Trine VP Eberts named to 6th ICI Leadership Academy

The Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) has selected Keirsten Eberts, vice president for online and international studies at Trine University, to be part of the sixth cohort of its ICI Leadership Academy.

The year-long program specializes in the talent development needs of faculty and staff members of private college campuses. Since its launch, the program has supported the professional development of more than 140 faculty and staff leaders from Indiana’s private colleges.

Eberts is the fifth Trine administrator to be named to the ICI Leadership Academy. Kayla Warren, senior vice president and chief finance officer, Rachel Troutman, vice president for university marketing and communications, Cisco Ortiz, vice president for student affairs, and Kim Bennett, vice president for enrollment management, completed the Leadership Academy as part of previous cohorts.

“The Leadership Academy challenges participants to think beyond individual roles and departments and to lead with an institution-wide mindset,” said Laura Bridges, vice president and COO at ICI. “That perspective is increasingly critical as colleges respond to financial pressures, workforce needs and evolving student expectations.”

Each participant was identified by their sponsoring college as someone whose leadership will be critical to the institution’s future.

Throughout the program, participants gain a deeper understanding of their institutions as integrated systems and explore higher education within the broader state and federal policy context. Leadership Academy graduates are trained to view their college through multiple lenses (academic, financial, community involvement and others) and to develop the leadership competencies needed for their institution and their own professional success.

“Now in its sixth year, the Leadership Academy has become a cornerstone of ICI’s commitment to talent development,” said Dottie L. King, president and CEO of ICI. “Alumni of the program are already making a measurable impact across campuses, and this new cohort builds on that strong foundation.”

Other members of the sixth cohort include: 

• Ali Kardatzke, director of first-year success, Anderson University
• Andrea Blake, director of user support, Information Technology, Bethel University
• Kathleen Camire, director of student disability services and 504 coordinator, Butler University
• John Lacheta, director of operations, Butler University
• Melissa Benavidez, assistant vice president of enrollment, Calumet College of St. Joseph
• Brian Lowry, vice president of institutional advancement, Calumet College of St. Joseph
• Seth Hopper, associate professor of physics, engineering, and astronomy, Earlham College
• Adam Dunigan, director of institutional analytics, Franklin College
• Karla McGehee, associate provost, Grace College
• Chris Hitchcock, executive director of admission, Hanover College
• Holly Sipe, director of human resources, Hanover College
• Allen Machielson, dean of students, Holy Cross College
• Destiny Copeland-Rolle, director of multicultural affairs and student programming, Huntington University
• Kristen Council, associate professor of nursing and Center for Teaching and Learning, Huntington University
• Amy Deitrickson, director of Career Center, Indiana Institute of Technology
• Kristina Bliss, associate vice president of student success, Indiana Institute of Technology
• Tish Kalita, executive director of experiential learning and external relations, Manchester University
• Bessie Rigakos, vice president and dean, Saint Joseph’s College (Earn and Learn), and professor of sociology, Marian University
• Candice Sutliff, associate director of financial aid, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Crystal White, assistant professor and director, Master of Nursing, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
• Brandon Dykstra, department chair and associate professor of exercise science, Taylor University
• Andy Lampkins, dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, University of Evansville
• Keith Gehlhausen, executive director of human resources and institutional equity, University of Evansville
• Michelle Duman, chief information officer, University of Indianapolis
• Allison Snyder, associate dean, School of Business, University of Indianapolis
• John L. Gould, associate dean of workforce development, University of Saint Francis
• Natalie Hurt, director of special events and stewardship, Wabash College
• Richard Paige, director of marketing and media relations, Wabash College