Office of the Chancellor, James Yackel

James Yackel was born 6 March 1936 in Sanborn, Minnesota. He received his Bachelor of Arts (1958), Master of Arts (1960), and Doctorate of Philosophy (1964) in Mathematics at the University of Minnesota. He worked as an Instructor of Mathematics at Dartmouth College from 1964 to 1966. From 1966 to 1987, Yackel was employed at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, beginning as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics. He then worked his way up the ladder, becoming an Associate Professor, a Research Mathematician, Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, and Acting Dean of the School of Science. In 1987, Yackel moved to Hammond, Indiana to become the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Purdue University Calumet. As Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Yackel improved Purdue University Calumet’s enrollment by 10 percent. In addition, Yackel improved minority enrollment by increasing the number of African American students to 17 percent and the number Latino students to 25 percent. From 1 July 1990 to 1 July 2001, Yackel served as Chancellor at Purdue University Calumet. As part of his initiative to create partnerships that benefit the university and the community, Yackel established the University Resource Center, the Entrepreneurship Center, the Professional Development School’s initiative, the Challenger Center of Northwest Indiana, and various international business outreach programs. Under Yackel’s administration, Purdue University Calumet expanded academically, creating thirteen undergraduate programs, three graduate programs, and fifteen professional certificate programs. Yackel’s administration also developed the first assessment program for evaluating the quality of education delivered to students. During his years as Chancellor, Purdue University Calumet saw nearly four times as many students receiving privately funded scholarships. Yackel attempted to partner with Indiana University Northwest and other local post-secondary institutions in the mid-1990s to develop a single, Merrillville-based facility, where courses could have been offered by any of the partnering institutions. Yackel’s plan was to increase access to higher education in an area of residential and commercial growth. However, the plan clashed with political opposition and it never began. In 2000, Yackel received the Distinguished Service Award from Purdue University Calumet Alumni Association. Yackel retired on 1 July 2001 at age 65. Yackel married Erna Seecamp, who was also employed at Purdue University Calumet as a professor of Mathematics Education. Together, they had three children: Jonathan, Juliet, and Carolyn.

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