CLOCKTOWER MINUTES
What's happening around campus?
Brett Neffendorf Named IU Southeast Head Baseball Coach
Brett Neffendorf has been named the next head coach of the IU Southeast baseball program.
A veteran of the NAIA, Neffendorf has seven seasons of NAIA coaching experience. He started his coaching career at NCAA Division III George Fox University in 2013 in Newberg, Ore. He was the associate head coach and pitching coach at Union College (Ky.) for the 2023 season and is currently an associate scout for the Houston Astros.
He has also coached in two highly-regarded summer leagues—the Valley Collegiate League and Prospect Collegiate League. In 2013, he coached Matt Calhoun—the Prospect League Player of the Year. In the summer of 2014, Neffendorf was an assistant for the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley Collegiate League, which oversaw seven all-star game selections.
“I am excited to welcome Brett and his wife, Jana, to IU Southeast,” Interim Athletic Director Amanda Dailey-Weaver said. “Brett brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge, is a terrific recruiter, and can develop student-athletes. His communication skills make him a great fit for this position.”
“The baseball program has had a very successful run over the past decade, and I know Brett has high expectations to continue the program’s trajectory moving forward,” said Dailey-Weaver.
“I want to thank Amanda for this opportunity,” Neffendorf said. “It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be named the head baseball coach at IU Southeast and to follow one of my best friends Ben Reel. He has built a great program here and I look forward to working with this talented group of student-athletes to continue their growth and success.”
Neffendorf graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and earned a Masters in Management and Leadership from Campbellsville University.
Recent IU Southeast grads attain record outcomes and increased income levels in first-year post-graduation
A new IU survey shows Indiana University Southeast is once again leading all campuses of Indiana University in graduate outcomes and full-time employment.
The IU First Destination Survey explores the outcomes of IU undergraduate students in their first year after graduation. The survey focuses on the outcome of IU graduates who were conferred an undergraduate degree during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Of the IU Southeast graduates surveyed, 98 percent were either employed (89.6%), enrolled in an educational program such as graduate school (8.2%), or serving in the military (0.2%). Fewer than two percent of IU Southeast graduates were still seeking employment (1.7%).
Nearly 96 percent of IU Southeast graduates who had accepted offers of employment were working full-time with an average salary of $48,184, a 9.8 percent increase in first-year salaries as compared to the study completed in 2020-21.
Moreover, nearly 96 percent of working IU Southeast graduates indicated they were working in a career related to their field of study. Top employers include Norton Healthcare, Greater Clark County School District, UPS, Baptist Health, Humana, and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS).
“Our students receive a quality education that positions them for success. The demonstrated results of our recent graduates finding top-paying careers, in their field of study, while supporting the economy of our region is reflective of the applied learning and mentorship afforded to students who attend IU Southeast,” said Dr. Debbie Ford, chancellor of Indiana University Southeast. “IU Southeast will continue to support the local businesses and not-for-profit community of our region by continuing our efforts to prepare and develop future employees close to home.”
Fifty-one percent of the IU Southeast class of 2021-22 graduated with no student loan debt. The average student loan obligation among 2021-22 graduates who borrowed money was $19,824. The number of students graduating with student loan debt has decreased by 23 percent in the past five years from 64 percent to 49 percent.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Office of Completion and Student Success, individual campus career services offices and institutional research offices, and Indiana University Institutional Analytics. More than 78 percent of graduates participated in the survey.
Global Grenadiers: Traveling the World
International study-abroad trips roared back into action this summer with four trips led by IU Southeast faculty. Destinations included Belize, Germany, the Philippines, and Sweden with 27 global Grenadiers participating.
Studying flora and fauna in Belize
Dr. Omar Attum, professor of biology from the School of Natural Sciences, led a field biology trip of 10 IU Southeast students to Belize to learn about the marine and rainforest ecology and wildlife of the area. The trip, from April 28 through May 9, featured a night at the Belize Zoo, four days at the Half Moon Caye Island studying coral reefs and marine life, and four days at the Bocawina Rainforest Resort where students observed native wildlife and habitat.
20th-Century Germany
Dr. Michael Hutchins, associate professor of German and international studies from the School of Arts & Letters, led a group of five IU Southeast students and five IU South Bend students to Berlin, Germany from May 14 through May 29, to study the history of Germany during the twentieth century.
Healthcare in Sweden
Professor Carla Hermann, Director of the MSN program in the School of Nursing, and retired professor of psychology, Dr. Deborah Finkel from the School of Social Sciences, led a team of nine IU Southeast students, one alumnus and two students from other Indiana University campuses to Sweden to better understand how healthcare and social services are performed in that country versus the United States.
Experiencing Global Education in the Philippines
Dr. Faye Camahalan, Dean of the School of Education, hosted an action-packed trip to her native Philippines for one IU Southeast graduate student and two undergraduate students from May 16 through May 30.
The Value of Study Abroad and Global Awareness
Study abroad trips hold immense value, preparing students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. These transformative experiences offer students the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures, languages, and academic systems, fostering a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of the world.
“Studying abroad is a life-changing journey of growth and cultural enrichment, where one dreams big and embraces the unknown,” said Dr. Kok Cheow Yeoh, associate professor of Fine Arts and director of the study abroad and global awareness program.