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Vanderbilt University names Padma Raghavan as chancellor’s executive director
Her appointment is effective July 1.
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Bhavana P - Sat, 28, Jun 2025
- 13:37 EDT
- 20
Padma Raghavan at the Emerging Tech Summit. / Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University has appointed Indian-American computing expert, Padma Raghavan to the newly created role of chancellor’s executive director for science and technology strategy.
Her appointment underscores the university’s intensified focus on expanding its national and global leadership in research, innovation, and technology, the University said in a statement. She will report directly to chancellor Daniel Diermeier.
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An internationally recognized expert in supercomputing and computational science, Raghavan has served as vice provost for research and innovation since 2016. In that capacity, she expanded the university’s research enterprise, championing transformative partnerships and accelerating technology transfer across disciplines.
During her tenure, Raghavan spearheaded major collaborations including Ancora Innovation with Deerfield Management to advance medical therapeutics, and Pathfinder, a U.S. Army initiative supporting mission-critical innovations like injury-prevention exosuits and secure AI communications. In 2024, she launched a new partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory focused on secure AI systems.
“I’m thrilled for Padma to join the office of the chancellor, where her leadership will be instrumental in shaping our strategic direction and reinforcing Vanderbilt’s role as a leader in scientific and technological advancement,” said chancellor Diermeier.
As executive director, Raghavan will shape Vanderbilt’s long-term strategy in areas such as energy innovation, national security, health technology, and the Tennessee innovation ecosystem. She will continue to represent Vanderbilt in national forums, including the Council on Competitiveness and the UT-Battelle board of governors.
“In this new role, I look forward to continuing to engage with the Vanderbilt community to advance our science and technology mission,” Raghavan said.
Raghavan earned her bachelors from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.
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