Thomas Keon will be its first chancellor when Purdue University Northwest officially comes into existence next year, Purdue President Mitch Daniels announced Friday.
Purdue Northwest represents the merger of Purdue Calumet in Hammond and Purdue North Central in Westville. The new university will still maintain separate campuses, but trim administrative costs. Daniels initiated the merger plan last year, catching some faculty members off guard. Despite their complaints about the fast pace of the merger, plans moved forward.
Keon, who's been chancellor at Purdue Calumet since 2011, was one of four finalists in the national search. All four visited both campuses and spoke to staff, students and faculty. Keon was the clear favorite of PUC staff and faculty at his presentation in September.
"Today, we take another important step in building a great new economic and educational asset in northwest Indiana," Daniels said in a statement. "No one, starting with Tom, underestimates the difficulty of bringing together two campuses, their faculty and staff, but we are confident in the tremendous potential for cultural and commercial enrichment in the region. Chancellor Keon has an extraordinary opportunity to lead what will be the fifth largest public university in Indiana and one that will have positive impact on students and businesses for years to come."
Daniels also said Purdue North Central Chancellor James Dworkin will remain in his position until June 30, 2016, as he works with Keon, who will serve as Purdue Northwest chancellor-designate until the merger is concluded. Dworkin plans to return to Purdue's West Lafayette campus in the fall of 2017 as a professor in the Krannert School of Management.
"I am mindful of the very difficult work that is ahead and completely committed to the task of building and cementing relationships that will ultimately lead to the success of our campuses and community," Keon said.
Later, in a conference call with reporters, Keon said the merged university would realize about $4 million in financial savings. Keon said he would maintain an office at each campus and split his time equally between each one.
The unification is expected to be finalized in July, pending approval by the Higher Learning Commission.
Purdue Northwest will have an enrollment of about 16,000 students, employing more than 1,500 faculty and staff, and offering more than 45 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on two campuses.