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IU trustee Walda named to federal relations post
Oct. 23, 2001
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University President Myles Brand announced today
(Oct. 23) that John D. Walda will become the university's new executive director
of federal relations effective Jan. 1, 2002.
Walda, an attorney from Fort Wayne, has served on the IU Board of Trustees
since 1990, including eight years as the board's president. He will resign from
the board by the end of the year to accept this new position.
"As IU reorganizes federal relations to better position ourselves in
Washington, we are fortunate to be able to enlist John's services. He has an
in-depth knowledge of Indiana University and the state it serves. He will bring
unique skills and a valuable perspective to this job," said Brand.
"This is an opportunity that I cannot let pass. It gives me a new venue from
which to advance a cause of an institution I love, Indiana University," said
Walda. "IU's partnerships with government and business will be critical to the
success of the university and the state, and I look forward to playing a role in
advancing those efforts."
Brand explained that Walda will devote 50 percent of his time to federal
relations for the university. He will also represent Clarian Health Partners'
interests in the nation's capital and assist IU's technology transfer
organization, ARTI, with corporate development efforts. Clarian and ARTI will
compensate Walda for the remaining 50 percent of his time.
While president of the IU Board of Trustees, Walda helped facilitate the
merger of the IU and Riley Children's Hospitals with Methodist Hospital to form
Clarian. For the past four years, Walda has served as chairman of the board of
Clarian.
IU Board President James T. Morris and other trustees encouraged Walda to
accept the new federal relations position. Morris said, "John Walda's service
and dedication to IU have been remarkable. For the university to be able to
attract someone of John's stature to do this important work is extraordinary."
As executive director, Walda will serve as IU's point person with members of
Congress and representatives of the executive branch. Indiana University's
relationship with the federal government continues to expand with research and
special initiatives in information technology and the life sciences. Also, as
Congress has moved more toward earmarking funds for specific projects in higher
education, it has become more important for colleges and universities to
maintain an active presence on Capitol Hill.
Walda is a gubernatorial appointee to the Board of Trustees. His current term
ends on June 30, 2002.
(William Stephan, 812-855-8023, wstephan@indiana.edu)