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Last modified: Monday, January 5, 2009

Man of the Year: Michael McRobbie

BLOOMINGTON HERALD-TIMES, December 30, 2008

Year in review -- Man of the Year: Michael McRobbie

Few men have had a greater impact on our community in 2008 than Indiana University President Michael McRobbie.

During his first 18 months, McRobbie has spearheaded a number of key initiatives, each of which might qualify him as the H-T's Man of the Year.

Michael McRobbie

Michael McRobbie

Print-Quality Photo

At the top of the list of McRobbie's accomplishments this year was his skillful management of the turmoil in IU's athletic department in the wake of the NCAA's investigation into the conduct of former men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. McRobbie deserves credit for taking a tough stance without compromising the integrity of the process.

Even with the potentially crippling distraction of the NCAA investigation, McRobbie demonstrated his energetic leadership by obtaining unprecedented approval for $203 million in construction projects on the Bloomington campus. Almost half is devoted to arts and humanities.

Research ranks high among McRobbie's priorities. The new business incubator at the corner of 10th Street and the Ind. 45/46 Bypass promises to be a thriving research park that will provide necessary infrastructure for the university's economic development efforts. And IU has partnered with Purdue University in obtaining a $25 million federal grant for a major life sciences initiative on both campuses.

Under McRobbie's leadership, IU continued to expand its international programs and global strategies, ensuring IU's place on the world map. At home on the Bloomington campus, McRobbie has demonstrated a commitment to diversity by offering incentives to departments for measures that enhance diversity among students and faculty. Campus sustainability has also received renewed attention this year.

McRobbie has earned his status as an outstanding university president by being a strong leader in international, national and state arenas. What makes him even more special to Bloomington is his dedicated commitment, along with his wife, Laurie, to very local causes such as Hoosiers Outrun Cancer and WonderLab.

For his contributions to the economic, academic, artistic, environmental and entreprenuerial health of our community, Michael McRobbie is our Man of the Year for 2008.