette. In Indianapolis the full lease of an apartment community will increase University Residences’ housing capacity to more than 1,100 residents.

Eckman most recently served as associate vice chancellor for campus services at Appalachian State University where he oversaw a broad spectrum of services, including dining, parking, the campus store, conference services and more. His tenure was marked by notable achievements, including revitalizing dining facilities, launching innovative meal plans and managing major infrastructure projects. He also served on several campuswide strategic initiatives, including the Emergency Management Team and Master Planning Steering Committee.

Prior to his role at Appalachian State, Eckman served as director of residential services at the University of Pennsylvania. His previous experience in housing and activities also includes roles at Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, New York University and the University of Connecticut.

Eckman holds a Master of Education in college student personnel administration from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in planning, public policy and management from the University of Oregon.