Following a rigorous internal search, Scott Shackelford was selected to serve as associate vice president and vice chancellor for research at Indiana University Bloomington.

Scott Shackelford.Shackelford is a globally recognized expert in cybersecurity and technology governance, as well as a proven leader of large-scale multidisciplinary and multinational research and service projects. He will lead efforts to advance the university’s ambitious IU 2030 strategic plan Pillar 2 goals, including those specific to the Bloomington campus.

Shackelford was selected for this dual role by IU Vice President for Research Russell J. Mumper and IU Bloomington Chancellor David A. Reingold, and he will report to them jointly. His first day was Aug. 4.

“Scott has proven himself to be a bold and visionary leader, consistently driving innovative, externally funded partnerships that span disciplines and cross international borders,” Mumper said. “I have no doubt that, in this new leadership role, Scott will significantly elevate IU Bloomington’s research and creative activity through the strength of his expertise, experience and global networks.”

In his new role, Shackelford will serve on both leadership teams for IU Research and the IU Bloomington chancellor, ensuring close collaboration across administrative units and with faculty, academic leaders and external partners. His responsibilities will include fostering large-scale interdisciplinary research, guiding updates to promotion and tenure guidelines, and participating in decisions about use of research space. He will also lead efforts to grow externally funded research and creative activity across campus.

“Scott is a world-renowned researcher who is perfectly positioned to foster collaborations with IU Bloomington faculty experts to address some our world’s most critical challenges,” Reingold said. “He is highly respected among his peers and has provided IU students with invaluable opportunities. I am confident he will continue to make a positive and lasting impact on our campus.”

Shackelford currently serves as executive director of both the Ostrom Workshop and the IU Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. In those roles, he has spearheaded interdisciplinary initiatives that have brought in millions in external funding, shepherded projects that have secured vulnerable critical infrastructure, and promoted sustainable development. He is also a Provost Professor of Business Law and Ethics at the Kelley School of Business and affiliated faculty in the Maurer School of Law and the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“It’s an incredible honor to serve the IU Bloomington community in this new capacity,” Shackelford said. “I cannot wait to work with our faculty, staff and student researchers to help support and amplify their work.

“Together we can break down barriers and build bridges across disciplines and sectors to address the most challenging issues we face by leveraging IU’s many strengths. Let’s pursue a bold vision of research excellence that reflects our shared values as Hoosiers along with our global ambitions and responsibilities.”

Shackelford’s scholarship has shaped global conversations on cybersecurity law and policy, internet governance, AI, the Metaverse, space governance and sustainable development. He has authored or edited more than a dozen books, launched the IU Space Governance Lab and the IU Cybersecurity Clinic, and was the founding chair of IU’s Cybersecurity Risk Management Program.

His work has been cited in leading law reviews and featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, NPR and Forbes. He holds a Ph.D. in politics and international studies from the University of Cambridge, a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and a B.A. in economics and political science from IU Bloomington.

Dan Melnick is assistant director of research communications.