Rebecca Ellis has been appointed vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis, effective Aug. 18.

Rebecca Ellis. Photo by Parker Portraits Ellis, a longtime Indiana University leader, most recently served as interim vice chancellor for enrollment management at IU Indianapolis. Previously she was executive associate dean for academic affairs at the IU School of Nursing, where she led academic affairs and undergraduate and graduate programs, and oversaw enrollment, curriculum, student services and faculty development across multiple campuses.

“Rebecca has been consistently tapped to lead education innovation at Indiana University, bringing expertise in data analysis and system-level change,” IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand said. “Her strategic mindset, collaborative approach and outcome-focused leadership make her well-prepared to serve as vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School.”

Ellis will lead planning for the growth of and investment in graduate and professional programs, oversee enrollment services for those programs, and collaborate with the IU Indianapolis vice chancellor for research on aligning graduate programs with research goals. She will also track and analyze trends in graduate and professional student progression, degree completion and career outcomes to ensure well-articulated pathways to degree completion.

During her tenure at the School of Nursing, Ellis spearheaded efforts to increase enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program by 50% in Indianapolis and 20% in Bloomington; co-led the implementation of a $16 million gift from IU Health to support infrastructure for enrolling more students; and developed new admission pathways to broaden access.

A professor in the School of Nursing with more than 15 years of academic leadership experience, Ellis was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing in 2021 in recognition of her sustained contributions and significant impact on nursing science.