Julie Payne-Kirchmeier

Julie Payne-Kirchmeier is the inaugural vice president for student success for Indiana University and a professor of practice in higher education and student affairs with IU Bloomington. She is responsible for the overall strategic direction of IU’s student success initiatives and oversees university enrollment services (university admission, transfer, registrar and financial aid), student navigation and support (including career development, academic advising support and training), student access and opportunity (including financial wellness and education, and first-generation/low- and/or limited-income student programs), and student wellness and well-being. 

In addition, she and her team regularly engage with multiple stakeholders, student success advisory groups, communities of practice, and leaders across IU campuses to most effectively center and support students at every stage, from prospective student to alumni.

Before joining IU, Payne-Kirchmeier served in various student affairs leadership roles, including as the vice president for student affairs at Northwestern University. She oversaw Northwestern’s full Division of Student Affairs, including housing, dining, finance, human resources, counseling, conduct, health service, campus life, fraternity and sorority life, campus inclusion and community, career advancement, university center, technology, marketing, communications, assessment, and long-range planning. She also served as faculty in the higher education administration and policy department teaching college student development in the Master of Science in Higher Education program at Northwestern.

She has also held positions of assistant provost and director of university housing (concurrently) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, director of residence life at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana, assistant director of housing at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and hall director at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Payne-Kirchmeier earned a Bachelor of Science in genetics and a Master of Education in student affairs administration from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership, administrations and foundations from Indiana State University. She also holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid and as a Certified Auxiliary Services Professional. 

She has held leadership positions in multiple professional associations, including the board chair for NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, president of the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers and board member for the National Association of College Auxiliary Services.

Areas of Expertise

College student success, student development, enrollment management, retention, student success technology, student crisis response, student well-being, closing equity gaps in higher education.