My campaign is based on the following issues.  Please click on any to learn more:

Fresh Sense of Energy
Accountability to Alumni
Renewed Leadership
Indiana's Standing in National Rankings
Competition Among Big 10 Counterparts
Cross-University/Department Cooperation
Role of Regional Campuses

Accountability to Alumni  - It should go without saying that Trustees elected by Alumni should be accountable to the Alumni.  Historically, alumni trustees are thrust into office and then forgotten - leaving them to seek advice and counsel from only their colleagues and closest friends. My commitment, if elected, will be to seek diverse alumni input on every issue coming before the Board.  I will maintain this website as a mechanism for accountability by posting forums for alumni input and justifying every vote I make not protected by privacy laws.

Renewed Leadership  - Recently, I believe many IU alumni have been let down by the current Board of Trustees in regards to IU’s portrayal in the popular press.  Specifically, the recent resignation of Kelvin Sampson presented IU leadership as everything from disorganized to circus-like.  Before the scandal broke, some Trustees went as far as calling Sampson's actions minor infractions that would not impact the long-term standing of the University.  Regardless of one's thoughts on the hiring and firing of Kelvin Sampson, it was apparent that the Board of Trustees was absent in controlling the media-frenzy surrounding the event.  The Board must present itself as a body with institutional control over high-profile issues and situations.  Additionally, recent investigative reports by the Bloomington Herald-Times have indicated that former President Herbert and the Board of Trustees played a significant role in hiring Sampson – perhaps contrary to the advice of the Athletic Department.  While Trustees have every right to provide input on high-profile decisions, they should focus efforts on hiring individuals whom they trust to make important decisions without micro-management and also be prepared to accept consequences when micro-managed decisions turn out to be ill-advised, as in the case of Sampson.

Beyond managing the aftermath of a negative story regarding athletics, Trustees must also play a key role in advancing attention to the countless positive stories coming from the academic side of the University every day.

Indiana's Standing in National Rankings  - While the current Board of Trustees would lead you to believe that all is well academically at Indiana, the rankings trend over the past decade has been decidedly downward for most IU departments.  Steps must be taken to improve standings, as it directly impacts the value of an IU degree for alumni.  Many of the factors impacting rankings are things alumni can have a direct impact on – specifically employment rates for recent graduates and peer perception.  Efforts should be focused on activities to increase alumni engagement as well as bringing IU’s programs directly into communities across Indiana and throughout the business and government sectors. 

There are many who say "rankings don't matter."  An observer also stated that we tout the rankings when we do well and dismiss them when we fall below expectations.  The reality of the rankings debate is that their role is an important one - both for students considering Indiana as well as how the value of an IU degree is perceived by alumni.  Simply dismissing them as irrelevant seems to be very shortsighted.

Competition Among Big 10 Counterparts – IU must strive to be competitive with our Big 10 counterparts in all levels of management as we are competing for the same students, the same faculty, the same donors, and in many cases the same resources from federal and state governments.  Currently, we rank in the bottom half in important statistics such as faculty pay – a distinction that must be improved to have a chance in competing on the same playing field as our peers.  

Issues like faculty pay, environmental impact, and quality of facilities are important, but must be balanced at the same time with responsible resource management.  The University should never be afraid to investigate and implement new sources of revenue to negate the need for dramatic tuition increases, so long as the integrity of the IU name is maintained through the process.

Cross-University/Department Cooperation – Many schools and departments have developed reputations for excelling with certain programs and services, while others lag behind.  For example, the Kelley School of Business Placement Office has developed a reputation for providing top-notch career search services, while other alumni have expressed concern at the lack of services offered by their schools.  The Board of Trustees should be a forum to recognize and draw attention to University best practices and mandate replication throughout the University.  

Role of Regional Campuses  – Regional campuses should strive to foster their relationships with their surrounding communities – both in the private and public sector.  With the significant evolution of our global community, regional campuses must play a critical role in supporting Hoosiers as communities across the Midwest transition to a service economy.