Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Success

Indiana University

Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier joined Indiana University in the newly created role of Vice President for Student Success in August 2022, marking the first time an IU cabinet-level role focused on holistic student success across the university. In this role, Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier leads a team that serves both as Indiana University’s home for comprehensive student success strategy and as a source of support and resources for campus-based student success efforts. Always focused on students, Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier and her team actively collaborate with stakeholders to champion student interests, needs, and perspectives in all university decisions so that every student can thrive. 

Prior to joining Indiana University, Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier served in several leadership roles at Northwestern University, including as the Vice President for Student Affairs. She also held leadership roles in academic and student affairs at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL (SIUC), the University of Southern Indiana, and Lamar University. Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier also serves as a Professor of Practice in the IU Bloomington School of Education’s Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program, and has taught in master’s programs at Northwestern University and SIUC. She has also held leadership roles in several professional associations, including most recently finishing a three-year term in the NASPA Board Chair role.

She earned her B.S. degree in Genetics and her M.Ed. degree in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Texas A&M University-College Station, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Administration and Foundations at Indiana State University. She also holds a Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP) credential from NACAS, and she is the recipient of multiple awards including the Parthenon Award from ACUHO-I and the Pillar of the Profession award from NASPA.