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Indiana Alumni Magazine

Trustee Election

Seven Seek Trustee Position

A year after four new people joined the Indiana University Board of Trustees, only one seat is subject to potential change this year. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed four trustees in 2005, but no gubernatorial appointments are up this year.

Alumni will elect one of seven candidates to the seat now held by Cora Smith Breckenridge, BS’59, MS’63, who has served on the board since 1996. She is a candidate for re-election to a fourth term.

In May, ballots will be mailed to all 481,000 IU degree-holders. Ballots must be returned (in envelopes bearing the graduates’ signatures) by June 30, when votes will be counted.

To allow its readers to compare the candidates, the Indiana Alumni Magazine asked each of them to complete a questionnaire. Their responses follow.

Cora Smith Breckenridge

Retired speech language pathologist, Elkhart Community Schools

Birth date: June 24, 1937
Residence: Elkhart, Ind.
Academic degrees: BS’59, Indiana University (speech, language, hearing pathology); MS’63, Indiana University (education).

IU-related activities: Vice president, Pleiades Honorary; senior class secretary; board member, YWCA; Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority; Student Foundation; Protestant Student Council; Speech and Hearing Club; Mortar Board Honorary; Women’s Residence Halls Association.

Other relevant activities: Member, St. James A.M.E. Church, Elkhart; life member, IU Alumni Association and NAACP; chair, IU Board of Trustees Facilities Committee; vice-chair, Academic Affairs Committee; 1996–99, IU Alumni Association Executive Council.

Three major issues facing IU today:

1. Affordability and accessibility: We must maintain and increase scholarship opportunities for all of our students. Core 40 curriculum is on the horizon as a prerequisite for students entering IU. This curriculum must be available to students everywhere in Indiana.
2. Recruitment and retention of diverse, capable, and talented students and faculty. IU is a world-class institution that must remain such. Every campus has seen an increase in student population, outstanding faculty, and cutting-edge facilities to reach our goals.
3. Economic empowerment from our state government, realizing the importance of funding. Our alumni need to give more support to help educate our youth. Paying competitive salaries will help attract and maintain strong faculty.

What should be the trustees’ role and responsibility in addressing these issues?
The trustees are the policy-makers for IU. They hold the trust of the institution foremost and are responsible for the direction that is taken at the highest level of governance. The decisions made at the board level affect the strength, vitality, academic freedom, and life of the university.

What do you believe you can contribute to the board of trustees?
My background as an educator helps me to deal with pressing issues of our K–12 population as they prepare to become college students. I assure you that I will continue to represent all constituencies of this great institution. Thank you for the honor of serving you.

Philip N. “Phil” Eskew Jr.

Director of physician and patient relations, St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital

Birth date: Aug. 19, 1941
Residence: Carmel, Ind.
Academic degrees: BA’63, DePauw University (pre-medical sciences); MD’70, Indiana University School of Medicine.

IU-related activities: Clinical professor, IU School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; life member, IU Alumni Association; Well House Society; Hoosier Hundred.

Other relevant activities: National vice president, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists; past president, Carmel Rotary Club; prematurity medical chair, March of Dimes; vice president, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame; colonel, Indiana Guard Reserve.

Three major issues facing IU today:

1. The leadership void of the entire university is substantial. Addressing this void starts with selecting the next president. That president must move Indiana to a higher level by committing to a long-term strategic plan that will refocus the university.
2. Making IU a “destination” school rather than a second choice. Our undergraduate program has dwindled to the bottom of the Big Ten. The image and ranking of our various schools must elevate above the rest of the Big Ten.
3. Indiana University should become the educational center of excellence for undergraduates, graduate education, adult education, and continuing education. Communication between our state campuses must improve with the use of technology. Our libraries should be accessible for all citizens in Indiana.

What should be the trustees’ role and responsibility in addressing these issues?
Be informed on the issues by sustaining a collaborative relationship with university administration and, most importantly, by communicating with students, faculty, and alumni. Trustees should ask questions, challenge recommendations, and initiate a candid dialogue with key institutional constituencies until they can vote in a manner that benefits students and alumni.

What do you believe you can contribute to the board of trustees?
I am experienced in educational leadership. In addition to participating on various community and national boards, I served on my city’s school board, was a medical residency director, and continue as clinical professor at the IU Medical School. Each position required leadership and accountability to the constituencies they represent.

Carolyn L. Jordan

Retired president, Wingard Corporation Heavy Highway Contracting

Birth date: Oct. 20, 1943
Residence: Gary, Ind.
Academic degrees: MPA’03, Indiana University Northwest (School of Public and Environmental Affairs); BA’76, Indiana University Northwest (sociology).

IU-related activities: Vice president and special events committee chairperson, Black Student Union; member, Students Returning to School; secretary of the Indiana University Northwest Chapter, Indiana Coalition of Blacks in Higher Education; member, Neal-Marshall Alumni; Midtown advisory committee member, Department of Minority Studies; member and facilitator, Environmental Justice Committee; appointed chief justice, Student Government Association.

Other relevant activities: Member, National Transportation Research Board of Science and Academies, Washington, D.C.; participant, Hoosiers for Higher Education meeting with Indiana legislators; supporter for annual Homecoming activities, Bloomington, Ind.; and participant in the annual budget review for Indiana University and Indiana University Northwest.

Three major issues facing IU today:

1. To increase revenue and to remain competitive for research dollars. To enlarge our educational territory and attract more students.
2. To enhance academic programming for all campuses.
3. To embrace diversity training to meet the employment needs of a global economy.

What should be the trustees’ role and responsibility in addressing these issues?
In addressing the issues identified, as trustee I would initiate a research plan to evaluate the existing policies and practices, followed by an action plan to accomplish the goals with timetables, and identify additional funding sources to finance the initiatives. The trustees’ role is to actively participate in setting policy that compliments IU’s commitment to academic excellence.

• Trustees are expected to provide the leadership in defining Indiana University’s values and mission;
• To provide leadership in strategic planning, advocacy in legislative actions, and to seek additional funding;
• A trustee has a duty of care, loyalty, and obedience to Indiana University.

What do you believe you can contribute to the board of trustees?
I bring to the IU Board of Trustees experience, knowledge, and executive leadership where I have served on other public and private boards and commissions. My 25 years of service in the public, private, and international domains have allowed me to broaden my informational territory.

Steven Kellam

Executive vice president, Fortune Diversified Industries/PSM

Birth date: Dec. 25, 1949
Residence: Carmel, Ind.
Academic degrees: BS’72, Indiana University (education); MBA’84, LaSalle University (finance), Philadelphia.

IU-related activities: Marching 100 Band; Brass Band; president, Men’s Residence Center; governor, Beck 6; Student Foundation.

Other relevant activities: Life member, IU Alumni Association; Varsity Club Hoosier Hundred; Woodburn Guild and Well House Society; IU Riley Children’s Hospital Magic Castle Cart volunteer; member, The Military Officers Association.

Three major issues facing IU today:

1. Say NO to elitism! Moves by the faculty/trustees to raise standards for entry to IUB will result in the exclusion of students working to overcome socio-economic conditions and males (Business Week, Feb. 27, 2006, and May 26, 2003).
2. Reverse the rating trend decline! I see no strategic plan improving the quality of IU education. The decline is not a result of low entry standards. IU needs more professors in the classrooms and more support for the students.
3. Really partner with the business community! A true focus on incubating business ideas, tied to university resources that invest brainpower and dollars in communities will result in a payback to the university, communities, students, and faculty.

What should be the trustees’ role and responsibility in addressing these issues?
Trustees must establish a system of accountability between the administration and the board. Accountability must be permeated throughout the university community. The vision for the university and the strategic plan set to reach that vision must be implemented. Appropriate results are the only acceptable outcome. That is the job!

What do you believe you can contribute to the board of trustees?
As a husband, father, executive, CEO/president, and military senior officer, I bring experience, compassion, ideas, and tools to implement a constantly improving organization. Experience with the Indiana Legislature, with the U.S. Congress, working on boards, and managing $1.2 billion. I offer results, and I will be active on IU campuses.

Trina S. Ringenberg Miller

Office adminis­trator/paralegal, Miller & Miller, Attys.

Birth date: Dec. 23, 1961
Residence: Granger, Ind.
Academic degrees: BS’84, Indiana University Bloomington (SPEA–criminal justice); 1984 paralegal certificate, National Center for Paralegal Training in Atlanta.

IU-related activities: Life member, IUAA; IUAA Executive Council; IU Alumni Elkhart County Chapter Board — Varsity Club representative and HHE representative; ex officio, IUSB Alumni Board; ex officio, IUAA St. Joseph County Board.

Other relevant activities: President 2001–05, IU Elkhart County Alumni Chapter; Alpha Omicron Pi sorority; president 1992–94, AOπ Michiana Alumni Chapter; past ex officio board member, IU Alumni Chapter of Marshall County; IUSB Titan 250 Committee.

Three major issues facing IU today:

1. To help ensure the cost to attend Indiana University remains affordable to all current and prospective students.
2. Maintaining the value of an IU degree at the Bloomington and regional campuses. As a state school, IU should continue to offer the “best higher education value” to Hoosiers and to out-of-state students.
3. Bloomington Admissions Proposals — Accepting higher SAT scores for admission must not negate prospective students’ high school academic records and activities. Not all students are great “test takers.” IU needs to accept the “whole” student, not just the “test taker” student.

What should be the trustees’ role and responsibility in addressing these issues?
The trustees of IU should consistently review IU’s operating costs/financial statements while at the same time prioritizing what IU needs now and in the future. Our trustees must also study requests made regarding admission policies so as to not exclude some students seeking an IU education.

What do you believe you can contribute to the board of trustees?
I would be open to all IU alumni comments concerning “their” university and its present reputation. As IU alumni, we all want the same thing — to keep the tradition alive and to wish upon future IU generations the same wonderful and valuable education we received at IU!

Steve Sanders

Judicial clerk, United States Court of Appeals; attorney, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw (effective September 2006)

Birth date: Feb. 26, 1963
Residence: Chicago
Academic degrees: BA’84, Indiana University Bloomington (political science and journalism); JD’05 (with high honors), University of Michigan.

IU-related activities: Jimmy L. Ross Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Life; Union Board; Pi Kappa Phi fraternity; Indiana Daily Student; GLBT Alumni Association; Friends of the Kinsey Institute; IU Alumni Association.

Other relevant activities: 1986–2002, IU administrative staff; graduate work in higher education administration; Rotary International group-study exchange fellow; represented IU at U.S. Army ROTC “Camp Challenge” leadership institute; chairperson, Bloomington Human Rights Commission.

Three major issues facing IU today:

1. Selecting and cultivating leadership. With Adam Herbert’s departure, recruiting IU’s next leader is the critical task facing the trustees. Our next president must inspire faculty and alumni confidence, projecting a clear, decisive vision while honoring IU’s traditions, culture, and values.
2. Restoring academic distinction. Measures of quality have slipped since 2001; alumni sense our university is drifting. IU’s fundamentals remain strong. Leveraging them, we must reassert our longtime stature as Indiana’s pre-eminent university and a world-class magnet for students and scholars.
3. Stabilizing IU’s finances. IU excels in private giving, but is underfunded by the state and overly dependent on tuition. We must re-evaluate marginal programs, protect student access and areas of distinction, and invest in initiatives that will attract external funding.

What should be the trustees’ role and responsibility in addressing these issues?
Through teaching, research, and service, it is professors, staff, and students who bring excellence, recognition, and loyalty to our university. Trustees oversee strategic planning, set priorities and standards, and hold the leadership team accountable. Trustees create the academic and fiscal environment in which everyone else can do their best work.

What do you believe you can contribute to the board of trustees?
For 16 years, I worked alongside IU’s most respected leaders: Chancellor Gros Louis, Dean Lowengrub, Dean Swamy. I understand both the legacy of Herman Wells and the 21st-century challenges of higher education. Now outside the university, I bring the independence, perspective, and judgment a responsible trustee must have. More: iutrustee2006.com.

Chris Sautter

President, Sautter Communications

Birth date: Aug. 9, 1949
Residence: Washington, D.C.
Academic degrees: BA’72, Indiana University (history); JD’78, Antioch School of Law; graduate, Mishawaka Penn High School.

IU-related activities:

• Helped establish the Frank McCloskey Fellowship at Indiana University.
• Established an IU scholarship with my wife Harriet Lipkin.
• Father of IU sophomore Stephanie Sautter and member of IU Parents Council.

List other relevant activities:

• Advised Indiana Congressman Frank McCloskey, Indiana Congresswoman Jill Long, Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
• Produced award-winning documentaries The King of Steeltown, So Glad I Made It, and The Lee Hamilton Story.

Three major issues facing IU today:

1. Selecting the next president of Indiana University. IU must hire a president who has the breadth, vision, and commitment of Herman B Wells to build a great 21st century Indiana University.
2. Maintaining Indiana University as a world-class academic institution in a global community in the face of increasing demands and rising costs.
3. Attracting the highest caliber students while maintaining a public university which is affordable for all who are qualified by expanding academic and need-based scholarships.

What should be the trustees’ role and responsibility in addressing these issues?
I propose that the trustees hold regular public issue forums to stay in touch with constituencies through the Internet, and via Web-cast board meetings.
  I will push to put the brakes on golden parachutes for former coaches and administrators that deplete funds otherwise available for scholarships.

What do you believe you can contribute to the board of trustees?
I will work to make Indiana University more affordable so that IU can continue to attract the best and most qualified students regardless of income. I will use my background in communications to strengthen dialogue within the university community and to make IU’s future as strong as its past.

 

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