In 1992,Rao became a dean at Mission College in Santa Clara,California,and became president of the college two years later. This move gave him the distinction of being the youngest college president in the country at that time.[4] In 1998,he became chancellor of Montana State University–Northern,in Havre.
Rao was chosen to be president of Central Michigan University (CMU),a large public,research university in the year 2000. His work at Central Michigan University focused on interdisciplinary academic program development,economic development through commercialization of research,fundraising for the university,and outreach to the Central Michigan region.[6] During his tenure and despite state budget cuts,CMU significantly increased faculty positions and research productivity,developed academic programs and improved performance. Under Rao's leadership,CMU gained approval to establish a medical school and M.D. degree program,partnering with large healthcare systems.[6] When he left CMU in 2009,Rao was one of the three longest-serving presidents among Michigan's 15 public universities.
Virginia Commonwealth University presidency
Rao was selected to be the president of Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009 and was officially installed as VCU's fifth president on October 14,2011,in an inauguration ceremony at the Siegel Center. The event was marked with two weeks of activities designed to highlight the urban university's commitment to student success,academic excellence,research and human health.
In September 2024,VCU extended Michael Rao's contract through June 2030,and VCU trustees unanimously voted to raise Rao's annual salary to $896,000,making him the fourth highest-paid university president in Virginia,behind presidents at the University of Virginia,George Mason University and the College of William &Mary. [7]
Protests
While president,Rao overlooked a series of protests by adjunct faculty at VCU.[8] The coalition behind the protests critiqued Rao's salary while many adjuncts made poverty level wages.[9] Ahead of the 2018-19 budget,$4.2 million was allocated to increase adjunct faculty funding from $800 to $1,000 per credit hour,about $1,000 less than what the coalition was demanding.[10]
Ghostwriting scandal
In September 2019,it was reported that Rao had signed as the sole author of an opinion piece that he had not written.[11] The January 2019 op-ed,printed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch,supported a private development in that city but had been ghostwritten by an employee of the private development.[12] The executive editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch stated that the newspaper would not have published the piece if it has known of its true origin.[11] Rao's actions were also criticized by independent ethics experts.[13]
Personal life
Rao is married to Monica Rao,a professional watercolorist and graphic designer from Bengaluru. They have two sons.[1][14]
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