Michael A. Wartell

Michael A. Wartell
IPFW
Term	1994 – Present
Predecessor	Joanne B. Lantz
Successor	Incumbent
Born	November 4, 1946 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Profession	Eighth Chancellor of IPFW
Spouse	Ruth Wartell
Children	Justin Wartell Richie Wartell

Michael A. Wartell is the eighth chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), where he has served in the position since 1994. Prior to this appointment, he served as IPFW’s associate vice chancellor for academic affairs for one year.

Personal background

Wartell was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of New Mexico in 1967 and an M.S. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale University in 1968 and 1971, respectively. He is married to Ruth, and they have two sons, Justin and Richie [1].

Career

Science

Between 1989–93, Wartell was a department manager for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico His responsibilities included development and management of educational outreach and special technologies programs [2].

Academia

Wartell began his career as an assistant professor of chemistry at Metropolitan State College of Denver in 1971, where he was promoted to associate professor of chemistry and served as the department chair between 1975–78. He was the dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics as well as professor of chemistry at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, during the 1978–79 academic year. Between 1979–84, Wartell was the dean of the College of Letters and Sciences and professor of chemistry at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He made a cross-country move to Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, to become the provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of chemistry between 1984–89. He returned to the private sector and Sandia National Laboratories for approximately four years before re-entering academia at IPFW [2].

Government service

He currently serves on the U.S. Army Science Board (1981–87 and 1997–present), working on such subjects as chemical warfare, manpower and logistics, and decontamination. He also served on the Department of Defense’s Defense Science Board (1998–05) and as chair of the Defense Intelligence Agency Science and Technology Advisory Board (1987–05). He was a member and chair of the Board of Visitors of the Defense Systems Management College (1984–88), and he has been a consultant to government agencies and defense contractors [2].

Community leadership

He is a member of the board of directors of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Corporate Council; Leadership Fort Wayne; Junior Achievement; the Urban League; the Boy Scouts of America, Anthony Wayne Area Council; the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center; and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic [2].

Accolades

Wartell is the recipient of a Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s second-highest civilian honor for service to the state. He is also a member of numerous honorary societies such as Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Mu Epsilon and a recipient of major research grants in excess of $10 million in chemistry and science education [2].

Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne

As chancellor, Wartell is responsible for Indiana’s fifth-largest university and the only comprehensive public university in northeast Indiana. The Wartell administration has developed and administered two successful five-year strategic plans. His administration’s most noteworthy accomplishments include expanding the number of degree and certificate options at the undergraduate and graduate levels; overseeing the addition of more than 100 acres (0.40 km²) to the campus property; making IPFW the first regional campus in Indiana to construct student housing; instituting the Centers of Excellence; securing a number of endowed or named professorships and top-level student scholarships; and arranging numerous public/private partnerships with organizations such as Parkview Health Systems, the Fort Wayne Center for Learning, the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, and PBS39 WFWA-DT [3].

Under Wartell, IPFW’s longest-serving chancellor, the university has pursued its most aggressive building construction efforts in its history. His leadership is responsible for the construction of Parking Garage 2, the Science Building, the PLEX indoor soccer building and the Hefner Soccer Fields (12 outdoor soccer fields), the Willis Family Bridge between the main campus and the residential campus, IPFW Student Housing on the Waterfield Campus (stages I–III), the Rhinehart Music Center, the Holiday Inn at IPFW and the Coliseum, the Ron Venderly Family Bridge spanning the St. Joseph River between the Main Campus and West Campus, the Medical Education Center, and the forthcoming Student Services Complex [3].

Also during Wartell’s tenure, IPFW’s endowment and level of public and private funding has significantly increased to previously unprecedented levels. The endowment has risen from $3 million to $35 million since he took office, and more than $60 million has been raised from external sources. The Wartell administration also ushered its 16 men’s and women’s sports into NCAA Division I athletic competition, and membership in The Summit League conference [3].

References

• 1. IPFW Office of Institutional Research (http://www.ipfw.edu/ir). Retrieved on August 17, 2009.
• 2. IPFW Office of Institutional Research (http://www.ipfw.edu/ir). Retrieved on August 18, 2009.
• 3. IPFW Office of Institutional Research (http://www.ipfw.edu/ir). Retrieved on August 27, 2009.

Persondata
Name	Wartell, Michael A.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 4, 1946
Place of birth	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of death
Place of death