Meet the Chancellor

Chancellor Chris Holford

Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Kenneth (Chris) Holford is committed to transforming students’ lives while placing PNW at the forefront of innovative education, impactful research and community engagement.

Under his leadership, the university has undergone a remarkable period of growth with initiatives including the recognition of Purdue Northwest as the largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana, championship seasons for PNW Pride athletics, and the addition of a third doctoral degree, affirming PNW’s status as a doctoral-granting institution.

PNW is redeveloping a downtown Hammond site into the Roberts Impact Lab at Purdue Northwest, a multimillion-dollar regional technology hub and quantum commercialization center. In addition, construction of a new residence hall on PNW’s Hammond Campus will be completed by fall 2026. Holford has also empowered new academic leadership while shepherding the launch of a strategic plan, “Excellence Evolving,” that will guide Purdue University Northwest through 2030.

Named Chancellor in January 2024, Holford has served the PNW campuses for more than 20 years. In his previous role as provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, he provided leadership for the six academic colleges, commercialization and research, and student success. He prioritized the student experience at PNW while placing an emphasis on academic and research quality that led to a tripling of sponsored research activity.

A professor of Biology, Holford served as the founding dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences at PNW. He also was dean of the College of Sciences and chair of the department of Biology and Chemistry at the former Purdue North Central, which is now the Westville, Ind., branch campus of PNW.

Holford earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Illinois State University, with a primary research specialization in crustacean endocrinology. He holds a master’s degree in Zoology (Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory) from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with specialization in avian reproductive physiology and eggshell production. Prior to these, Holford earned his baccalaureate degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois with a major in Biology.

He is actively engaged in the Northwest Indiana community, currently serving on the boards of the Shirley Heinz Land Trust and the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra.

Holford and his wife Christy are residents of Valparaiso, Indiana. He is an avid fisherman and outdoor enthusiast with a lifelong passion for wildlife biology and conservation.

Leadership in Action

Chancellor Holford congratulates a PNW graduate at Fall 2024 Commencement.

PNW Chancellor Chris Holford poses with the 2024 PNW Alumni Hall of Fame class: Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., the Honorable Diane Kavadias Schneider and Jeff Strack, president and CEO of Indiana Grocery Group.

PNW’s robust research was in the spotlight as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan visited the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) to observe research and impacts for federally-funded steel decarbonization initiatives. Chancellor Holford (second from left) discussed PNW’s impact with (left-to-right) DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation Geri Richmond, CIVS founding director and NIPSCO Distinguished Professor of Engineering Simulation Chenn Zhou, and Representative Mrvan.

Chancellor Holford showed his PNW Pride by offering the ceremonial puck drop at a hockey game between Purdue Northwest and the University of Illinois.

2023-24 PNW Student Government Association members pose for a photo with PNW Chancellor Chris Holford during the Excellence Evolving leadership celebration.

Chancellor Holford poses with members of the Pride DI Hockey team and the trophy they received for winning the program's first ever Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League Tournament Championship. Also pictured are Director of Athletics Rick Costello (far left) and head coach and director of hockey operations Carl Trosien (behind trophy). The team advanced to the Elite Eight in the American Collegiate Hockey Association DI National Tournament.

PNW Chancellor Chris Holford meets with PNW students, faculty and staff during the Excellence Evolving leadership celebration at PNW’s Westville campus.

PNW alumni pose with Chancellor Chris Holford at the Crossroads Chamber monthly luncheon where Holford was the keynote speaker to industry leaders, elected officials and local high school students.

Chancellor Holford poses with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, who took home the Chancellor's Cup at the 2024 Mane Event for collecting the most items for the PNW Food Pantry.

PNW Chancellor Chris Holford, right, is introduced by Purdue President Mung Chiang during the Excellence Evolving leadership celebration at PNW’s Hammond campus.