Sukhatme served as the Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of Faculties at IUPUI from 2006 until 2012. In that role, he provided leadership for all academic units overseeing the work of campus deans and schools. He was the driving force responsible for developing and implementing the IUPUI Academic Plan, whose major initiatives led to significant campus improvements and enhancements by stimulating new revenue streams involving innovative enrollment strategies, improved student retention, increased interdisciplinary research, and creative fundraising.
In 2011, Sukhatme was recognized with an IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Award to honor his establishment of the Indumati Sukhatme RISE Scholarship, which emphasizes the importance of supporting research, international experiences, service learning, and experiential learning (RISE) and is named in memory of his late mother. The scholarship is awarded annually to one undergraduate student in the School of Science to support a study abroad experience.
Following his tenure at IUPUI, Sukhatme went on to serve as Provost at Pace University and has since returned to his life as professor of physics at Pace.