Kathy Girten.
Credit: IU East. Kathryn Girten, IU East chancellor and acting chancellor at IU Southeast, has announced her retirement.

Girten joined Indiana University as the sixth chancellor of IU East in July 2013. The first woman to serve as chancellor of the IU East campus, she will conclude her duties on June 30.

Under Girten’s leadership, IU East has seen significant improvement in student retention and graduation rates, and increased student diversity. Student loan default rates dropped dramatically, along with the amount of student debt upon graduation. She oversaw the launch of new degree programs, collaborations with other IU regional campuses and an expansion of athletics teams. While at IU Southeast, Girten supported the campus through a leadership transition while enhancing recruitment and student success.

“I am grateful for Kathy’s leadership and commitment to students,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “She has overseen strategic initiatives that have advanced the quality and diversity at our regional campuses and has been deeply engaged in the Richmond community.”

Before coming to Indiana, Girten was provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Monterey Bay. In that role, she was responsible for leading the campus’s academic programs. At Northern Arizona University, she served as a faculty member and then as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her academic area of expertise is the analysis of animal bones from archaeological sites, and she conducted field and laboratory research in South Africa for more than 20 years.

“It has truly been an enormous privilege to serve as IU East chancellor,” Girten said. “Though this decision has not been easy to make, after nine years of serving the campus and community, I am ready to move on to the next phase of my life, to spend time with my family. My husband, Gary, and I will continue to stay in Richmond and be part of the community.

“I’m excited about the new leadership of Indiana University, and IU East remains a strong and vibrant campus with wonderful faculty, staff, students and alumni. I am confident we will continue to thrive. I thank our campus and community for their commitment to our students, and to our campus.”

Girten serves on boards for the Richmond Art Museum, Reid Health, the Wayne County Foundation, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the First Bank Richmond Community Foundation and First Bank Richmond.

Michelle Mallott, IU East deputy chancellor, will serve as interim chancellor of the Richmond campus, while the interim chancellor role at IU Southeast will be filled by Kelly A. Ryan, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.