A visionary scholar and accomplished educator and researcher, Whitten has held a variety of leadership roles, beginning at Michigan State University where she served as a dean for five years, and most recently as president of Kennesaw State University.
As IU’s first female president, Whitten assumes the helm at one of the nation’s leading research universities at a time of record-level research funding and philanthropic support.
Whitten holds a Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Kansas, a Master of Arts in communication from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor of Science in management from Tulane University. She is an internationally recognized expert in the field of telemedicine. As part of her work in higher education, she additionally held leadership roles at the University of Georgia and the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Career timeline
- 2021- Present: President, Indiana University
- 2018-2021: President, Kennesaw State University
- 2014-2018: Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University of Georgia
- 2009-2014: Dean of the College of Communication Arts & Sciences, Michigan State University
- 2007-2009: Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, College of Communication Arts & Sciences, Michigan State University
- 2006-2007: Assistant Dean, College of Communication Arts & Sciences, Michigan State University
- 2005-2006: Professor, Department of Communication and Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University
- 2005-2014: Professor, Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media, Michigan State University
- 2004-2005: Professor and Director, Health & Risk Communication Center, College of Communication, Michigan State University
- 2001-2005: Associate Professor, Department of Telecommunication, Michigan State University
- 1998-2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Telecommunication, Michigan State University
- 1998-2005: Research Fellow, College of Human Medicine, Institute of Healthcare Studies, Michigan State University
- 1995-1998: Inaugural Director of Information Technology Services and Research and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center
- 1993-95: Teaching Assistant, University of Kansas
- 1988: Instructor, University of Maryland, Frankfurt, West Germany Campus
Select honors and awards
- Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Who’s Who in Education – Top 100 Educators (2019, 2020 and upcoming May 2021)
- Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500: Education & Healthcare (2020 and 2021)
- Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEOs (2020)
- American Telemedicine Association Fellowship (2011)
- Michigan State University Distinguished Faculty Award (2010)
- Michigan State University Outreach Scholarship Award (2008)
- Linkugel Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series Award, University of Kansas (2006)
- National Library of Medicine and American Medical Women’s Association: Local Legends in Medicine (2004)
- Michigan State University Teacher-Scholar Award (2002)
