Joseph Lee Sutton (March 22, 1924 – April 29, 1972) was an American academic who served as the thirteenth president of Indiana University.
Upon completion of the program, he was commissioned a Lieutenant and sent to Tokyo to serve as a Japanese language officer in General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters.
Sutton's brief tenure as President saw many challenges, including widespread protests on campus about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
His wife Jean's death in 1970 prompted Sutton to resign as President of IU in order to spend more time with his children.
Just prior to the couple's departure to Japan, where Sutton was slated to become an exchange Professor at Tenri University, they were involved in a car accident.