IU President Pamela Whitten is not the only IU administrator to receive a raise in recent years, after she was awarded a $175,500 bonus Sept. 13.
Members of her cabinet have also seen pay increases, with some salaries more than tripling over the last four years, according to Office of the University Controller's website. All 18 members will make at least $300,000 in 2025, and the future IU Bloomington chancellor will likely receive a similar salary.
Overall, the university has spent north of $1 million in the last year on raises for cabinet members.
A 2024 report published by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources found median pay for university administrators in the US exceeded the inflation rate for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The current administration has instituted market-based salaries for cabinet members and other leaders,” IU executive director of media relations Mark Bode wrote in a statement to the Indiana Daily Student. “This represents a significant change from the prior administration’s structure, which included bonuses, deferred compensation and other awards on top of base salaries. The change represents a more transparent accounting of individual pay where all salary data are now publicly available. This, coupled with market factors, explains the current salary figures.”
Rahul Shrivastav
Rahul Shrivastav became provost and executive vice president of IU in 2022. He provides academic leadership for the Bloomington campus and supports faculty and student initiatives.
He made $525,000 during the 2023 fiscal year, $540,750 in 2024 and will make $556,973 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Shrivastav succeeded John Applegate, who served as interim provost and executive vice president from 2021-22. Applegate made $373,084 in the 2021 fiscal year and $440,084 in 2022.
Lauren Robel served as provost and executive vice president under former IU president Michael McRobbie from 2012-21. She made $442,702 in 2021.
Latha Ramchand
Latha Ramchand was appointed the inaugural chancellor of IU Indianapolis in 2024. She leads the Indianapolis campus, which split from Purdue University in July, and teaches finance. She will make $609,760 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Nasser Paydar served as chancellor of then-Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis from 2015-22. He earned $411,478 during the 2022 fiscal year.
Jay Hess
Jay Hess is the executive vice president for university clinical affairs and dean of the IU School of Medicine.
He made $583,625 in 2021, $592,379 in 2022, $616,075 in 2023, $634,557 in 2024 and is set to make $653,594 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Ken Iwama
Ken Iwama was appointed vice president for regional campuses and online education in July. Prior to that, he served as IU Northwest’s chancellor from 2020-24. The appointment earned him a pay increase of $108,000, as he will make $390,000 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Susan Sciame-Giesecke, who served as the first vice president for regional campuses and online education at IU from 2022-24, retired in June. She made $313,200 in 2022, $345,000 in 2023 and $355,350 in 2024.
Brenda Stopher
Brenda Stopher was appointed Whitten’s chief of staff in 2022 and became vice president of strategic operations in January. She advises and works with Whitten on operational and organizational issues.
She made $309,920 in 2023, $319,218 in 2024 and will make $460,000 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Karen Adams was McRobbie’s longtime chief of staff and made $268,563 in 2021.
J.T. Forbes
J.T. Forbes was appointed president and CEO of the IU Foundation in 2022. He previously served as CEO of the IU Alumni Association.
ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer reports he made $466,490 in the 2023 fiscal year.
The IU Foundation started in 1936. The nonprofit raises money for the university by collecting donations and investing funds, according to its website.
Nancy Paton
Nancy Paton is the vice president and chief communications and marketing officer at IU. She leads the university’s communication strategy, including brand management, digital communications, events and conferences, corporate sponsorships and trademarks and licensing.
She was appointed in 2022 and made $410,000 in 2023, $422,300 in 2024 and will earn $434,969 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Brad Wheeler served in the position under McRobbie and made $383,703 in 2021.
Todd Richardson
Todd Richardson was appointed vice president and chief human resources officer in 2022. He leads talent acquisition, leadership development and employee relations.
He made $400,000 in 2023, $412,000 in 2024 and will make $424,360 during the 2025 fiscal year.
John Whelan served in the position under McRobbie from 2018-21 and made $299,426 during his final year in office.
Scott Dolson
Scott Dolson has served as vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics since 2020. He also directly supervises IU men’s basketball.
Dolson made $263,838 in 2021, $487,200 in 2022, $504,252 in 2023, $519,380 in 2024 and is set to make $950,000 during the 2025 fiscal year. According to the Indianapolis Star, Dolson’s earnings still rank near the bottom of the Big Ten conference.
Former athletic director Fred Glass retired in 2020. He made $572,262 that year. Glass started in 2009 with a $410,000 salary.
Anthony Prather
Anthony Prather was appointed vice president and general counsel in 2022. He provides legal counsel for IU and serves as a point of contact for any legal issues at the university.
He made $505,000 in 2023, $520,150 in 2024 and will make $535,755 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Jacqueline Simmons served in the position under McRobbie from 2012-21. She made $344,597 in 2021 and stepped down that year after a controversy with an IU law professor regarding the university’s presidential search.
IU law professor Steve Sanders requested public records from the university and published a report about how Pamela Whitten was selected as president. Whitten was not named among the finalists during the search process.
Simmons said Sanders acted in his own interest — not the public’s — and called him a “muckraking journalist.”
Indiana’s public access counselor issued an opinion, writing IU violated state law and took too long to respond to Sanders’ request.
Thomas Morrison
Thomas Morrison was appointed IU’s inaugural vice president for capital planning and facilities in 2009. He manages the infrastructure for the IU’s nine campuses.
He made $250,000 his first year in office and is set to make $415,008 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Rashad Nelms
Rashad Nelms became interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion in July. Before that, he served as vice provost for diversity and inclusion in the provost’s office and executive-in-residence in the vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion’s office.
Nelms made $130,000 in 2023, $225,000 in 2024 and is set to make $300,000 during the 2025 fiscal year.
James Wimbush served in the position under McRobbie from 2013-23 and made $326,913 in 2023. Edwin Marshall served in the position before Wimbush from 2007-13, earning $263,493 during the 2012 fiscal year.
James Dudich
James Dudich was appointed interim vice president for finance and chief financial officer in 2024. He started as the associate vice president for fiscal and economic strategy in 2023.
He advises Whitten on financial objectives, policies and programs and works on long-term financial planning, budgeting and investing for the university.
He made $210,000 in 2024 and is set to make $490,000 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Dudich succeeded Dwayne Pinkney, who was appointed for the same position in 2022. He made $588,000 in 2023 and $605,640 in 2024.
John Sejdinaj served in the position from 2016-21 under McRobbie. He earned $472,862 during the 2022 fiscal year.
Rob Lowden
Rob Lowden became vice president for information technology and chief information officer in 2020. He leads IT services, infrastructure, cybersecurity and research.
He made $239,230 in 2021, $357,001 in 2022, $371,281 in 2023, $450,000 in 2024 and will make $463,500 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Brad Wheeler served in the position under McRobbie and made $498,000 in 2019.
Hannah Buxbaum
Hannah Buxbaum was appointed vice president for international affairs in 2018. She leads the university’s international presence, oversees international admissions and manages study abroad programs.
She made $299,425 in 2021, $303,916 in 2022, $316,073 in 2023, $325,555 in 2024 and will make $335,322 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Russell Mumper
Russell Mumper has served as vice president for research since 2023. He manages research development, administration and compliance.
He made $465,000 in 2024 and will earn $479,648 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Fred Cate served in the position under McRobbie from 2014-23. He made $403,638 in 2023.
Julie Payne-Kirchmeier
Julie Payne-Kirchmeier was appointed the first vice president for student success at IU in 2022. She leads the university’s student success strategy and provides support for students.
She made $395,000 in 2023, $406,850 in 2024 and is set to make $419,056 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Michael Huber
Michael Huber serves as vice president for university relations. He manages IU’s state and federal government relations and contribution to the state’s economy by partnering with local communities and businesses.
He made $463,500 in 2024 and will make $477,405 during the 2025 fiscal year.
Bill Stephan served in the role from 1999 until he retired in 2022. His tenure spanned four IU presidents, and he made $376,454 during his final year in office.
