Vicki Román-Lagunas will take on the role of IUN chancellor once Ken Iwama assumes his new job as Indiana University vice president for regional campuses and online education.
Her interim role will become effective July 1. Indiana University Northwest will conduct a national search for a permanent chancellor.
Román-Lagunas has 28 years of experience in higher education.
“Vicki is known – throughout the IU system – for her passion for higher education administration, her strong commitment to shared governance, her talent for collaborative leadership and her continued commitment to strategic enrollment and student success initiatives,” Iwama said in a press release.
Román-Lagunas was hired at IUN's executive vice chancellor of academic affairs in July 2017. She came from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where she served as acting provost and a Spanish professor.
“As a trusted colleague, I have witnessed firsthand her enthusiasm, her compassion, her dedication, and her ability to lead and guide; characteristics that will prove to be extremely helpful to the campus as she leads IU Northwest forward during this time of transition,” Iwama said.
Román-Lagunas earned a doctorate in Latin American literature and culture from Florida State University, and graduate and undergraduate degrees in Spanish from the University of Arizona and The College of William and Mary.
IUN is one of Indiana University's seven campuses. The campus in Gary has about 3,5000 students seeking degrees. It also is a Minority- and Hispanic-Serving Institution.
