Dr. Nasser H. Paydar
President
Dr. Nasser H. Paydar is the President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a national organization that advocates for academic quality and the independence of accreditation in the United States. He began this role in August 2025, following a distinguished career in federal service and higher education leadership.
Dr. Paydar served as the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education from 2022 to 2025. Prior to his federal appointment, he was the chancellor of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), now Indiana University Indianapolis, and executive vice president of Indiana University (IU).
An IU faculty member for more than 36 years, Dr. Paydar has held numerous administrative and executive leadership positions across the university. He joined IUPUI in 1985 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and later served as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, associate dean for graduate programs, associate dean for academic programs, and executive associate dean. From 2004 to 2007, he was vice chancellor and dean of Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus.
Dr. Paydar was appointed chancellor of Indiana University East in 2007, serving in that role until he returned to IUPUI in 2012 as executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. He became IUPUI’s fifth chancellor in 2015, leading the institution until his federal appointment. Under his leadership, IUPUI strengthened student success initiatives, expanded research activity, enhanced community engagement, and advanced efforts to improve affordability and access to higher education.
Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate for academic excellence, institutional integrity, and student success, with a deep commitment to fostering innovation, access, and accountability in higher education.