The Purdue University Board of Trustees voted Monday, May 25, to appoint former university president Mitch Daniels as interim president beginning July 1.

Daniels, who served as Purdue’s president from 2013 through 2022 and currently chairs the Purdue Research Foundation board, will replace Mung Chiang, who is leaving to become president of Northwestern University.

Board Chair Gary Lehman praised Daniels’ return, saying trustees are grateful for his willingness to continue serving the university in a familiar leadership role.

Daniels said it is important to maintain the momentum created under Chiang’s leadership and said he was willing to return temporarily to help guide the university during the transition.

Lehman said Daniels will remain interim president until Purdue completes a national search and a new president takes office. Trustees plan to begin that search in the coming weeks.