Last modified: Thursday, May 29, 2008
Chancellor Ruth Person to leave IU Kokomo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2008
KOKOMO, Ind. -- Ruth R. Person, chancellor at Indiana University Kokomo since 1999, will leave that position this summer to become chancellor at the University of Michigan-Flint. Person, an alumna of the University of Michigan, will begin her appointment Aug. 18, pending approval by the University of Michigan Board of Regents.
Ruth Person
"The University of Michigan is giving me a wonderful opportunity to lead a campus that has added academic programs, is opening its first residence hall and, like IU Kokomo, is the only four-year, public university in the area. Both campuses are working extremely hard to meet the educational needs of an area that has been impacted by the downturn of the U.S. automotive industry," Person said. "Still, this was a very difficult decision, but the chance to serve my alma mater was something I could not refuse."
During her term as chancellor, Person has led the campus through a strong period of growth. During the past nine years, IU Kokomo has moved toward becoming a full baccalaureate institution by adding new bachelor's and master's programs and eliminating most associate degree programs. Significant campus improvements have taken place including the renovation of numerous classrooms, construction of new lecture halls and the addition of classroom technology. Chancellor Person also oversaw the construction of Hunt Hall, the campus' award-winning science facility.
IU President Michael McRobbie acknowledged the contributions of Person to IU Kokomo and all of Indiana University.
"I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Person during her entire tenure as Chancellor at Indiana University Kokomo," McRobbie stated. "She will be missed, not only as the leader of the Kokomo campus, but also as a leader for all of Indiana University. I wish her nothing but success and am confident she will provide the University of Michigan-Flint campus with the same strong leadership she provided to IU Kokomo for the past nine years."
Person joined IU Kokomo in 1999, as the sixth leader and only the fourth to hold the title of chancellor. She serves on the president's senior management team and has recently represented the IU regional campuses on the IU Foundation Board, the IU Integrated Image Committee and the IU Master Plan Committee.
She earned her bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and a master's degree from the University of Michigan. She also holds an M.S. degree in administration from George Washington University School of Business and Public Management and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Beta Phi Mu, Pi Lambda Theta, Psi Chi, Kappa Delta Pi and Beta Gamma Sigma and is listed in a number of Who's Who publications. Person attended the Harvard University Institute of Educational Management in 1989.
Chancellor Person will be working with President McRobbie to determine the short- and long-term succession plan. It is expected that an interim chancellor will be named and a national search will be conducted to fill the position.
