​Eric L. Barker holds two key leadership appointments at Purdue University. He is the Jeannie and Jim Chaney Dean of Pharmacy & Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. Purdue appointed him in 2024 to the newly-created role of Vice President for Health Affairs to lead plans for the future of Purdue's health and life sciences academic programs and research. Dr. Barker joined the Purdue faculty in 1998 and was appointed as the pharmacy dean in 2017.

 

The Purdue College of Pharmacy is consistently ranked among the nation’s top ten and currently holds the #5 ranking for total research funding among pharmacy schools, which leads the Big Ten. Under Dean Barker, the College also consistently leads their Big Ten peers in fundraising having raised nearly $200 million during his time as dean.

 

In 2023, Dean Barker’s vision to replace the College of Pharmacy’s outdated facilities became reality with the groundbreaking of a 186,000 square-foot Nursing and Pharmacy Education Building. By collaborating with the School of Nursing and securing critical lead gifts, Dean Barker was able to elevate this capital project among Purdue’s legislative priorities. The result was $89 million in state appropriations combined with more than $70 million in private and institutional support. The building is on schedule to be completed by fall 2026.

 

Dr. Barker received his B.S. in pharmacy at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Ph.D. in pharmacology from Vanderbilt University. He completed postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt and Emory Universities.