Michael Rao, Ph.D., became president of Virginia Commonwealth University and chair of VCU Health System Authority in 2009. He is the first Asian-American to lead VCU and the fifth person to serve as president since the university’s creation in 1968.

Rao leads a nationally premier, urban public research university with an academic health system whose flagship hospital, VCU Medical Center, is ranked among the top hospitals in the nation. VCU educates more than 28,000 students from 138 countries in more than 230 degree and certificate programs and is the largest employer in the Richmond area.

Under Rao’s leadership, VCU is ranked among the top public universities in the United States for sponsored research expenditures and is designated as an "R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production" institution with "Community Engagement" status.

Rao has overseen a major expansion of VCU’s footprint, including new academic, clinical, and research facilities that support student success and patient care.

Rao serves in leadership roles across higher education and industry organizations and has held positions with the Council of Presidents and the American Council on Education.

His career in higher education began in 1992 as president of Mission College, where he was the youngest college president in the nation. He later served as chancellor of Montana State University – Northern and president of Central Michigan University.

A tenured professor in the VCU College of Health Professions, Rao holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida.