Last modified: Friday, May 6, 2005
Mike Sample confirmed as vice president for university relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 6, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Board of Trustees today (May 6) confirmed the appointment of Michael M. Sample as vice president for university relations.
Sample will be responsible for university-wide programs in marketing, internal and external communications, media relations and other public outreach activities. He will report to President Adam W. Herbert. He replaces William B. Stephan, who recently left IU to join Clarian Health Partners as senior vice president for communications and community relations.
Sample, 52, of Indianapolis, has an extensive background in policy development, corporate communications, public affairs and international business, primarily in the energy industry.
Herbert said, "I am very impressed with Mike's extensive background and record of professional success, both in the corporate and public sectors. He has the right blend of experiences that will enable him to develop and implement effective communications strategies for reaching all of our stakeholders, from students and parents to alumni and taxpayers. Mike will be a key member of my senior university leadership team."
"These are exciting but challenging times for Indiana University, and I look forward to working with Dr. Herbert and helping to make his vision for IU reality," Sample added.
Most recently, Sample has been working as executive director of Hoosier Voices for I-69, an advocacy organization for construction of a new interstate highway between Indianapolis and Evansville. He also served on Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' transition team and was appointed by the governor to serve as chairman of a seven-member committee that will nominate candidates for chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
From 1983 to 1998, he was employed by PSI Resources and its successor, Cinergy Corp., where he was responsible for initiating and developing international business ventures, including successful investments in South America and the United Kingdom.
At PSI, he also served as vice president of corporate affairs for eight years with primary responsibility for corporate communications and both government and community relations. Prior to that, he served as PSI's federal affairs representative.
In 1985, he negotiated a $2.7 billion settlement with the state of Indiana in connection with the shutdown of PSI's Marble Hill nuclear power plant project. The settlement enabled PSI to end the project and maintain fiscal solvency. He also devised a political and communications strategy that the Wall Street Journal credited with enabling PSI to successfully defend itself against a hostile takeover attempt by IPALCO Enterprises.
Before joining PSI in 1983, Sample spent seven years as a special assistant to U.S. Rep. Elwood H. (Bud) Hillis.
Sample has a bachelor's degree in political science from IU and an advanced management certificate from Oxford University's Templeton College in England. He served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1974.
Sample and his wife, Jhani Laupus, also an IU graduate and IU School of Law graduate, live in Indianapolis and have two sons, Andrew, a freshman at IU, and James, a sophomore at North Central High School in Indianapolis. He will be paid $200,000 in his new position.
