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IU’s new President Adam Herbert visits Kokomo campus
June 10, 2003 | |||||
KOKOMO, Ind.—Indiana University’s new president, Adam W. Herbert, Ph.D., promises to focus IU on both “quality teaching and research” and to remain “sensitive to the unique realities” of running a regional campus like IU Kokomo. Making the rounds of all eight IU campuses, Herbert visited Kokomo Tuesday, five days after his appointment as the university’s 17th president.
Herbert, a longtime leader in the Florida higher education system, is Regents Professor and the executive director of The Florida Center for Public Policy and Leadership at the University of North Florida (UNF). He served as the president of UNF from 1989 to 1998. From 1998 to 2001, Herbert led 250,000 students in the nation’s second-largest university system, the State University System of Florida. “When you’re looking for a leader for IU, only the best will do,” said IU Kokomo Chancellor Ruth Person in introducing Herbert at a campus and community reception. “I was privileged to be a member of the search committee that identified Dr. Herbert as the outstanding candidate. He brings both presidential and system-level experience as well as an outstanding record in public policy involvement. I am looking forward to working with him to advance the IU agenda throughout the state.” Herbert told his greeters that he will spend his first months “in very serious listening mode,” drawing ideas from IU students, alumni, faculty and staff. “I want to learn from the communities we serve how we are doing, and how we can be more responsive,” he said. Indiana has the ability and the commitment to “partner” with businesses, the General Assembly, and other educational institutions in developing a technology-based economy for Indiana, Herbert said. “We must be very aggressive in the pursuit of ideas that most people don’t even think about,” he said. “What IU is doing in life sciences, in genome research, will position the state of Indiana to compete globally.” Noting his own tenureleading a regional campus in Florida, Herbert said IU’s multiple campuses allow it to “reach out and make a difference in building a strong workforce for communities. It can help citizens understand their responsibilities as citizens.” Programs already established at IU Kokomo “mesh very well with [Herbert’s] plans,” to promote early childhood education and academic/private sector partnerships, said IU Kokomo Advisory Board member Amber Stearns. “His leadership is going to be a natural fit,” for the university, she said. James Briscoe, another Advisory Board member said Herbert seemed to “feel good about our system. It sounds like he’s got good goals.” Kokomo School Board member Marsha Bowling said she’d already heard great things about Herbert from her friend, Indiana University Trustee Cora Breckenridge. “Cora thinks he’s going to take IU to another level,” Bowling said. “I like the fact that [Herbert] wants to have IU partner with schools in the community.” State Representatives Bill Friend of Macy and Jerry Torr of Carmel both praised Herbert’s call for a closer working relationship between IU and Purdue University. Earlier, Herbert had noted that Indiana and Purdue rank second and third nationally in the field of analytical chemistry, and that he had already met with Purdue President Martin Jischke to discuss “utilizing that depth of intellectual capital to build Indiana’s future.” Friend said that meeting demonstrated that Herbert was “eager to get started.” “It’s great that he’s already made that connection [with Purdue],” Friend said. “He clearly wants to understand where we’re headed as a state,” said Torr. “He wants to move the economy forward.” Collaboration between Herbert and Jischke was also welcome news to Gary Taylor, a community development consultant to the City of Marion. “It’s good to have two people who are interested in the academic side and with propelling the economic development of this state,” Taylor said. Herbert’s “dynamic influence is what we need at IU,” Taylor said. Herbert officially begins his presidency of IU on August 1. He replaces Myles Brand, who left the university in December 2002 to become president of the National College Athletic Association. Gerald Bepko, previously the chancellor of IUPUI, has served as IU’s interim president since January.
Portions of story from the IU Office of Communications and Marketing, Bloomington
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