The trustees of Ivy Tech Community College unanimously voted Wednesday to hire former Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann as the college’s ninth president.
She says the school’s biggest challenges are aligning its offerings with the needs of the Indiana's employers and improving low graduation rates.
"We are not satisfied with the full-time student completions where one in four full-time students will graduate in six years and one in 20 for the time allotted for associated degrees,” Ellspermann says. “We may not reach 100 percent but we cannot rest until most of our students are reaching that completion on their time."
Ellspermann publicly advocated for the job when she resigned in March, and Gov. Mike Pence endorsed her.
Today, she refuted rumors that a rift between Pence and her led her to seek the job.
The governor appoints all of the school’s trustees, but board chairwoman Paula Hughes says they didn’t feel political pressure to choose Ellspermann.
"I think the state is going to see what we have seen and in a different role for Dr. Ellspermann,” she says.“ You've seen her as Lieutenant Governor, I think you should just stand back and see what she can do as president of Ivy Tech."
Ellspermann will become president July 1. She replaces Tom Snyder, who led the college for nine years.
