Official Biography of Michael Wartell, UNI Presidential Candidate

Here is the official biography of Michael A. Wartell, who was appointed chancellor at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne in July 1994 and is one of three hopefuls seeking the job of president of the University of Northern Iowa.

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Academician and scientist, Michael A. Wartell was appointed chancellor at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) in July 1994. During the previous year, he was vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of chemistry at IPFW. He became Chancellor Emeritus in July, 2012.

He currently serves as chair of the U.S. Army Education Advisory Committee. He served on the U.S. Army Science Board (1981-1987 and 1997-2011), working on such subjects as chemical warfare, manpower and logistics, and decontamination. He also served on the Defense Science Board (1998-2005) and as chair of the Defense Intelligence Agency Science and Technology Advisory Board (1987-2005). He was a member of the Board of Visitors of the Defense Systems Management College (1984-1988), and he has been a consultant to government agencies and defense contractors. He is the author or coauthor of five textbooks, laboratory manuals, and study guides and numerous scholarly papers.

Between 1989 and 1993, Wartell was department manager for Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His responsibilities included development and management of educational outreach and special technologies programs. He was provost and vice president for academic

affairs at Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, 1984-89; and dean, College of Letters and Sciences and professor of chemistry, at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1979-84.

Wartell received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of New Mexico and an M.S. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1968 and 1971, respectively from Yale University.

He is or has been a member of the board of directors of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Corporate Council, Leadership Fort Wayne, Junior Achievement, the Urban League, Boy Scouts, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. He is also a member of numerous honorary societies and recipient of major research grants and academic awards.

As chancellor, Michael Wartell was responsible for Indiana’s fifth-largest university and the only comprehensive public university in northeastern Indiana where he led the campus in increasing enrollment, constructing more than thirty new buildings, and expanding programs, the endowment, and endowed professorships. IPFW offers more than 200 Indiana University and Purdue University associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in the humanities, sciences, engineering, technologies, education, fine and performing arts, business and management, health sciences, and public and environmental affairs.

Summarizing his vision for IPFW, Chancellor Emeritus Wartell has stated, “We will continue to build on our strengths, newly aware that while our primary mission will always focus on students and their education, we must become to our community and region what we already are to our students—an invaluable resource.”