Illinois Tech Names Northeastern Dean Raj Echambadi as Next President to Lead Its Mission to Advance Inclusive Innovation

CHICAGO-June 16, 2021—The Illinois Institute of Technology today announced that Rajagopal “Raj” Echambadi, Dunton Family Dean of the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University, will join Illinois Tech as its 10th president.

Founded to unleash the collective power of difference to advance technology for all, Illinois Tech has chosen Echambadi to lead its efforts to empower students from diverse backgrounds to achieve their potential. Under Echambadi's leadership, Illinois Tech will advance its legacy of excellence, educating the next generation of innovators and creators who will fuel Chicago's rise as a global destination for technology and entrepreneurship.

After an extensive nationwide search, the Illinois Tech Board voted unanimously to approve Echambadi on Monday, June 14. He will take over the top administrative position at the university on Aug. 16 from outgoing president Alan W. Cramb, who announced his retirement from the post in December 2020.

“One of the most important parts of the Illinois Tech ethos to me is the commitment to accessible and affordable technology education,” Echambadi said. “My career has been dedicated to inclusive innovation and collaboration, and Illinois Tech's commitment to creating pathways and infinite possibilities for a huge variety of students not only brings greater representation to technology but also drives greater innovation.”

“We have tremendous opportunities to serve Bronzeville, Chicago and the world,” Echambadi said. “Illinois Tech has the necessary capabilities—intellectual, cultural and social capital—and the right values embodied by our entire community to build on our historic strengths, forge a vibrant future, and strengthen our role as a leading technology institution. . My family and I are delighted to be a part of this exciting journey and to call Illinois home again.”

Prior to joining Northeastern, Echambadi served as the Alan J. and Joyce D. Baltz Professor and senior associate dean for strategic innovation at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As the driving force behind the University of Illinois' scalable online MBA (iMBA) program, Echambadi has been instrumental in providing increased access to an innovative education to students around the world. The iMBA program has been hailed as a breakthrough in graduate education and one of the best disruptive innovations of the last decade.

A leading expert in academic research in organizational strategic innovation, Echambadi has developed new and long-term academic programs designed to empower student success in a dynamic marketplace. The majority of his academic research has focused on strategic innovation within organizations and how companies must balance current and future opportunities. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Anna University in India and a PhD in Marketing from the University of Houston. His research on employee entrepreneurship gained prestige Academy of Management Journal Best Paper Award.

“Raj's experience in attracting strong researchers, corporate and philanthropic partners, and most importantly diverse students and faculty is unquestionable. Throughout his career, he has delivered outstanding innovation with broad impact and demonstrated a deep commitment to higher education as a vehicle for creating access and economic mobility,” said Michael P. Galvin (LAW '78), president of Illinois Tech Board of Administrators. “Raj's authentic connection to Illinois Tech's founding mission of empowering students of all backgrounds and perspectives to lead a more just and sustainable world through technology made him the perfect candidate to be Illinois Tech's next president.”

At Northeastern, Echambadi created the Office of Student Engagement, Affinity, and Inclusion and helped launch the Building Belonging Fellows, Pathfinder, and Peer Affinity Cohorts to empower students from diverse backgrounds to use entrepreneurial skills to become changemakers while cultivating a more supportive and inclusive campus experience for all students;

“As Illinois Tech continues to advance its reputation as a vital driver of innovation and economic impact in Chicago and beyond, I know Raj's ability to inspire an entrepreneurial mindset in all of our students will help further elevate Illinois Tech as Chicago's premier technology-focused university,” said Alan W. Cramb, Illinois Tech president. “While I'm proud of the progress we've made toward fulfilling our mission to create a more vibrant and inclusive tech ecosystem, I know that under Raj's leadership, the future of Illinois Tech is in very capable hands.”