Cynthia Roberts will retire on Aug. 1 after 10 years at Indiana University Northwest. Her influence led her to serve as interim executive vice chancellor for academic affairs for two years. But she started at IUN in August 2016 as the dean of the School of Business and Economics.

Her replacement will take on the role of executive vice chancellor for academic affairs on June 1. Andrae Marak most recently served as the provost and executive vice president of academic and student affairs at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

“I am so excited to be joining IU Northwest and its talented faculty, staff and students,” Marak said in a press release. “I look forward to hitting the ground running as we pursue growing the institution, improving student retention and graduation and better serving Northwest Indiana.”

He also worked at Governors State University, Indiana University Columbus and the California University of Pennsylvania.

He earned a doctorate in Latin American studies, history and political science from the University of New Mexico, his graduate degree in political science from Syracuse University and undergraduate from Marquette University.

“Dr. Marak’s long leadership and teaching experience at universities across the country make him well-positioned to succeed in this role,” Chancellor Arrick Jackson said. “His career accomplishments are as impressive as they are numerous, as he’s added new academic programs, restructured colleges and successfully secured tens of millions of dollars in grant funding.

Roberts was a first-generation student and was acutely aware of falling in love with studying, according to a 2025 story in Northwest Indiana Business Magazine. She shared this passion with IUN's students.

She began her career as a clinical laboratory program director in Michigan City but changed careers to teach others to lead.

That mindset led to two master’s degrees from Loyola University in training and development, and organization development. Then she earned a doctorate in organization development from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

From there she joined Purdue University North Central as an assistant professor of leadership and worked her way up to the Teddy Jacobi dean of the College of Business. She joined IUN in August 2016 as the dean of the School Business and Economics.

In July 2024 she became interim vice chancellor. Micah Pollak took on Roberts' responsibilities in the School of Business and Economics in July 2025.