Kumar Named New Director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development

Indraneel Kumar, associate director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD), has been assigned the new role of director of PCRD on May 1, 2024.

Kumar has been with PCRD since its inception in 2005. His work has focused on regional economic and workforce analysis, demographics, identification of new sources of data, GIS databases, spatial analysis, and quantitative methods.

Kumar has been a member of the American Planning Association and American Institute of Certified Planners since 2006. In his more than 20 years of professional and applied research experience, Indraneel has worked on comprehensive planning for large metropolitan areas, regions, and counties in the U.S., and internationally.

He has participated in several regional economic development projects and applied research funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA); Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL); Office of Economic Adjustment, Department of Defense (DOD); Economic Research Service (ERS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP), Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT); the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA); and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).

“Dr. Kumar’s appointment as the new director of PCRD is a testament to his dedication and expertise,” said Gallardo. “Dr. Kumar helped build PCRD’s legacy of excellence with collaboration and innovation for regional development. I am excited to see how PCRD will thrive under his leadership.”

Kumar replaces Roberto Gallardo, who was named the vice president for the updated Office of Engagement in July 2023. Gallardo served as the director of PCRD since 2020 and the assistant director since 2017.