A proven scholar with deep experience in research administration, Phaedra Corso has been named associate vice president and vice chancellor for research, Indianapolis.

Corso, who will assume this role on April 3, will lead the growing research enterprise on Indiana University’s Indianapolis campus, supporting the vision for the future IU Indianapolis as a premier urban research university. She will also hold a tenured faculty position in the Fairbanks School of Public Health.

“After a national search to fill this position, we are grateful to have found the talent of a sitting vice president for research in Dr. Corso,” said Fred Cate, vice president for research. “She will bring not only her experience in research administration and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but her longstanding reputation as a distinguished scholar. Her leadership will be crucial as we pursue a vision for our Indianapolis campus as a leading urban research university.”

“Dr. Corso is a transformational leader who will strengthen our campus’s reputation as an institution distinguished by multidisciplinary and community-engaged research,” added Andrew Klein, interim chancellor of IUPUI. “She is uniquely positioned to lead us forward as we become IU Indianapolis and grow our research enterprise.”

Corso currently serves as vice president for research at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. She has also held several leadership positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is a nationally and internationally regarded expert on economic evaluation. At Kennesaw State, she has also led the development of four interdisciplinary research centers at the institution and established a new Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement.

“I am honored to join Indiana University as the associate vice president and vice chancellor for research in Indianapolis and to join the faculty at the Fairbanks School of Public Health,” Corso said. “I look forward to working alongside faculty and leaders to continue to advance IU’s Indianapolis campus as a leading research institution.”

In coordination with her vice president for research role, Corso serves as chief operating officer for the Kennesaw State Research and Service Foundation. Prior to her work at Kennesaw State, she held the role of associate director at the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research and director of the Economic Evaluation Research Group, both at the University of Georgia.

Corso earned a Ph.D. in health policy from Harvard University. She holds a Master of Public Administration in public finance and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Georgia.

Amanda Roach is interim director of strategic communications with University Communications and Marketing.