Ash named Outstanding New Professional
October 5, 2005
KOKOMO, Ind.—The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators has named Aimee Ash the Outstanding New Professional in a seven-state region. Indiana University Kokomo's coordinator of programming and applied learning since summer 2004, Ash will be honored in late October during the association's Region IV-East conference. The region represents college and university personnel in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Ash works in the Office of Student Development and Campus Life, a unit of Student Services overseen by Vice Chancellor Jack Tharp. “This unit's staff of five are committed to enriching the educational experiences of our students,” Tharp said. “Aimee’s honor makes clear that IU Kokomo is offering programming that students find engaging and beneficial to their educational goals.”
As coordinator of applied learning, Ash works with faculty to create out-of-class learning experiences that connect to the curriculum. Tharp said Ash stepped into new territory at IU Kokomo, when she took on the job. “It was a new position with well-defined objectives, but with no model or previous incumbent after which to pattern work activities,” he said. “She has helped us deliver on a promise of enhanced learning experiences for our students,” by arranging numerous guest speakers, off-campus experiences for students, and grants to support programming.
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Stuart Green agreed, saying Ash has “built a network with faculty and collaborates with them on how to effectively integrate their academic outcomes into extracurricular activities.” In recognition of her office's contributions to learning, Ash has been appointed to IU Kokomo's Academic Council, comprised of school deans.
In addition to overseeing student entertainment and athletic activities, Ash has also served on the Indiana Campus Compact Networking Council; planned retreats for emerging student leaders; and coordinated numerous service projects for students. These have included the United Way Day of Caring, Books for Africa, the Grate American Sleep Out, blood donation drives, and a Hurricane Relief Marathon that raised $5,500.
As co-chair of IU Kokomo's American Democracy Project Committee (ADP), Ash has helped develop a program that serves as a model program for other Indiana campuses, said Director of Student Development and Campus Life Sarah Hawkins.
For ADP, Ash wrote a successful grant proposal for the Congress to Campus program, bringing two retired congressmen to campus for two days of discussions and presentations. “The congressmen were so impressed with Aimee's professionalism,” Hawkins said. “They commented that Aimee had set a new standard for their appearances. The entire program was so well organized and well attended that they felt other schools would have a hard time achieving this same level of excellence.”
Director of Alumni Relations Cathy Hightower praised Ash's ability to patiently guide students in activities “while still allowing them to work through decisions on their own, and develop in their roles. . . . She has brought a level of enthusiasm to our campus that has energized our students, faculty, and staff and raised the campus to a new level of engagement.”
Ash earned a Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University in 2004 and a Bachelor of Arts in Public and Corporate Communications and Journalism from Butler University in 2002. She resides in Noblesville.
