Below you will find a list of the current Senior Academy board officers. Click on the + icon to find contact information and learn more about the board member.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]tapztifc
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Office of the Chancellor
Additional Board Role: Chair – Spirit and Place Committee, Co-Chair – Philanthropic Outreach
Biography: Christine Fitzpatrick retired from IU Indianapolis in 2019 after a career with Indiana University that spanned more than three decades. After graduating from Ball State University with an M.A. in English, Christine joined the School of Engineering and Technology at IU Indianapolis as part-time lecturer of Technical Communication and an administrator, advancing to assistant dean for student and academic affairs. Having developed an interest in computers and writing during those years, Christine pursued and earned a doctorate in instructional systems technology with IU’s School of Education and found further opportunities to grow professionally with UITS and the Office of the Vice President for IT.
Christine’s third chapter at IU Indianapolis began at the invitation of Nasser H. Paydar, in his role as executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at IU Indianapolis, and continued as his chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor.
Now in a new life chapter, Christine is happy to be involved with IU Indianapolis’s Senior Academy. She teaches online courses for the Technical Communication program, supports the arts, volunteers within her community, and enjoys spending time with her large extended family.
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Office of the Chancellor
Additional Board Role: Chair – Spirit and Place Committee, Co-Chair – Philanthropic Outreach
Biography: Christine Fitzpatrick retired from IU Indianapolis in 2019 after a career with Indiana University that spanned more than three decades. After graduating from Ball State University with an M.A. in English, Christine joined the School of Engineering and Technology at IU Indianapolis as part-time lecturer of Technical Communication and an administrator, advancing to assistant dean for student and academic affairs. Having developed an interest in computers and writing during those years, Christine pursued and earned a doctorate in instructional systems technology with IU’s School of Education and found further opportunities to grow professionally with UITS and the Office of the Vice President for IT.
Christine’s third chapter at IU Indianapolis began at the invitation of Nasser H. Paydar, in his role as executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at IU Indianapolis, and continued as his chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor.
Now in a new life chapter, Christine is happy to be involved with IU Indianapolis’s Senior Academy. She teaches online courses for the Technical Communication program, supports the arts, volunteers within her community, and enjoys spending time with her large extended family.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]mmaln
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: School of Engineering and Technology
Biography: Nancy grew up in Indianapolis and began her university studies at Indiana University Bloomington, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology.
Following work in both research and clinical lab positions, she decided on a different career path and enrolled in the Purdue engineering programs at Indianapolis, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in interdisciplinary engineering. After teaching part-time for several years, she received a lecturer appointment in the Purdue-related Freshman Engineering Program in Indianapolis in 1988. Her duties included teaching, curriculum development, academic advising, and program administration. She served freshman engineering students in this position for 34 years, retiring in 2022.
In addition to directing the Freshman Engineering Program, she served as Director of the School of Engineering and Technology Advising Center for several years and as the coordinator of IU Indianapolis engineering dual degree programs with universities in Indiana, Malaysia, and several other countries.
One goal of retirement has been to spend more time with her family, so since retiring she has been sharpening her babysitting skills. She is also board chair of her church, treasurer of her condo HOA, and chair of the scholarship selections committee of her high school alumni association. She enjoys volunteering, hiking, and playing the piano.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]laenc
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Kelley School of Business
Additional Board Role:
Biography: Catherine Bonser-Neal is Associate Professor of Finance Emerita in the Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis. She received an Honors B.A. in Economics from Indiana University Bloomington, and Masters and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago. Her research and teaching focused on international financial markets and international financial management.
Prior to joining the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis, Catherine taught at the University of Washington and worked as an Economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the President's Council of Economic Advisors. Catherine has extensive experience teaching at both the MBA and undergraduate levels, and she was the recipient of several teaching awards.
She also helped develop and lead student study abroad trips, including to France and Chile. Her international academic experiences included being a visiting professor at the University of Melbourne, teaching executive MBAs in China, and serving as an academic consultant in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Throughout her career Catherine served on several Kelley School and IUPUI campus committees, and she served as Faculty Chair of the Kelley School's Evening MBA Program from 2009 to 2011. She received an IUPUI Office of Women Leadership Award in 2020.
In retirement Catherine enjoys spending time with her family, pursuing new interests and volunteer opportunities, and keeping up with her interests in global financial markets and global economies. She looks forward to remaining engaged with IU Indianapolis as a member of the Senior Academy.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]agelppar
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Office of Academic Affairs, Dept of Library and Information Science, Luddy SICE
Additional Board Role: IFC member
Biography: After 20 years as a librarian in a small Catholic college, I came to IUPUI and discovered the same can-do and student-centered spirit, a joy for the next 20 years. I taught masters level librarians, and in my last six years was assistant vice chancellor for faculty affairs (i.e. hiring, promotion and tenure, general welfare). After retirement I remain connected via the Senior Academy, and have now the time to devote to pottery, handcrafts, and spiritual engagement.
Below you will find a list of the current Senior Academy board members.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]ieallas
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Office of International Affairs
Biography: Sara Allaei (M.A. Applied Linguistics, IU Bloomington) joined the IU Indianapolis Department of English in January 1987 as the first full-time lecturer in the English as a Second Language Program, helping international students and new immigrants develop their academic English skills.
In 1991, she transitioned to the Office of International Affairs as an assistant director and subsequently served in a variety of international services-focused roles, including executive director. She witnessed firsthand the growth of IU Indianapolis’s international student enrollment from 350 to more than 2000 students and feels honored to have played a key role in growing IU Indianapolis’s global profile.
Retired as of December 2022, Sara has lined up plenty to stay busy: international and stateside travel, volunteering with Kids Voice as a CASA (court-appointed special advocate) and singing with the Indianapolis Women’s Chorus. She is also serving as a consultant/trainer for the student success component of a US-Pakistan higher education strengthening project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
One of the best parts of working in international affairs was the opportunity to work with colleagues in virtually every program and department across campus. Through the Senior Academy, Sara looks forward to the opportunity to continue to serve and stay in touch.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]ekilnask
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]nworbwj
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Professor and Executive Associate Dean, IU School of Journalism at IUPUI
Additional Board Role: Chairperson of the Communications Committee
Biography:
James W. Brown, professor and executive associate dean emeritus of the Indiana University School of Journalism in Indianapolis began teaching broadcast and photojournalism at the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1973. He became chair of the nationally accredited photojournalism sequence.
In 1982 he joined the faculty at Indiana University and became the founding associate dean for the IUPUI program of the School of Journalism. He taught Introduction to Visual Communication and upper division courses related to visual communication and new media.
Some of his students have won the National Press Photographers Association’s “Newspaper Photographer of the Year award," one won the Nikon sabbatical grant, one was the editor-in-chief of National Geographic, three have won Pulitzers and two became outstanding professors of photojournalism.
Brown earned his Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from IU in 1977. He also holds an M.B.A. and M.S. Ed. from IU and a bachelor’s in Cinema and Photography from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
He was awarded the 2007 Hoosier State Press Association Distinguished Service award. In September 2007, Brown was one of four IUPUI faculty recognized with the Glenn W. Irwin Jr., M.D. Experience Excellence Award. As a media producer, he won gold and bronze medals in the New York International Film Festival. His book Long Journey Home: Oral Histories of Contemporary Delaware Indians from Indiana University Press won the 2008 Best Non-Fiction Book, Indiana Society of Professional Journalists. Also in 2008 he received the IUPUI Chancellor's Faculty Award for Civic Engagement.
In 2009 he won the Robin F. Garland Education Award from the National Press Photographers Association, was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame and named "Distinguished Hoosier" by Gov. Mitch Daniels. That same year the HSPA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest Committee created the James W. Brown Innovation Award to honor an innovation or initiative that seeks to reach new readers or audiences using any resources available in the newsroom.
Jim’s first major account at his Minneapolis-based multimedia company, Brown, Jensen and Garloff was to produce a video for Control Data executives on corporate productivity. As a result of his video, Control Data is bankrupt. As a result of 28 years of Brown’s leadership, the School of Journalism is no more. If you want to run an enterprise into the ground, just contact Brown. This doesn’t bode well for The Senior Academy does it?
Brown is an Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver. In addition to photography and ham radio, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and bicycling.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]tteldoog
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement:
Additional Board Role:
Biography: Coming soon...
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]mirgaj
Jim Grim retired as Director of University/Community School Partnerships in the Office of Community Engagement on August 29, 2023.
Early in his career he taught high school journalism and subsequently conducted campus media relations at IPFW and IUPUI. He also served adjunct faculty roles in the Schools of Journalism, Education, and Liberal Arts in Indianapolis, and co-authored more than 20 professional journal articles about university-community school engagement that has earned him national recognition.
The Institute for Educational Leadership and Coalition for Community Schools in 2022 awarded IUPUI its inaugural National Community Engagement Award that he accepted on behalf of IUPUI in Los Angeles. In addition to the Academy, he serves on the boards of Communities In Schools of Indiana and George Washington H.S. Dollars for Scholars, and facilitates the Indiana Community Schools Network that represents more than 215 public school communities throughout the state.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]nallohs
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: IU Indianapolis Alumni Relations
Additional Board Role: Chair – Bepko Medallion Committee
Biography: Sharon Holland came to IU Indianapolis in 1971, and in 1973, she moved to the IU Indianapolis Office of Alumni Relations as office manager, where she remained for the duration of her career, retiring in January 2020 as director of alumni and special programs. Throughout her time at IU Indianapolis, Sharon worked directly with a number of IU Indianapolis school-based alumni groups, as well as with the Central Indiana Chapter of the IU Alumni Association.
Beginning in 1974, Sharon became integrally involved in the presentation of IU Indianapolis Commencement. Within a few years, she took on local responsibility for the university ceremonies and the individual school ceremonies, working with a campus commencement committee comprised of representatives from each academic unit. In addition, she oversaw the ordering and distribution of academic apparel for both students and faculty, coordinated content of the printed program, worked with members of the committee on their respective needs for individual school ceremonies and coordinated this information with assigned staff at the Indiana Convention Center—the site of all ceremonies. Working with other Alumni Office staff as well as individuals on the Bloomington campus, she oversaw setup for all ceremonies at the Convention Center on commencement weekend as well as production of the university ceremonies, including coordinating information and contact with members of the platform party.
Sharon played a pivotal role in the creation and execution of the first 10 years of the IU Indianapolis Regatta, now a function of the IU Indianapolis Division of Student Affairs. An additional aspect of her career, and one of which she is very fond, was responsibility for the IU Indianapolis/IU Calliope, a steam-powered instrument mounted in a circus wagon, which was built on the IU Indianapolis campus by the Alumni Office—with help from several other units on campus—for entry to the 500 Festival Parade in 1976. Following that appearance, the Calliope was made available by the Indianapolis Alumni Office to other parades, mostly in Indiana. Scheduling, staffing, and maintaining the Calliope was Sharon’s responsibility for a good part of its existence. The Calliope is owned by the IU Alumni Association and is currently stored in Bloomington.
Sharon has been blessed with the opportunity to have a varied and fulfilling career at IU Indianapolis, not the least of which was the chance to get to know so many wonderful colleagues, a number of whom are already on this board!
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: IU Indianapolis Alumni Relations
Additional Board Role: Chair – Bepko Medallion Committee
Biography: Sharon Holland came to IU Indianapolis in 1971, and in 1973, she moved to the IU Indianapolis Office of Alumni Relations as office manager, where she remained for the duration of her career, retiring in January 2020 as director of alumni and special programs. Throughout her time at IU Indianapolis, Sharon worked directly with a number of IU Indianapolis school-based alumni groups, as well as with the Central Indiana Chapter of the IU Alumni Association.
Beginning in 1974, Sharon became integrally involved in the presentation of IU Indianapolis Commencement. Within a few years, she took on local responsibility for the university ceremonies and the individual school ceremonies, working with a campus commencement committee comprised of representatives from each academic unit. In addition, she oversaw the ordering and distribution of academic apparel for both students and faculty, coordinated content of the printed program, worked with members of the committee on their respective needs for individual school ceremonies and coordinated this information with assigned staff at the Indiana Convention Center—the site of all ceremonies. Working with other Alumni Office staff as well as individuals on the Bloomington campus, she oversaw setup for all ceremonies at the Convention Center on commencement weekend as well as production of the university ceremonies, including coordinating information and contact with members of the platform party.
Sharon played a pivotal role in the creation and execution of the first 10 years of the IU Indianapolis Regatta, now a function of the IU Indianapolis Division of Student Affairs. An additional aspect of her career, and one of which she is very fond, was responsibility for the IU Indianapolis/IU Calliope, a steam-powered instrument mounted in a circus wagon, which was built on the IU Indianapolis campus by the Alumni Office—with help from several other units on campus—for entry to the 500 Festival Parade in 1976. Following that appearance, the Calliope was made available by the Indianapolis Alumni Office to other parades, mostly in Indiana. Scheduling, staffing, and maintaining the Calliope was Sharon’s responsibility for a good part of its existence. The Calliope is owned by the IU Alumni Association and is currently stored in Bloomington.
Sharon has been blessed with the opportunity to have a varied and fulfilling career at IU Indianapolis, not the least of which was the chance to get to know so many wonderful colleagues, a number of whom are already on this board!
Email: bng@iu.edu
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]retropr
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Former School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Biography: Becky’s affiliation with IU Indianapolis began with her birth in Coleman Hospital for Women which is now Coleman Hall. Ironically, her career at IU Indianapolis ended with an office in the same building after a long history of being connected with IU Indianapolis.
She started her college career with a summer course at the IU Extension in Indianapolis before spending two years at IU Bloomington returning to IU Indianapolis to complete her B.S. in Physical Therapy (PT). She worked as a physical therapist at Riley Hospital for Children (which was still part of IU at that time), gradually began assisting the PT academic program, joined the faculty full-time, and evolved to the role of program director. Along the way she completed her Indiana University Masters in Allied Health Education and Ph.D. in Medical Neurobiology.
Her involvement with faculty governance included service as president of the IU Indianapolis Faculty Council and co-secretary of the IU Faculty Council. This lead to service as a faculty liaison for IU President Myles Brand and faculty fellow with Dean of Faculties William Plater.
In a career twist, she became the interim and then permanent associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at IU Indianapolis. At the point of retirement, she had the opportunity to return to her home school as interim dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences as it transitioned through its merger with the School of Physical Education and Tourism Management to become the School of Health & Human Services.
With this sense of IU Indianapolis as home, she is delighted to remain engaged with the activities of the Senior Academy and welcomes you in joining us.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]treborej
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement: Herron School of Art + Design
Additional Board Role: Liaison – Chair, Last Lecture Committee
Biography: Jean is a native of Mt. Kisco, New York. She earned her B.A., M.A.,, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Her first professional career was as an art museum director and curator, then in 1989 she switched to teaching at the university level.
A member of the Herron School of Art and Design faculty since 1995, she holds the rank of Chancellor's Professor Emeritus, retiring in December 2019. She is grateful to Herron for an immensely enjoyable 25 years teaching amazing and creative students, and collaborating with talented faculty and staff colleagues. Her research specialization is art history and theory of the late 20th and 21st centuries, viewed in a global context.
Through the Senior Academy, Jean is happy to continue serving the Indianapolis campus and interacting with former colleagues and new friends. In retirement, she continues to write and publish, including serving as co-lead author of The History of Art: A Global View (Thames & Hudson, 2021), and Themes of Contemporary Art: Visual Art after 1980 (Oxford University Press, 2022), the latter co-authored with her husband Craig McDaniel, also a retiree from Herron/IU Indianapolis, and a member of the Senior Academy. More importantly, retirement provides her with more time for family and friends as well as travel, reading, gardening, and new pursuits.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]lcenotss
Sherry taught at Herron School of Art + Design for 36 years as a Foundation Studies specialist, first as a part-time lecturer and ending as a Teaching Professor. Prior to and overlapping her teaching career, she worked as gallerist at two prominent art galleries in the Indianapolis area.
At Herron, she taught an array of courses, including drawing, color theory, 2D design, and courses that emphasized ideation. She anchored the 2D design and color theory areas, supervising curricula and mentoring novice faculty in the area. Over time, Sherry earned several Trustees Teaching Awards and became a member of FACET. Besides presenting at conferences and publishing papers about teaching first year art students, she co-authored with her colleague, Anita Giddings, two books for beginning artists, Oil Painting for Dummies and Pastels for Dummies.
Retirement has meant being able to spend more time with her studio practice – painting – and visiting museums. She has also been renovating her long neglected house and waging war on the weeds in her garden.
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]leppahcm
Unit/School Affiliation at Retirement:
Additional Board Role:
Biography: Coming soon...
Below you will find a list of ex-officio members:
Email: ude[dot]ui[at]cve
Unit/School Affiliation: Office of the Provost
Biography: Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor James "Jay" Gladden provides leadership for all aspects of the academic enterprise and serves as chief executive officer in the chancellor's absence. Jay leads the team responsible for faculty process including recruiting, developing, supporting, recognizing, and retaining excellent faculty. He also oversees 17 academic schools, the Division of Enrollment Management, Division of Undergraduate Education, Graduate Office, Office of International Affairs, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for research.
Prior to serving in this role, Jay has held three different administrative positions at Indiana University. From 2021 to 2023 he served as the Associate Vice President for Learning Technologies in University Information Technology Services. In this role, he oversaw the technology, learning spaces, and faculty development related to teaching and learning with technology across IU’s campuses.
From 2017 to 2021, Jay led the IU Indianapolis Division of Undergraduate Education as associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education, dean of University College, and acting dean of Honors College. In this role, he oversaw increases in first-year retention and graduation rates while leading a variety of curricular and co-curricular campus-wide student-success programs that served students from orientation through graduation. He was a tireless advocate for utilizing active and engaged learning strategies to ensure equitable access to high-impact practices and the Institute for Engaged Learning was created under his leadership to promote equitable access to high-impact practices.
From 2009 to 2017, Dr. Gladden served as the dean of the School of Physical Education and Tourism Management where he championed initiatives around student support, retention, and conferred degrees. Jay’s research expertise lies in the areas of sport brand management, sport sponsorship planning and evaluation, and college athletic fundraising. In 2016, Dr. Gladden founded and launched the Sports Innovation Institute, a multi-disciplinary collaboration of nine IU Indianapolis schools and the Indianapolis sports industry focused on innovation in sports.
Before coming to IU Indianapolis, Dr. Gladden was associate dean at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a member of the Sport Management faculty. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in 1988, his master’s degree in sport management from The Ohio State University in 1991, and his doctorate in sport management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1997.
Unit/School Affiliation: Office of the Provost
Biography: Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor James "Jay" Gladden provides leadership for all aspects of the academic enterprise and serves as chief executive officer in the chancellor's absence. Jay leads the team responsible for faculty process including recruiting, developing, supporting, recognizing, and retaining excellent faculty. He also oversees 17 academic schools, the Division of Enrollment Management, Division of Undergraduate Education, Graduate Office, Office of International Affairs, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for research.
Prior to serving in this role, Jay has held three different administrative positions at Indiana University. From 2021 to 2023 he served as the Associate Vice President for Learning Technologies in University Information Technology Services. In this role, he oversaw the technology, learning spaces, and faculty development related to teaching and learning with technology across IU’s campuses.
From 2017 to 2021, Jay led the IU Indianapolis Division of Undergraduate Education as associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education, dean of University College, and acting dean of Honors College. In this role, he oversaw increases in first-year retention and graduation rates while leading a variety of curricular and co-curricular campus-wide student-success programs that served students from orientation through graduation. He was a tireless advocate for utilizing active and engaged learning strategies to ensure equitable access to high-impact practices and the Institute for Engaged Learning was created under his leadership to promote equitable access to high-impact practices.
From 2009 to 2017, Dr. Gladden served as the dean of the School of Physical Education and Tourism Management where he championed initiatives around student support, retention, and conferred degrees. Jay’s research expertise lies in the areas of sport brand management, sport sponsorship planning and evaluation, and college athletic fundraising. In 2016, Dr. Gladden founded and launched the Sports Innovation Institute, a multi-disciplinary collaboration of nine IU Indianapolis schools and the Indianapolis sports industry focused on innovation in sports.
Before coming to IU Indianapolis, Dr. Gladden was associate dean at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a member of the Sport Management faculty. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in 1988, his master’s degree in sport management from The Ohio State University in 1991, and his doctorate in sport management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1997.
Last updated 8/14/2025