Member Profile

IUAA Member Spotlight Chuck Palmer with son, Charlie

Chuck Palmer
BS’96
Kelley School of Business

Family Wealth Management Adviser
Smith Barney
Chicago

President of the Chicago Chapter of the IU Alumni Association, sports enthusiast, IUAA life member

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Why I chose IU
My mom attended the University of Michigan and my dad, Ohio State. As a kid, I lived in Columbus, Ohio, about a mile from the Ohio State stadium. So I grew up loving the Big Ten and its traditions, and when it came time to choose a college, my wise parents told me I had to get a "true college experience" — away from home. I decided to look at IU because of its highly ranked business school, and when I first visited Bloomington, it was a perfect October day — the leaves were falling, the Jordan River was flowing, and the students were enjoying themselves. I fell in love.

Favorite memories of IU
During my senior year, IU announced a snow day. Classes were canceled and students were advised to stay indoors. Apparently, IU cancels classes only once every dew decades, but Bloomington had been hit by severe ice storms for several days. What they weren’t anticipating, however, were sunny skies and a warm front moving into Southern Indiana what afternoon. If you had seen the number of people on Kirkwood Avenue, with huge grins on their faces, you would have thought IU had won a national championship in basketball.

Advice to undergraduates
Make your IU experience well-rounded. Position yourself to be a "sought-after senior" for employment after college — take advantage of IU's internship opportunities, look into study-abroad programs, volunteer in the community, and get involved with on-campus organizations like the Student Alumni Association. To round out your college experience, take advantage of the IU Auditorium and world-class Jacobs School of Music, rent a canoe on Griffy Lake, play golf at the convenient (and cheap) university course, and take summer classes to better acquaint yourself with Bloomington. There is so much at your fingertips. Take advantage and enjoy it!

Why the IU Alumni Association is important to me
I loved my college experience, and the IUAA has helped keep my Indiana spirit alive. Through my involvement in the Chicago Chapter, I feel connected to the university and well-informed about athletics, academics, and politics at IU. Because of the IUAA, I have met many interesting people associated with the university and the Big Ten. Go Hoosiers.