Meet the Cabinet
Our leadership team is committed to the success of our students, faculty, and staff. They do this by creating a robust, challenging, and fulfilling educational atmosphere, and a rewarding work environment.
Ronald Elsenbaumer
Chancellor
260-481-6105
[email protected]
Ronald L. Elsenbaumer serves as the inaugural chancellor of Purdue University Fort Wayne. As an accomplished educator and researcher, Chancellor Elsenbaumer has more than 38 years of wide-ranging leadership experience, spanning both academia and the private sector. He previously served in senior leadership positions at the University of Texas at Arlington, including provost and vice president for academic affairs, vice president for research and federal relations, and senior advisor to the president for entrepreneurship and economic development.
Carl Drummond
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
260-481-6116
[email protected]
Carl Drummond previously held the position of associate vice chancellor for research and external support from 2002 until 2009, and then served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2009 to 2014. Drummond has been a member of the Purdue Fort Wayne faculty since 1994. He earned his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Michigan in 1994.
Jerry Lewis
Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing
260-481-6710
[email protected]
Jerry Lewis has three decades of experience in higher education and has served in senior leadership positions at Emory University, the University of Miami, and the University of Texas at Arlington. He has expertise in branding, communications, marketing, public affairs, crisis communications, healthcare, and events management. His accomplishments include managing communications and marketing for multiple branding initiatives, two $1 billion fundraising campaigns, a presidential debate, dozens of hurricanes and tropical storms, and the first Ebola patients treated in the western hemisphere.
Kristina Surface
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and the Student Experience
260-481-6140
[email protected]
Kristina Surface’s experience in higher education allows her to serve as an essential liaison between enrollment management, student success, student services, and student affairs—all of which contribute to our students’ college experience. She also cochairs the Strategic Plan Steering Committee.
Glen Nakata
Vice Chancellor for Financial and Administrative Affairs
260-481-4199
[email protected]
Glen Nakata has vast experience in both higher education and the private sector. In addition to previously holding senior administrative positions at the University of North Texas and the University of Southern California, his alma mater, Nakata has served in various roles for the Japanese American National Museum, the Screen Actors Guild, and Warner Bros. Studios.
MarTeze D. Hammonds
Chief Diversity Officer
260-481-0396
[email protected]
MarTeze D. Hammonds is the first chief diversity officer for Purdue University Fort Wayne. Hammonds has experience in both corporate sectors and higher education. While operating his own consulting firm, he delivered numerous keynote speeches, workshops, training, and consultation for government agencies, military bases, corporate businesses, preschool–12 institutions, and a variety of national conferences. Hammonds leads the university’s institutional diversity work through the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Kimberly Wagner
Chief of Staff to the Chancellor
260-481-6103
[email protected]
Kimberly Wagner prioritizes matters of institutional importance on behalf of the Chancellor, in addition to managing operations within the Office of the Chancellor to ensure that urgent and immediate matters receive proper attention. Wagner also serves as the point of contact with internal and external constituents and offices, including the Purdue Board of Trustees; Purdue President’s offices; and local, state, and national elected officials on strategic initiatives that impact the university.