Dr. Rachelle L. Darabi is the Associate Provost for Student Development and Public Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). As such, she has oversight for the Academic Success Center which consists of the following units: the Center for Academic Support and Advancement, the First Year Experience, and the Mastodon Advising Center. Together these units support first-year students through curricular learning communities, supportive advising, and exemplary academic support services. In addition, CASA provides academic support programming for all IPFW students through IPFW's tutoring center, the Writing Center, the Math Test Center, Supplemental Instruction, and student technology programs.

Dr. Darabi holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration Degree from the University of Iowa, a Master's Degree in Teaching English-as-a-Second Language from the University of North Texas, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition with a cognate in Teaching English-as-a-Second Language from Ball State University. Prior to taking on her current administrative duties, Dr. Darabi taught English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) writing and freshman composition to first-year students at IPFW for thirteen years. She holds the rank of Associate Professor of English at IPFW. Dr. Darabi has won numerous awards for her work with non-native speakers of English and other diversity initiatives, including the Great Men and Women Diversity Award, the John Ulmer Award for Extraordinary Service to Minority and/or Disabled Students, the Philip Kennell Award for Dedicated Service to International Students, and the International Student Organization Outstanding Service Award.

Rachelle Darabi currently serves as the Treasurer for the National College Learning Center Association. She has written articles on ESL, academic support, and first-year initiatives and made numerous presentations at local, regional, and national conferences.

She served as campus co-liaison for the Foundations of Excellence (FOE) self-study completed by IPFW in 2006-07. Through her role as co-liaison, she served on all nine Dimension committees and was responsible for writing the FOE Final Report. Dr. Darabi currently sits on the steering committee of the First Year Council at IPFW which was founded as a result of recommendations developed through the FOE process.

For fun, Rachelle Darabi attends yoga classes with her husband. She also enjoys reading mystery novels and traveling.