Alumni Board Q&A:

Get to know him and how he is serving IU Southeast:

Why did you choose to complete your degree at Indiana University Southeast?

I chose IU Southeast based on its smaller class size, degree programs, and proximity to where I’m originally from, Jasper, IN.

Who were the faculty and staff that influenced or inspired you during your time at IU Southeast?

Ken Harris always comes to the top of mind when I’m asked about a professor who has influenced me. Every day he had enthusiasm for teaching and really made you apply what we learned to real world scenarios.

How have you built your career since graduation?

Since graduating, I’ve built my career by getting involved in a number of different organizations and building relationships with business owners and community leaders. People want to do business with people they enjoy being around and trust. Trust and honesty will pay dividends in the long run with anyone.

What advice would you give students looking to get into your field?

The advice I would give to a student looking to get into the financial services field would be to put yourself into as many situations as you can where you can meet new people. An education will give you a solid foundation for the job but relationship building and gaining connections is just as important.

Think back to a time on campus. What was your favorite IU Southeast moment?

My favorite moments from my time on campus often revolved around our Fraternity events with Pi Kappa Alpha. Whether that was volunteering on move in day to help new students coming in, running a philanthropy event at the clock tower, or social events with other groups we partnered with.

Were you involved as a student? If so, how did your experiences help advance your professional and personal life?

As a student I was involved with Greek Life and the Student Alumni Association. Being a part of both of those groups allowed me to meet a lot of new people, many who are still friends today and many that I’ve been able to work professionally with as well.

What is the Indiana University Alumni Association, Kentuckiana Region?

The Alumni Board is a board of volunteer alumni who are dedicated to alumni engagement and institutional advancement at Indiana University. The members of the board volunteer their time to develop, serve and support our fellow alumni in this region. Not only do we focus on alumni, but we also fundraise and create scholarships that will assist our future alumni in completing their education with IU.

Why did you choose to get involved with the IUAAKR?

I chose to get involved with IUAAKR because as a student and being part the of the Student Alumni Association I was able to see the impact they make on students and Alumni. A great deal of our efforts are spent on keeping Alumni connected to our university and helping to raise scholarships to help students fund their education.

How can someone become involved with the IUAAKR?

There are many ways! The simplest way is to engage with us on social media. Join our group on Facebook ‘IUAA – Kentuckiana Region’ and interact with us. You will find any events that we plan this year on the page. If you are signed up for emails from IU, keep an eye out for events showing up in your inbox. And of course, we encourage all alumni to sign up with the IU Alumni Association at:  www.myiu.org/members/join. I hope to see you at an event soon!