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While Making History as Penn State’s Next President, Neeli Bendapudi Plans to Be a Strong Presence in the Community

Penn State’s history-making president-elect expects her administration to impact the university, the local community, and beyond.

When Dr. Neeli Bendapudi takes the helm as the 19th president of Penn State later this year, she says she will not be isolating herself inside an ivory tower.

“Those days are long gone,” she says. “I’ve always thought of our universities as places that should have ripple effects. In other words, the goodness of what comes out of Penn State should first be felt by the community of State College, then the commonwealth, then the country, and then the world. So you will see me quite active in the community.”

By now, Bendapudi’s credentials have been well-publicized. She comes to Penn State after serving most recently as president and professor of marketing at the University of Louisville since 2018; leading the University of Kansas as provost and executive vice chancellor from 2016-2018, as well as serving as dean of the School of Business there between 2011 and 2016; and serving as marketing professor at Texas A&M and Ohio State. She also worked in the private sector for several years as executive vice president and chief customer officer for Huntington National Bank. 

Bendapudi was recently elected to serve as the vice chair of the Atlantic Coast Conference before she accepted the position at Penn State, so she has a healthy respect for the important role intercollegiate athletics plays in the world of higher education.

“When you think about what brings a community together so powerfully, there’s no question of the power that intercollegiate athletics have – that sense of pride, that sense of community, that sense of belonging that it fosters,” she says. “And of course, think about the town – the economic impact it has can be pretty profound.”

This blend of business acumen and higher education experience is one reason the incoming Bendapudi administration can be expected to positively impact the greater State College community.

“Having lived in college towns before, I know how vital the town and gown relationship is. Neither can exist without the other,” she says.

It’s a perspective echoed by Greg Scott, president and CEO of the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County. 

“Penn State and the community are historically and fundamentally connected, and our interests overlap. Collaboration is key to our mutual success,” he says. “I really feel like a big part of the CBICC’s job is working to create a strong economy and an environment that can attract faculty and staff who will want to come and live and work, and their spouses as well.”

Indeed, Bendapudi’s own family is an example of this, as several generations will be making the move to State College with her, including her husband, Dr. Venkat Bendapudi; her mother, who lives with them; and her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.

Making history

When Bendapudi was announced as the new president at a special Penn State Board of Trustees meeting on December 9, it was the culmination of a year-long search process involving an unprecedented amount of public input. Much of that process involved a survey called Next Gen Penn State. 

“[The Next Gen project] was an opportunity for thousands of people to weigh in on what they thought were the important things in Penn State’s future, and more importantly, their feelings about the kind of leadership we need in order to take the university to the next level,” explains Bill Oldsey, a member of the Board of Trustees and the Presidential Recruitment and Selection Committee.

What emerged was a portrait of an ideal leader with great communication skills, a strong background in higher education, leadership experience with a large institution, proven business skills, and a good grasp of the importance of diversity and inclusion. 

“We began narrowing to a set of candidates that we thought could meet those criteria, and this is when Neeli began to really shine as a candidate, because she checked all of the boxes and many more. That’s what led us to pursue her and get to know her better, bringing us to the conclusion that she is the absolute right leader at the right time for Penn State,” says Matthew Schuyler, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

As the first woman and the first person of color to serve as Penn State’s president, Bendapudi’s appointment is historically significant.

“I’m very honored, and if it inspires people to achieve whatever their dreams are, then I will feel very, very gratified,” she says. “But I also know, and will always remember, that my role is to be the president for everybody at the university. I’m competitive, so I don’t mind being first. My job is to do as well as I can so that there are many, many more presidents who are women, presidents of color, so that it no longer becomes a unique or distinguishing factor.”

New State College Mayor Ezra Nanes says, “I think it’s really a bold, important statement that Penn State is making by hiring Dr. Bendapudi as the next president of the university. It’s a strong message for inclusion, and I think that breaking this kind of ground is so important.”

When Nanes took office on Jan. 3, he broke ground himself.

“I was elected as a part of a historically diverse slate of candidates. In the borough and the surrounding townships, seven people of color were just elected. I’m the first Jew to serve as mayor. So there’s a lot of these firsts,” he says. “It’s a really exciting time because the community has emphatically said, ‘This is important. We’re embracing what you bring to the table.’ I’m really proud of our community, and I’m proud of Penn State for choosing Dr. Bendapudi to be our next president.”

In a written statement, Rebecca Geiger, assistant director of the Penn State Gender Equity Center, commented on the significance of Bendapudi’s appointment:

“The Gender Equity Center is supportive of Penn State appointing its first female president. While previous presidents have shown a commitment to Gender Equity and promoting a positive campus culture, representation matters for marginalized communities when it comes to leadership. If leadership is selected from the same population of individuals that historically do not represent all of the University’s members, then we are silencing valuable voices with the unique experiences that parallel those of our student body and faculty and staff. This is true, whether at a university or other major institution such as media companies, businesses and corporations, and/or government and political institutions. It is fabulous to see leadership reflecting the growing diversity of odur student population. We know gender equity and diversity are essential components of high-performing organizations, enhancing the experiences of faculty, staff and students alike, and therefore making the institution more attuned to the unmet needs of all.”

Values-driven choice

“I think one thing that is really important for the university to know about this leader is this was a values-driven choice as much as it was a technical acumen-driven choice. Her values are precisely aligned with those of the university,” says Schuyler.

Nanes believes Bendapudi’s values are also aligned with those of the Borough of State College. 

“She has shown in her tenure at the University of Louisville that she will stand up for these values of inclusion, of equity, and respect for all people. From some of the things I’ve read, I admire the courageous actions she’s taken.”

In part, Nanes is alluding to Bendapudi’s actions when a recording of University of Louisville alumnus and donor, Papa John’s founder John Schnatter, using a racial slur came to light. Bendapudi acted swiftly to remove the Papa John’s name from the Louisville football stadium and Schnatter’s name from the Center for Free Enterprise at the College of Business. 

In addition, during her tenure there, the University of Louisville was named as one of only three public universities to receive an “A” for creation of access for African Americans and Latinx students.

Accessibility for students of all backgrounds is very important to Bendapudi. 

“She is very student-oriented, very much focused on student success, as well as accessibility and affordability,” Oldsey says. 

After her appointment, Bendapudi took time to meet with student leaders and tour the campus, including a visit to the Lion Shrine with her daughter, Sirisha, and her husband, Venkat. (Photo by Patrick Mansell/Penn State)

Not only did her student-oriented mindset lead her to famously share her private cell phone number with all incoming first-year-students at Louisville, but as far as the bigger picture: “Neeli acknowledges that right now, higher ed is under significant public scrutiny. … She recognizes that we have to be able to justify to people the return-on-investment for a Penn State degree,” says Oldsey.

Schuyler adds, “She grew up in a way that will resonate with the Penn State community. There’s a certain grittiness to Penn State that I think many of the outside world sees and appreciates about us.” 

Schuyler is referring to Bendapudi’s childhood in southern India, where her family rose out of poverty through higher education. She earned a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Andhra University before moving to the United States and receiving her PhD in marketing at the University of Kansas in 1994.

“Dr. Bendapudi is a wonderful example of the power of higher education and what it can do for people, and I think that is a compelling part of her story,” says Oldsey.

Facing the future

Schuyler and Oldsey both tick off a long list of challenges facing the new president as Penn State forges ahead into a brave new world – challenges including the aforementioned accessibility and affordability issues, shifting demographics resulting in a smaller pool of college-eligible students, changes in modalities of learning in a post-pandemic world, and finding ways to strengthen Penn State’s large network of commonwealth campuses.

“I think the challenges that Penn State is facing are not unique; they are shared across higher education. But the good news is, President (Eric) Barron and his leadership team and the board have really positioned Penn State for success,” Bendapudi says. “So, while I will not minimize the challenges in any way, I take comfort in the fact that Penn State is poised to handle it as well as any other institution.”

Schuyler agrees. “Eric Barron has set an incredible stage. He has done a great job of taking Penn State to this level, and part of what we were looking for was a leader who can take us even further.” 

Although her official start date has not yet been determined, Bendapudi says she plans to spend some time this spring working directly with Barron before his official retirement date of June 30.

“We have the luxury of a sitting president who wants to be part of the transition, and a new president who wants to spend time with the sitting president in order to do all that transition work, so that’s a very positive situation,” Oldsey says.  

Also assisting Bendapudi with the transition and beyond will be her long-time chief of staff and vice president, Michael Wade Smith, with whom she has worked at both Louisville and Kansas.

“He is phenomenal,” she says. “He is a natural leader and a very strategic thinker. I am very thrilled that he is coming with me. He will help me with my strategic priorities and making sure they are carried out.”

Bendapudi has made it clear that one early priority for her will be immersing herself in the local community.

“Penn State and State College seem like the perfect spot for [my family] at this time in our lives,” she says. “I’m eager to be on campus, eager to get to know members of the community, and to just learn more. That’s the most important thing; I want to come and be part of the community.”

Karen Walker is a freelance writer in State College.