Member Profile

Jim Carpenter, BA’75
President and CEO
Wild Birds Unlimited

Parent, business owner, conservationist, IUAA life member

Nancy Carpenter, BA’79
Vice President
Wild Birds Unlimited

Mother, naturalist, animal lover, IUAA life member

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Why we chose IU

Jim: I grew up in nearby Columbus, Ind., attended a few IU football games, and just knew that IU was where I wanted to go. I looked forward to a large school with a huge diversity of students and activities.

Nancy: There was never much question in my mind that I would attend IU. My family went to IU football games when I was young, and both my older sisters attended IU. I felt at home there before I was even a student.

Favorite memories of IU

Jim: I loved walking through the old campus woods and falling asleep midday in some comfy chair in the Indiana Memorial Union. I can still smell the exotic greenery in the greenhouse at Jordan Hall, and I enjoyed getting to know several professors during my senior year.

Nancy: My favorite thing to do was to walk through the old campus at any opportunity. The beauty of the old buildings and the ancient trees always made me feel a sense of the past.

Advice to undergraduates

Jim: This may sound strange coming from a biology major, but I think everyone should take some basic business courses. Basic business skills are needed at some point in just about any career. Sooner or later you will likely need to manage a budget, manage staff, and create a business plan for your company or division.

Nancy: Don’t worry about declaring a major immediately and then pressuring yourself into following an exact discipline the rest of your life. Life takes many interesting twists and turns, and if you’re open to the possibilities, you may find yourself fulfilled in areas you never dreamed of.

Why we joined the IU Alumni Association

Jim: I wanted to hear about IU, its professors, and its students, even if I could not get back to Bloomington very often. When I served on the alumni board of the College of Arts and Sciences, I gained many valuable insights into how alumni involvement can further the mission of the university. I hope we can stay involved and help IU for many years.

Nancy: IU will always be an important part of who we are, so staying connected just seems natural.

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