Daniels Expected to Be Named Purdue President Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is expected to be named the next president of Purdue University and take the helm of the school after leaving office in January. Purdue trustees scheduled a vote Thursday on a new president, and university officials say there is only one candidate. Indianapolis media outlets citing anonymous sources say Daniels is in line to succeed France Cordova. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels declines to answer questions on reports that he will be named president of Purdue University following an economic developement announcement in Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Close Cordova will leave in July after five years at Purdue's helm. The 63-year-old Daniels has served two terms as governor and is barred by state law from seeking a third term. The former budget director under President George W. Bush had been widely recruited to run for president but chose not to. He had been mentioned as a running mate for Mitt Romney but said repeatedly he wasn't interested.