About the Chancellor

Biography

Vicky L. Carwein

Indiana native Vicky L. Carwein became Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne’s (IPFW) ninth chancellor in September, 2012. Carwein was born and raised in Gwynneville in Shelby County, Indiana.

From 2006-2012, she served as chancellor of Washington State University Tri-Cities in Richland, Washington. There, she collaborated with the state’s wine industry to launch a $24 million fund raising campaign to construct a state-of-the-art teaching and research winery, with the vision to be one of the world’s top three viticulture and enology centers. She also partnered with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to jointly build and operate a $23 million research and development laboratory focused on the conversion of biomass to products and energy, which resulted in joint international recruitment of faculty and graduate students, funded research, and patent applications.

Carwein also co-led a partnership of Battelle Memorial Institute, three public school districts, and WSU Tri-Cities to establish a new, STEM-focused public high school, which opened in 2010.

Prior to her role at WSU Tri-Cities, Carwein served as president of Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass., from 2004 to 2006, and chancellor of the University of Washington Tacoma from 1995 to 2004. She began her academic career at the University of Nevada Las Vegas as an instructor of nursing, leaving 23 years later having served as the dean of the College of Health Sciences for six years. Under her leadership of these institutions, research opportunities for students and faculty grew, as did scholarships, external collaborations, partnerships and private support.

Carwein is actively engaged in the community serving on the boards of Parkview Health, Greater Fort Wayne, Inc, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Orthoworx University/Industry Advisors and the Regional Opportunities Council and is a member of the Quest Club. Nationally, she serves on the National Nuclear Accrediting Board of the Institute of Nuclear Power of Operations.

She received a bachelor’s and Ph.D. in nursing from Indiana University and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. In 2014, she was honored as one of the top 100 legacy alumni leaders by the Indiana University School of Nursing.

Carwein and her husband, Bill Andrews, a project management and business development consultant in energy and environmental technology, have a passion for travel. They have visited all seven continents. Carwein is also an accomplished pianist and organist.

• Chancellor Carwein's Bio (longer version) [PDF]