Academy Personnel

Dr. Vickie Barton currently serves the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities as the Executive Director of the school. Dr. Barton first came to the Academy in its inaugural year, 1990, as the Coordinator of Guidance. Since that time she has served in various capacities at the Academy including interim as Associate Director of Academic Affairs.

After graduating from Marion College, now Indiana Wesleyan University, she worked nine years at White’s Residential and Family Services as the recreation director, a teacher, a coach and finally the founding mother of the Foster Care Program. She left White’s in 1985 to spend 10 months traveling the perimeter states of the United States on her bicycle. Upon completion of the bicycle trip she enrolled at Ball State University, where she served as a teaching graduate assistant while she completed two Master’s, one in Counseling Psychology and the other in Health and Physical Education. Dr. Barton served as a counselor at Indiana Wesleyan University for one year and was the Director of Counseling Services at Anderson University for two years before moving to Yorktown, Indiana to work at the Indiana Academy. Since arriving on Ball State University’s campus, she has completed her Doctoral work in Adult and Higher Education, focusing on Birth Order and the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI), as well as Gifted Children. Her Dissertation was entitled Myers-Briggs Type Inventory, Birth Order, and the Association Between the Variables in High School Gifted Students. Dr. Barton has given numerous presentations about Birth Order and the MBTI, and continues to be a popular speaker among diverse populations.

Dr. Smith became the Director of Academic Affairs in July 2014 after holding the position of Associate Director since 2001. He is responsible for the oversight of all things “Academic” at the Indiana Academy which includes the Guidance Office, the CCCC office, Attendance office, and Outreach department. He oversees the performance evaluations for all faculty and is in charge of the Academy’s curriculum.

Dr. Smith has been a consultant for College Board for AP Biology since 1996. He participates in the essay exam reading each year and has held various leadership positions such as Question Leader and Table Leader. Dr. Smith teaches one-day AP Biology workshops for teachers as well as several AP Summer Institutes. He was part of the team that developed portions of the new AP Biology curriculum that launched in the Fall of 2012.

Dr. Smith is a leading expert on African violets. He and students at the Indiana Academy have received grants and published several articles on the genetics, biochemistry, and taxonomy of these plants. Several of his hybrids have been released to the public for commercial sale. Dr. Smith has authored a chapter on hybridizing African violets that was published in “Breeding Ornamental Plants” from Timber Press.

Dr. Smith has received several teaching awards, including: the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Gold Medal, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the Outstanding Biology Teacher for the state of Indiana, and the Tandy Scholar Award from RadioShack.

Dr. Kavars teaches the Solar System Astronomy and Galactic Astronomy classes at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. He received his B.S. degree in 2001 from the University of Iowa with honors in Physics and Astronomy. He completed his Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Prior to arriving at the Indiana Academy in the fall of 2006, he taught astronomy classes at the University of Minnesota and Inver Hills Community College near Minneapolis, MN. As a graduate student, his research focused on radio astronomy where he used one of the world’s largest radio telescopes, the Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, WV.

In the fall of 2015 Dr. Kavars became the Associate Director of Academic Affairs at the Indiana Academy. His primary duties include working with parents and students to create and implement 504 and IEP special education plans, overseeing attendance, advising international students, overseeing May Term trips, and continuing to teach the Academy’s astronomy classes. During his tenure at the Indiana Academy, Dr. Kavars has attended and presented at several education conferences including the Hoosier Association for Science Teachers Inc., National Science Teachers Association, Indiana Associated for the Gifted, AdvancED Indiana, and Ball State University Teachers College Best Practices in Education conferences.

In his free time Dr. Kavars enjoys geocaching, gardening, reading/watching science fiction and fantasy books/movies, traveling, and in particular, spending time with his family. In recent years he and his family have explored the world outside of the United States, traveling to Canada, Iceland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. In the near future he hopes to explore Scotland, England, New Zealand, and Australia, although his daughters are doing their best to convince him a trip to Hawaii must happen soon.

After receiving her degree in Office Administration and Administrative Support, Mrs. Manship came to the Indiana Academy to serve as the Assistant to the Director of Academic Affairs in June of 1993. In addition to her duties assisting the Director of Academic Affairs, Mrs. Manship is responsible for handling all Academic Life budget and textbook concerns, fees, ordering materials, completion of state departmental reports, and assisting with the administration of the computerized school system in use here at the Academy. In addition to Mrs. Manship’s administrative work, she attends computer technology and office management conferences and workshops throughout the year to further her knowledge.

Renee came to the Indiana Academy in August 2006 as the Faculty/Attendance Secretary. Prior to the Indiana Academy Renee worked for the Jay County School Corporation. Mrs. Drumm has been married for 25 years and has three children.

Mr. Stassen is LAN Manager and Coordinator of Technology, and came to the Academy in 1994 after 10 years in the private sector as the owner of a computer consulting company. In his present position, he is responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and training on several hundred PC and Macintosh computers, which are connected to eight file servers using the Novell, Windows NT, or UNIX operating systems. Mr. Stassen enjoys biking and other sports.

As Assistant Director of Academic Guidance, Mr. McClure provides guidance and assistance to students in various aspects of their academic, social, emotional, and personal lives. Issues involving student advising, course schedules, tutorial services, and grades are the direct responsibilty of the Guidance Office. Prior to coming to the Academy, Mr. McClure spent seven years as Program Assistant in the Office of Disabled Student Development at Ball State University. He has experience in housing and residence life, serving as a residence hall director at Ball State and Iowa State University. He was also Director of Residence Life at the College of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois. Additionally, Mr McClure taught for five years at the junior and senior high school levels in Iowa and Florida. Mr. McClure enjoys mysteries and novels of intrigue, Scrabble, being involved in his church, and spending time with his wife, Nancy, and son, Carter.

After receiving degrees in both Administrative Office and Business Administration, Ms Hall came to the Indiana Academy to serve as Faculty/Attendance Secretary in July of 1997. She accepted the position as Student information Technology Specialist in July of 2006. She works in the Guidance Office and assists the Assistant Director of Academic Guidance. She is responsible for the collections and data entry of transcripts, schedules, drop/add requests, grades, Ball State class requests, and student information updates. She creates and distributes the course catalogs, teacher schedules, room schedule. She is also the liaison to Ball State Computing Services in regards to the Blackboard program. In addition to nine years of administrative work at Ball State, Ms. Hall attends conferences and workshops to keep abreast of the latest computer technology and office management techniques. She is currently working towards her Bachelors Degree in Sociology.

As the Assistant Director of College and Career Counseling and Coordinator of Diversity, Mr. Patterson directs the College and Career Counseling Office, counsels and informs students about college admission processes, college choices, scholarships, and financial aid as well as assists them in the application process. He also helps to ensure diversity among professional staff and faculty of the Academy. Prior to coming to the Academy, Mr. Patterson spent six years as an Assistant and Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Ball State University. In prior years, Mr. Patterson worked as the Director of Recreational Sports at the University of Akron, as well as spending several years in the field of social work. He has a bachelor&rs quo;s degree from Ball State University and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He enjoys playing golf, reading, and gardening, and spending time with his wife, Lou.

Mrs. Workman came to the Indiana Academy to serve as the Assistant to the Associate Director of College Counseling and Alumni Affairs in February of 2013. In addition to her duties assisting the Associate Director of College Counseling and Alumni Affairs, Mrs. Workman informs students about college admission processes, college visits, college choices, scholarships, and financial aid as well as assists them in the application process. Also, Mrs. Workman is the AP Coordinator for the Indiana Academy and Burris. Mrs. Workman has been at BSU for thirty-one (31) years and has spent eleven (11) years as an Office Assistant in Academic Advising at Ball State University. Previously she has worked with the Office of Registration and Academic Progress for twelve (12) years and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for three (3) years. She has an associate’s degree from Ball State University. She especially enjoys traveling, taking a long walk on the beach, riding with her husband on their Harley, and spending time with her family.

Julie serves as the Academy’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Since joining the Academy 2016, her responsibilities have included all aspects of the Academy’s public relations, marketing, and external communications both print and digital. She works closely with faculty, staff, and students as well as alums and external partners to create promotional materials, plan events, and support fundraising efforts. She also oversees the Academy’s website and institutional social media accounts. The offices of Admissions, International Programs, and Outreach Programs report directly to her.

She previously worked in Ball State’s Office of Marketing and Communications for over seven years. Other higher education institutions she’s worked for include Ivy Tech, Anderson University, and Rose-Hulman Institute for Technology. Her work has been recognized with many prestigious awards throughout her career.

Julie’s interests include traveling, reading, and writing fiction. She loves a good sci-fi story but also enjoys learning more about real science and technology. She was invited by NASA to be a citizen journalist at the last space shuttle launch in 2011. She’s been invited to cover numerous NASA events and launches ever since that first one, and she’s also known to make occasional visits to SpaceX facilities.

Melissa joined the Academy in 2018 as the Assistant Director of Outreach Programs. She is responsible for planning our Outreach events, including our AP Summer Institute for teachers and instructors around the world, and Enrichment Programs for students.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Ball State University. Melissa was the Head Athletic Trainer for Northwestern High School in Kokomo and worked in human resources at a physical therapy clinic. Melissa has spent many years in long-term care in marketing and admissions. She also comes to us with a background in management, sales, insurance and owning a cupcake shop!

Her interests include spending time with her family and animals, going to sporting events, volunteering, reading, singing, and of course, baking cupcakes!

Mr. Raleigh is the Multimedia/Graphic Design Specialist in the Office of Outreach Programs. He is responsible for designing and maintaining web pages for the Indiana Academy, the distance learning Elementary Modern Language courses and High School courses, as well as most of the print publications and advertisements for Academy events and activities. He has been with the Indiana Academy since 1999.

Paul is beginning his 16th year as a proud member of the Academy Community, but this will be his first year as Director of Residential and Student Affairs. Paul is looking forward to this new year and all possibilities ahead. Paul is originally from Muncie, Indiana and graduated from the University of Evansville with a B.A. in English and several minors. After graduating in 2000, Paul then applied and was selected to participate in the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program in San Diego, California. There he traveled the Western Region states as a National Service Volunteer. Paul has done several projects in the fields of the Environment, Unmet Human Needs, Public Safety, and Education. Whether assisting retired military in daily living, helping homeless street kids in San Diego get off the streets, revitalizing a small town in Washington State, building homes with Habitat for Humanity in San Francisco, constructing a skate park for the youth of Virginia City, Nevada, or planning and implementing education programs throughout the Western Region, Paul has welcomed each new experience and embraces the role of Associate Director here at the Academy.

Paul has worked with almost every special event and committee at some point while on staff at the Academy. Paul received his Master of Arts degree in Executive Development for Public Service from Ball State University in 2006. Paul enjoys many diverse forms of music and writing, reading, volunteering, and almost anything related to sports. Paul along with his wife Sabra celebrates the joys of their two daughters, Lynley and Myla and enjoy re-experiencing the world once again through their daughters eyes. Paul’s passion and commitment to the Academy has grown stronger with each passing year and looks forward to serving faithfully the students, parents, and fellow staff members of the Indiana Academy. He is proud to be a part of such a great school and amazing student experience.

Ms. Huggins attended Indiana Business College. Before coming to Ball State, she spent 13 years as a secretary at the Marsh Supermarkets Corporate Headquarters. Ms. Huggins has been with the Indiana Academy in the Office of Residential and Student Affairs for the past five years as Assistant to the Director of Residential and Student Affairs.

Ms. Johnson is the Night Office Supervisor for the Indiana Academy. She holds an Associates Degree in Electronics from Indiana Vocational Technical College and has additional hours toward the completion of a second Associates Degree in Design Technology. Before coming to the Academy, Ms. Johnson worked for a small Muncie business as a purchasing agent. Prior to that, Ms. Johnson worked for a local plastics company for eleven years and then opened her own daycare center.

Tina is the Coordinator of Healthcare Services; a position she has held since 1998. She graduated from Ball State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Upon graduation until 1994, she worked at Ball Memorial Hospital in the Diabetes Care Center. From 1994 until coming to the Academy, Tina worked in a Family Practice office. Tina has been married to Brian for 26 years and they have 2 daughters, Hannah and Emily. Her oldest daughter, Hannah, is following in her footsteps, and plans to graduate from nursing school in July 2017. Her daughter, Emily, is a junior biology major at Ball State University.

Originally from England, Nikki completed her RN training at Nottingham University, UK in 1994 and emigrated to the USA in 1998. She passed her NCLEX-RN exam and became licensed to practice nursing in the State of Indiana in 1999.

In the UK, post-graduation she gained experience working in ER, ICU, elderly care and psychiatric settings.

In Muncie, she worked at Ball Memorial Hospital as an RN in the Diabetes Care Center and the Cardiac Telemetry Unit. During this time, she gained United States citizenship and became mom to a daughter and two sons, two chihuahuas and two stubborn goats. Nikki joined the Indiana Academy as School Nurse in March 2017.

Dr. Mindy Wallpe is the Assistant Director of Mental Health and Support Services at the Indiana Academy. In this position, she serves at the primary in-house therapist and strives to promote the emotional well-being of all Indiana Academy Students. Each day, she meets individually with students (open-door policy), coordinates supplemental counseling services, collaborates with hometown and outside therapists, supervises 1-2 part-time doctoral practicum Academy counselors, develops intervention/support plans for individual students, manages mental health programming efforts, and serves as a great resource/partner for Academy parents.

Dr. Wallpe attended Marian College, which is now Marian University, for her undergraduate education and majored in psychology. She earned her master’s degree in community counseling from Ball State University and graduated with her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky. She has held positions in counseling centers at the University of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College, Butler University, and Marian University. She has also worked at the IU Health Charis Center for Eating Disorders providing Individual and group therapy and co-leading the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient program. Dr. Wallpe is a licensed psychologist and joined the Indiana Academy in January 2017.

Ms. Tuite is the Associate Director and Head of Admissions at the Indiana Academy and has been with the Academy since 1991. In this role, Mrs. Tuite is responsible for developing an effective recruitment and marketing strategy that successfully accomplishes the goal of the Academy; to admit high ability high school juniors who demonstrate the aptitude to be successful in the Academy program. In addition, Mrs. Tuite is responsible for the development and implementation of admission policies and procedures and print and video publications. As the head of admissions, Mrs. Tuite manages the Admissions Team who coordinates Preview Day and SAT Day programming as well as a Summer Orientation, Move-In Orientation, CTD and Sophomore Scholars awards programs, and a middle school enrichment initiative. She chairs the Admissions Advisory Committee (AAC), chairs the File Review Team, and is a member or participant on the Retention and Dismissal Committee, Orientation Committee, Facilities Sub-Committee, Move-in Orientation Sub-Committee, and the Graduation Committee. In her tenure with the Indiana Academy, she has been instrumental in the creation and implementation of Academy Preview Days, SAT Administration Days, and Summer Orientation for juniors. Mrs. Tuite is the co-founder of the Association of Consortium Admissions Representatives (ACAR) which is an organization made up of admission professionals from residential high schools around the United States. ACAR meets annually to discuss admissions issues, policies, and practices.

Brandy Reichle serves as the International Program Director at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. In this position, she oversees all components of The Indiana Academy’s international student program. She is responsible for issuing I-20 documents, maintaining SEVIS as the Indiana Academy’s PDSO, making admissions decisions regarding international student applications, pursuing student recruitment and program development initiatives, recruiting host families, maintaining regular contact with all international students and host families, and overseeing WIDA testing, academic advising and course selection. She has facilitated international enrollment for students from South Korea, China, Vietnam, Germany, and India.

Mrs. Reichle received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. In 2011, she joined the Indiana Academy team. During her time at The Academy, she has been involved with various committees including Intervention and Retention, Student Services, Non-Residential Early College, Admissions, and International Committees. She is licensed as a School Services Professional, certified as a Local Coordinator through the U.S. Department of State, and is a past board member of the Indiana Counseling Association.

Sadie joined the Indiana Academy Office of Admissions in 2015 as the Admissions Counselor and Enrollment Analyst. Sadie is responsible for coordinating and implementing enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students, the Preview Day programs, as well as Summer Orientation and Kick-off/Move-in Week. In addition, Sadie assists in the file review process and manages the office’s statistical and data analysis. Sadie’s past experiences include an internship with the Department of Historic Preservation and Archaeology where she researched and wrote grants pertaining to the Underground Railroad and African American Civil Rights pre-1800, as well as experiences from Ball State’s Department of History where she worked on the Buffalo Bill Digital Project. Sadie has a Bachelor of Science in Public History with a minor in Anthropology and a Master of Art in History with concentrations in Memory Theory, American Civil War POWs, and Digital History.

Cheryl Veatch, Admissions Office Coordinator, has been with the Indiana Academy for one year. Ms. Veatch moved to Muncie five years ago from her hometown of Dayton, Ohio. She joined the admissions team after working in a similar capacity for a local government agency. Ms. Veatch has tremendous experience in working with young people and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

As a vital member of the Admissions team, Ms. Veatch is responsible for processing all student applications, tracking the admissions budget, directing calls and visitors, as well as hiring, training, and supervising the Ball State student assistants.

In her brief tenure, Ms. Veatch has already been heralded by many callers and visitors as the kind voice of the Indiana Academy.

Mr. Lake is Associate Director of Special Initiatives and Development. Mr. Lake is the founder of the Association of Consortium Admissions Representatives (ACAR), an organization which meets yearly to discuss admissions issues of residential high schools.

Dr. Thomas F. Arnold has taught history at the Academy since 2004. He received his B.A. with High Honors from Oberlin College in 1985, and earned his Ph.D. in early modern and military history at the Ohio State University in 1993. Following his Ph.D. work, from 1993 to 1994 he held a post-doctoral research position in International Security Studies at Yale University. From 1994 to 2001 he was an Assistant Professor of History at Yale University. In 2001 he became Program Manager for Teaching at the Alliance for Lifelong Learning in New York City, an online consortium of Oxford, Stanford, and Yale Universities. He is the author of several articles on aspects of early modern military history, and the book The Renaissance at War (2001 and later editions), currently published by HarperCollins/Smithsonian press.

He enjoys teaching at the Academy, and the chance to work with motivated, gifted and talented young people who are just realizing their opportunities. Most May Terms Dr. Arnold leads a small group of students on a “history and hiking” trip to Europe. Past destinations have included Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany.

Clara Chi received her B.A in Japanese and English from Wellesley College, and worked in Tokyo, Japan for over ten years as a translator in the Japanese banking industry. She received her M.Ed. in World Language Education from DePaul University in 2014, specializing in Japanese language education. Her thesis on interdisciplinary Japanese and English high school education was selected for presentation at the 2013 Central Association of Japanese Teachers’ conference at Eastern Michigan University. She is also a graduate of Illinois Math and Science Academy, Illinois’ sister consortium school to Indiana Academy. She is passionate about teaching Japanese language and culture, through which she hopes to further appreciation for all world languages and cultures.

Dr. Clifford began teaching at the Academy in the fall of 2018. She studied English as an undergraduate at the Virginia Military Institute, where she played soccer and ran track. She received her M.A. in English from Virginia Tech and her Ph.D. from West Virginia University. Her research and teaching interests include modern American poetry and drama, environmental literature, the city in literature, women writers, and trauma narratives. She is publishing a chapter on Marianne Moore’s “An Octopus” in the forthcoming ecocritical collection Modernism in the Green, from Routledge Press. Throughout her career, she has taught a range of English courses, including Modern American Poetry and Drama, Short Story and the Novel, American Literature, and Composition. At the Academy, she teaches English courses, including American Literature, Shakespeare, Introduction to Theater and Drama, and Junior Colloquium. In her free time, she enjoys playing the drums and guitar, listening to her highly-cultivated Pandora stations, watching soccer, going on road trips, and making sure her mini dachshund doesn’t eat chocolate.

Ms. Cunningham was appointed Instructor of Computer Science in 1996. She teaches Computer Applications, Advanced Computer Applications, AP Computer Science A/C++ Programming, and AP Computer Science B/Data Structures. Ms. Cunningham has also taught computer training classes for teachers at the Outreach summer workshops, along with teaching the software track in the summer Student Technology Workshops.

She has taught night classes at Indiana Wesleyan. Before coming to the Academy, she was Departmental Manager for six years at Ontario Systems Corp. in Muncie, Indiana. Prior to that, Ms. Cunningham was a Software Project Manager at Conseco, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was also in the position of Senior Programmer Analyst at Ball Corporation in Muncie, Indiana. While attending Ball State as an undergraduate, she was a programmer consultant for the Charles A. Beard School Corporation in Knightstown, Indiana. Ms. Cunningham is a former member (serving 3 terms) on the Board of Directors for Heritage Place in Indianapolis, Indiana (where she now serves as a consultant), a member of the Indianapolis Computer Society, and a former member of the Network of Business Women in Indianapolis, Toastmasters, and the YMCA Programs and Activities Committee.

Jessica Edrington joined the faculty of the Indiana Academy in 2018 after teaching mathematics at Lowell Senior High School in Lowell, Indiana, for eleven years. Ms. Edrington earned her M.A. in Mathematics from Ball State University in 2016, B.A. in Mathematics from Olivet Nazarene University in 1998, and graduated from the Indiana Academy in 1994. She enjoys the opportunity to teach at her alma mater.

Mr. Fakhruddin teaches AP/C Physics, Modern Physics, Optics, and Research Seminar. He is the coach for students competing for the U.S. Physics Olympiad team. Mr. Fakhruddin’s professional activities include presenting at various conferences, conducting workshops, and publishing research, including: Summer 1994 AP Physics Workshop at the Indiana Academy, “Interactive Long-Distance Learning in Science: Works and What Does Not,” “A Collection of Physics Demonstrations,” “Overhead Projector as a Traveling Microscope,” “Thermal Expansion Paradox,” and “A Convenient Energy Analyzer Calibration Technique.” He is the Winner of The 1998 John Vossen Memorial Award sponsored by The American Vacuum Society for a demonstration experiment involving a vacuum system and is included in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2000.

Since beginning at the Academy in 1991, Ms. Foltz has enjoyed teaching courses in Algebra, Precalculus, Finite Mathematics, Statistics, Calculus, and AP Calculus. She believes that “mathematics is not a spectator sport,” and so she seeks to engage students in the course topics, encouraging them to think like mathematicians in the process. She is also the instructor for the AP Calculus courses that are available through the Indiana Academy Online. Ms. Foltz has led Outreach summer workshops and school in-service sessions on the use of technology in the secondary classroom. She also currently serves as a Faculty Consultant in AP Calculus for the College Board, leading one day and weeklong sessions, and has been a Reader and Table Leader for the College Board in AP Calculus.

Ms. Foltz was the chief developer of educational materials for the web-based Get-A-Five, an online provider of calculus video tutorials, diagnostic questions, and practice AP exams. She was part of the team that prepared materials for the training manual used by AP Calculus consultants. Previously, she was a contributing author for the Kaplan AP Calculus AB & BC study guide and was a member of a project team that completed a National Science Foundation calculus curriculum grant at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Ms. Foltz was the recipient of the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Outstanding High School Teacher Award, the Radio Shack National Teacher Award, the Sigma Xi (Ball State University Chapter) Teacher of the Year Award, the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement – Teacher Award for the State of Indiana, and the Dean Roy Weaver Indiana Academy Outstanding Contributor Award.

Mr. Grady has been with the Academy as Instructor of Computer Science since 1996. He teaches Computer Applications, Advanced Computer Applications, Web Page Design, Machine Organization and Computer Science Seminars. Mr. Grady has led Outreach summer workshops on Web Page Development. For the past two summers he has taught the Student Technology Workshop (Hardware Track) for high school students from across Indiana. He also helps in the selection of Academy students to participate in programming contests throughout Indiana. Mr. Grady has led workshops for the faculty in many different comptuer related areas. He is an active member of the Indiana Computer Educators (ICE), ISTE, HECC and NECC. During his years at the Academy, he has participated in numerous conferences throughout the United States to keep abreast of the newest technological advances used in high schools and other computer-related areas. Aside from his teaching duties, he also assists the LAN manager in the upkeep of the network and the troubleshooting of computers.

David Haynes has been an Instructor of English at the Academy since 2008. He has taught American and World Literature, Creative Writing, Junior and Senior Colloquium, and the Victorian novel. David received his Masters degree from Marquette University and did three years of doctoral work in literature at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has taught composition at Marquette, Ball State, and UIUC, where he also served as a graduate assistant in several literature courses. He has authored an article on an Irish film, which appeared in the New Hibernia Review in 2002. His graduate work focused on British and Irish modernism and Victorian literature.

Dr. Kallmeyer teaches many biology courses including Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Zoology, and AP Biology, as well as General Chemistry. Before joining the Academy, she taught for several years in the Biology Department at Ball State.

Her research interests include aquatic biology with emphasis on macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fishes, and their association with limnological parameters. Early research has been on zebra mussel population dynamics in Lake Michigan and the Ohio River as well as studying the impact of tributaries on major river systems.

Dr. Kavars teaches the Solar System Astronomy and Galactic Astronomy classes at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. He received his B.S. degree in 2001 from the University of Iowa with honors in Physics and Astronomy. He completed his Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Prior to arriving at the Indiana Academy in the fall of 2006, he taught astronomy classes at the University of Minnesota and Inver Hills Community College near Minneapolis, MN. As a graduate student, his research focused on radio astronomy where he used one of the world’s largest radio telescopes, the Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, WV.

In the fall of 2015 Dr. Kavars became the Associate Director of Academic Affairs at the Indiana Academy. His primary duties include working with parents and students to create and implement 504 and IEP special education plans, overseeing attendance, advising international students, overseeing May Term trips, and continuing to teach the Academy’s astronomy classes. During his tenure at the Indiana Academy, Dr. Kavars has attended and presented at several education conferences including the Hoosier Association for Science Teachers Inc., National Science Teachers Association, Indiana Associated for the Gifted, AdvancED Indiana, and Ball State University Teachers College Best Practices in Education conferences.

In his free time Dr. Kavars enjoys geocaching, gardening, reading/watching science fiction and fantasy books/movies, traveling, and in particular, spending time with his family. In recent years he and his family have explored the world outside of the United States, traveling to Canada, Iceland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. In the near future he hopes to explore Scotland, England, New Zealand, and Australia, although his daughters are doing their best to convince him a trip to Hawaii must happen soon.

Mr. Marsh has had a wide-ranging career, though teaching is his greatest passion. He joined the Academy faculty in 2006, and absolutely loves working with these amazing students. His previous teaching experience was with Ball State University and the University of Indianapolis. He has taught American History, Western and World Civilizations, Public History, Government, and Religious Studies. His History of World Religions course is a favorite at the Academy, and his May Term courses are creative, interactive projects such as the construction of ancient Egyptian tombs or famous prehistoric caves. Mr. Marsh was the recipient of the inaugural Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award in 2018. He was chosen by Academy students in 2016 to receive the Dean Roy Weaver Award, and he was also selected twice by Ball State students for a University Professorship Teaching Award.

Mr. Marsh and his wife won the national McLaren Comedy Festival Award in 2014 for a play they wrote. He also co-authored a musical play which was produced in Branson, Missouri, during which time he served as Vice-President of Marketing and Production for the theatre, and also performed as on-stage host.

From 1995-2006, Mr. Marsh was the Executive Director of the Grissom Air Museum. During his tenure, the historic aircraft collection, exhibits, educational programs, and funding grew substantially, while annual museum visitation more than tripled. Other endeavors include writing an op-ed column for the Indianapolis News and other papers, as well as authoring articles for history and general interest publications. Early in his career, Mr. Marsh founded a burglar and fire alarm company in Muncie which he operated for seven years. He has a business degree from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in history from Ball State University.

Mr. Mayfield teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Introduction to Microbiology, Introduction to Zoology, Botany, Humanity/Biotechnology, and Social Issues and Research. Additionally, he serves as the sponsor of the Environmental Club, Speech and Debate Team, and Envirothon Team. Mr. Mayfield is an evolutionary biologist who is doing his dissertation research on evolutionary relationships in orchids. He has published articles in the fields of systematic botany and entomology.

Dr. Myers has been an instructor of history at the Academy since the Fall 2006 semester. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Bluefield State College in West Virginia, a Master’s Degree in U.S. History from East Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D. in Appalachian Regional History from West Virginia University, where he wrote a dissertation titled, “Deindustrialization and the Decline of Community in the Coalfields: McDowell County, West Virginia, 1950-2000.” From 2001 to 2006, Dr. Myers taught history part-time at West Virginia University while working on his doctorate. He has also taught history at East Tennessee State University, Fairmont State University (WV), Bluefield State College, Ball State University, and Ivy Tech Community College. Along with the Foundations and American History core classes, Dr. Myers also teaches advanced reading courses in Appalachian History, American Working Class History, Native American History, the History of Science and Technology, and US History from 1920-1945. Dr. Myers is the author of “Depression, Recovery, Instability: The NRA and the McDowell County, West Virginia, Coal Industry, 1920-1938,” published in Coal, Class, and Politics in Modern Appalachia: Essays in Honor of Ronald L. Lewis (Morgantown: West Virginia University Press, 2009), as well as numerous encyclopedia entries and book reviews. Dr. Myers is currently working on a project on Dr. Henry Hatfield, the Progressive era governor of West Virginia.

Stephanie Nagelkirk joined the Indiana Academy faculty in 2005, having taught previously in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ms. Nagelkirk’s masters degree – from East Stroudsburg University – is in Secondary Education, English, with an emphasis on teaching writing, and she is currently working on her dissertation for a Ph.D. in Literature. Her specialty area is Postcolonial theory and its application to African-American women’s literature. The 2011 recipient of the prestigious Battey National Educator Award, Ms. Nagelkirk is also a reader for the College Board in AP English Language and Composition. She presents widely on the Project-Based Learning method of teaching and continues to be involved in pedagogical developments on both the national and local levels. With an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, Nagelkirk’s interests are quite varied. She is an avid distance runner, a lover of all things seafood, and the mother of two children, Jack and Ella. She is passionate about her family, her students, and her teaching, and her enthusiasm is immediately evident. Ms. Nagelkirk teaches the American and World Literature courses, African-American Literature, Utopian Literature, and AP English Language and Composition. She has also taught the colloquia series, Creative Writing, Writing Lab, and a May Term running course.

Ms. Ney has taught various English classes at the Academy since 1991, including American Literature, British Literature, Expository Writing, and Creative Writing. Before coming to the Academy, she taught English at various high schools in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Ms. Ney has made numerous presentations at seminars and workshops around the nation, such as the National Association of Gifted Children’s Conference, the Teaching Gifted Girls Conference, and the Indiana Association of the Gifted Conference. She was chosen as an Indiana Academic All-Star Teacher in 1993 and as a Presidential Scholar Teacher in 1989. She also won the Illinois Governor’s Master Teacher Award in 1984, and received teaching honors from Loyola University and the University of Chicago.

John Rajca has been an Instructor of Mathematics at the Indiana Academy since 1991. He has taught most of the courses in the mathematics curriculum, including Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry, Precalculus, Precalculus for AP, Calculus, Statistics, Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC, Discrete Mathematics, and Probability Theory. He served as Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science from 1996 to 2005, and has been an academic advisor every year since 2005. Before coming to the Indiana Academy, he was on the faculty at Wittenberg University in Ohio and at SUNY-College at Oswego. Mr. Rajca has written and presented papers on applications of statistical and probabilistic models to professional sports. He was interviewed by Robert Siegel about his statistical model for upsets in the NCAA basketball tournament for National Public Radio’s All Things Considered in March 2003. Mr. Rajca is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Mr. Chris Reid is in his first year teaching Spanish at the Indiana Academy. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1974, and earned his M.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies from St. Louis University in 1980. He taught Spanish at Regis University in Denver, Colorado from 1980 to 1983. From 1984 to 1995 he taught Spanish and coached track and field at DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Mo. and for 14 years before relocating to Muncie, Indiana he taught Spanish and directed various campus ministry programs at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in Washington, MO. Mr. Reid is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach many gifted, talented and highly-motivated students here at the Academy. He looks forward to helping his students discover the numerous possibilities for using their Spanish-speaking talents to communicate effectively with fellow students and especially with native Spanish-speaking people, both here in the United States and abroad. He and his wife Brigid have 3 daughters – Kathleen (25), a puppeteer in Portland, OR; Elizabeth (22), a senior at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO majoring in Spanish and Psychology, and Megan (19), a freshman also at Rockhurst University. When he’s not at the Academy, Mr. Reid enjoys cycling along the Cardinal Greenway Bicycle Paths, volunteering at the Harvest Soup Kitchen, socializing with colleagues and reading.

Mrs. Rogers has taught Russian language at the Indiana Academy since it opened its doors in the fall of 1990. Over the years she has also taught Russian literature at the Academy and German language both at the Academy and at Ball State University, as well as served as an English/Russian translator for Ball State University and around the community of Muncie. Mrs. Rogers holds a Masters Degree in Russian Language and Literature from Purdue University in West Lafayette and a Masters Degree in German from Indiana University in Bloomington, where the focus of her graduate work was on historical linguistics and old Germanic languages. In her free time, Mrs. Rogers is active with volunteer work for Muncie Community Schools and for First Presbyterian Church in Muncie and enjoys traveling with her husband, two daughters and her beagle.

Joshua Ruark earned his Bachelor’s degree in Math and Social Studies in Secondary Education from Cornerstone University in 1999. In 2011, he earned a Master’s in Discrete Mathematics from Michigan Technological University, where he stayed on for the 2011-12 year as an instructor before joining the faculty at the Indiana Academy in 2012.

In addition to teaching classes ranging from Pre-Calculus to Differential Equations, Mr. Ruark coaches both the Quiz Bowl and Academic Superbowl teams.

On a personal note, Joshua is an avid game player, with Scrabble, Dominion, and 7 Wonders among his favorites. He also is a fan of all things Star Trek, and although he doesn’t own a costume from any of the series, he can identify almost any episode of ST:TOS and ST:TNG by title.

Mr. Sayers currently teaches General Physics and Electronics. Prior to coming to the Academy he taught physics and mathematics at Brazil and Northview High Schools. At Northview, Mr. Sayers started the AP Program and taught AP Physics B and C, Calculus AB, General Physics, and Algebra 2. He has also taught Introductory Astronomy at Indiana University and was Physics Teacher in Residence at in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Ball State University in 2004-2005.

Mr. Sayers has been active in science education, participating in many professional development programs at the state and national level. He has given numerous presentations and workshops at the local level, and at state and national science conferences.

For many years Mr. Sayers has been especially interested in the applications of technology in science education and how modern technology allows students to engage in real scientific research, particularly encouraging and helping students to conduct their own research in seismology, astronomy, and physics. He is currently a participant in several national projects in science education funded by the National Science Foundation. These include the Princeton Earth Physics Project (seismology), Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science Education (astronomy) and the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (physics education).

Special recognition includes Indiana High School Physics Teacher of the Year in 1997, Indiana Teacher Technology Fellow in 1997, Rose-Hulman Outstanding Teacher Award in 2000, Indiana Academy of Science Summer Research Fellow in 2002, and the Radio Shack National Teacher Award in 2003.

Mr. Sayers is currently working on completing his doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Mr. Schuh has been with us for over a decade, and teaches all levels of Physics for the school. He received three certificates of Distinguished Service during his education at Purdue University and was awarded the Top Graduate Teacher award in 1998. Since joining the Academy family, he has been awarded Meritorious distinction for both Service and Teaching, and has been listed several times with Who’s Who among American Teachers. Mr. Schuh regularly speaks across the country helping AP teachers improve their craft, and has logged over 2000 hours in front of distance-learning cameras for both national and international instruction.

Dr. Sean A. Scott joined the Academy history faculty in August 2015. He earned a Ph.D. in history from Purdue University in 2008. Since receiving his doctorate he taught history at Ouachita Baptist University and American studies at Christopher Newport University. He also served as an assistant editor with the Papers of Abraham Lincoln project, conducting research at the National Archives. A specialist in the study of religion during the Civil War era, he has authored A Visitation of God: Northern Civilians Interpret the Civil War (Oxford University Press, 2011) and several peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals.

Dr. Slocum teaches French courses at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and the Humanities at Ball State University. She has previously taught French at Colorado State University-Pueblo, Michigan Technological University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her Ph.D. in French literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her minor in the department of Theatre and Drama. Her research focuses on twentieth century French literature and theatre.

Dr. Smith studied philosphy as an undergraduate in Massachusetts and Germany and did her graduate work in English literature. She taught English in Texas and Massachusetts and came to the Academy from Auburn University in Alabama where she had been teaching World Literature and Composition. Her graduate work focused on modern poetry, and she teaches an Academy course on reading poetry, as well as courses in Women’s Literature, American Literature, British and World Literature, and Writing About Literature.

Mr. Robert Smith joined the Academy in 2014. He received his B.A. in Spanish grammar and conversation from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 1991. He earned his Master’s degree in Teaching Languages in 2008 from the University of Southern Mississippi campuses in Madrid and Mexico. Before coming to The Academy, he taught Spanish most recently at Danville High School in Danville, IN. Before that, he taught at a college preparatory school called Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA. He also taught at Boston College High School in Dorchester, MA. As part of his graduate and undergraduate studies, he spent almost 2 years in Spain and three months in Mexico. He also spent a year in Ecuador working with the poor and underprivileged. He has also travelled extensively in Latin America. His professional work includes serving as a Spanish/English interpreter in courtrooms, hospitals and for private businesses. He was an Adjunct Faculty member at Indiana University for 8 years before coming to The Academy. He is married to his wife Christina and they have two kids: Elizabeth and Bobby. When he is not teaching, Mr. Smith enjoys many outdoor sports like running, biking and hiking. He also practices basketball, golf and his new passion: Muay Thai; which is a martial art from Thailand. Mr. Smith has been practicing Muay Thai since 2009 and he has fought in a few competitions. He considers it a great skill to know and a great way to keep in condition. Mr. Smith is looking forward to working with the talented people here at The Academy as teaching Spanish is his passion and he loves sharing it with people.

Daniel Vandersommers is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities at Ball State University. Previously, he has served as an NEH Postdoctoral Fellow at the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine (in Philadelphia); an SSHRC-funded Postdoctoral Fellow in Animal History at McMaster University, and a Visiting Assistant Professor in Modern U.S. History at the University of Mississippi. Dan earned his Ph.D. in 2014 from The Ohio State University in Early American History.

Dan is finishing a manuscript titled Humanism Encaged: The American Zoo, 1887-1917. This book tells the story of how a zoos changed the world. Between 1890 and 1920, as Darwinism was debated endlessly in intellectual circles, zoological parks appeared suddenly at the heart of every major American city and had tens of millions of visitors. Darwin’s theory of evolution inspired scientists and philosophers to theorize about humans and animals. Public zoos allowed the multitudes to experience daily the similarities between the human world and the animal kingdom. Researched at the Smithsonian Institution Archives and thirteen other institutions, Humanism Encaged tells the stories of how zoos transformed the way that Americans thought about humans, animals, and environments. By examining ‘popular zoology,’ Humanism Encaged will be an important contribution to the growing historiography and science studies literature concerned with “popular science,” “science-in-action,” and “citizen science.”

Dan has published widely, including an important article in the Journal of American Studies titled “Narrating Animal History from the Crags: A Turn-of-the-Century Tale about Mountain Sheep, Resistance, and a Nation.” Dan also has a forthcoming coedited volume (with Tracy McDonald) titled Zoo Studies: A New Humanities with McGill-Queens University Press, which will be on shelves this spring.

Dan teaches courses across American, World, Environmental, and Animal History, the History of Science, Science Studies, as well as in Western Political Theory. When he is not teaching, researching, and writing, Dan can be found playing basketball, traveling, and hiking.

Though a native of Fountain City, IN, Evan comes to the Academy from Phoenix, AZ, where he spent three years teaching Latin and Classics to upper-level secondary school students. Prior to that he attended Xavier University as an undergraduate in the Honors Bachelor of Arts program where he studied Latin, Ancient Greek, and Philosophy. Evan also holds a MA degree from Vanderbilt University in Classics, after which he spent two years at Cornell University studying Classics and Ancient Philosophy. During this time he was able to study abroad at the American Academy in Rome and at one of the Goethe Institut locations in Berlin. He has been a linguaphile since high school and, though he is most comfortable and fluent in Latin and Ancient Greek, enjoys speaking and reading to varying extents Spanish, German, French, and Italian. Evan is looking forward to finishing his PhD and focusing on linguistic issues like second-language acquisition as it applies to learning languages no longer spoken such as Latin and Ancient Greek. When not teaching he spends a lot of his time on the road playing the banjo and singing in a bluegrass band, which makes him probably the only banjo player who can read and understand Plato in the original language.

In 2011 Mrs. Wright moved to Muncie and began teaching at the Academy. She studied mathematics and education as an undergraduate at Assumption College in Worcester, MA while she played on the basketball team for four years. She completed her graduate work in mathematics at the University of Maine. Before she came to the Academy she taught at a community college in Maine. She believes Academy students are challenging but lots of fun. She is an instructor of Statistics, and Precalculus, among other math courses.

Kristina is thrilled to begin her sixth school year at the Indiana Academy. Kristina was born and raised in Watervliet, Michigan. She attended Spring Arbor University and majored in social work with a minor in psychology. She graduated with her Bachelors of Social Work in May 2012. During her last semester at Spring Arbor, Kristina completed her internship in Chicago. She worked with youth who had mental health concerns due to past trauma. She loved watching the improvements the children made throughout her time working with them. This sparked her passion to help young people reach their full potential and eventually led to her working at the Academy.

Kristina enjoys a variety of activities. She likes to read, watch movies and TV shows, go to Lake Michigan, and spend quality time with family and friends. She especially enjoys spending time with her niece who was born in January 2017. Kristina loves new adventures. She hopes to one day explore the castles of Europe and the plantation houses of the South. Kristina is looking forward to working alongside the students as the female Student Life Team Leader and is excited to watch the students enjoy another great year at the Academy.

Shane Crider grew up in Northwest Indiana, he is number two of somewhere between 6 and 8 kids. He graduated from the Indiana Academy in 2003 and had siblings graduate the Academy in 2001 and 2005. From Muncie he went on to Illinois College where he spent a year in the farm fields of west central Illinois before transferring to Indiana University-Bloomington, where three years later he graduated with a B.S. in kinesiology. While at IU he made multiple trips to the Gulf Coast Area to help clean up efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Shane enjoys most team sports and has a strong interest in automobiles and motorcycling. He is a big fan of road trips and travel, since becoming an SLC he’s made it to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Mile 0 in the Keys, and through the American West. Shane struggles to count beyond the number 5, but he’s completed 7 years as a Student Life Counselor, or at least that’s what the math teachers tell him comes next. He also enjoys puns. He earned a master’s degree in natural resources and environmental management through Ball State with an unusual focus on radiation because he believes he may be able to actually turn Tom Holland into Spider-Man.

Andrew is legend from days gone by, returning to the Academy to take his rightful place as king. A self-made thousandaire, he recently graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s in Spanish. While there, he became both a published author and a decorated chicken wing eater (trophy on display in Wagoner 472). He plans to travel the entire world, except Barbados. His first love is astronomy, but his greatest love is games—board, card, and video alike. He has several other interests as well, including (but not limited to) reading, writing, playing guitar, comic strips, cracking wise, glowstringing, juggling, puzzles, biking, hiking, and vikings.

Andrew is excited to meet the students and to provide them with only the best in residential life. He will be running capture-the-flag as an intramural, and will be one of the SLC advisors for Lil’ Sibs weekend and the end-of-year slideshow.

Rachel cannot contain her excitement to start her first year at the Indiana Academy. She was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana and attended Taylor University where she just graduated this past May with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While at Taylor, she served on several cabinets engaging with different social justice issues.

Rachel enjoys a wide variety of hobbies and activities. She loves to read, write, paint, embroider, and spend time with friends. She also has two nephews that are 5 and 2 years old who she loves spending time with more than anyone else. Words are very important to her, and she’s always keeping an eye out for her next favorite quote or poem. She also has a growing collection of children’s books that make her tear up, even as an adult. Rachel is always up for spontaneous dance parties and deep conversation, and can’t wait to spend time getting to know the students this year.

Taylor is thrilled to begin her first year as an SLC at the Indiana Academy, though it’s not the first time she’s been a resident of Wagoner Hall. She graduated from the IASMH in 2011, along with her sister, and continued her education across several states. She began her undergraduate study at the University of Rochester before transferring to Indiana University Bloomington, and finishing her degree at Northern Kentucky University. Taylor earned a B.S. in Biology along the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal track in the spring of 2016. During her education she worked as a laboratory assistant in a plant genetics lab as well as spent time as a sustainability intern focusing on the preservation and maintenance of old growth forests and the removal of invasive species. She also studied abroad in London during the winter of 2015-2016 studying chemistry. Much of her free time was spent with her sorority or with the various clubs she participated in.

Taylor has several non-academic interests, such as kayaking, soccer, baseball, science fiction, music, and theater. She’s excited to meet and get to know all of the Academy students, as well as help coordinate Lil’ Sibs Weekend and the Academy Slideshow.

An alumna of the Academy, Taryn Mayer is returning to the school for her first year as an SLC. After graduating in 2013, Taryn went to Hanover College where she majored in Spanish and Theatre, with a focus in costuming. While there, Taryn had the opportunity to study for a month in Spain as a freshman and then an entire semester in Mexico as a junior. She also was on the leadership team of multiple clubs across campus, a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and a defensive player on the varsity women’s lacrosse team. Taryn’s most proud accomplishment in college, however, was her position of Costume Shop Manager with Hanover College Theatre. After graduating with honors from Hanover in 2017, Taryn moved to Newark, New Jersey to serve with AmeriCorps as a member of Great Oaks Tutor Corps VII. During this year of service, Taryn tutored small groups of middle school student in English Language Arts and Math, as well as leading clubs and serving as a Teacher’s Assistant for the Theatre instructor.

In her spare time, Taryn enjoys crafting and cross stitching while listening to podcasts. She continues to study Spanish and travel, and is currently planning her second trip to Chile for this winter break. She hasn’t gotten to play lacrosse in a while, but would love to pass a ball around, and is excited to get some laps in as the sponsor of the roller skating intramural. Taryn’s theatrical and international experience will be put to use this year as she also will be serving as adviser for Club Fair, Lip Sync and International Committees.

Chris is excited to be in his third year as a Student Life Counselor at the Indiana Academy! He grew up in Pendleton, Indiana and attended Pendleton Heights High School. He went on to attend college at Ball State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications, with a focus in Video Production. While a student, Chris served as a resident assistant for five semesters in BSU’s residence halls. Since graduation, Chris has worked as a freelance video producer and as a substitute teacher. He plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Secondary Education.

In his spare time, Chris has been known to play video games, build Lego sets, watch anything to do with Star Wars, and even serve as tech support for his grand-parents. He is excited to be working with students at the Academy and see their continued development this year!

Along with Rachel Campbell, Chris will serve as a liaison and staff resource for the Indiana Academy Parent Organization (IAPO) this year. If you would like to contact Chris with any questions or comments, please reference the information above. If you have a pressing concern and Chris is unavailable, please call the Academy’s front desk at 765-285-8125.

Katie is excited to start her second year working as a Student Life Counselor at the Indiana Academy. She is from Pendleton, Indiana and graduated from Pendleton Heights High School in 2011. After high school, she went to Ball State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, with a focus in Graphics, and a minor in Leadership Studies. She graduated cum laude in the Spring of 2015. During her years at Ball State, Katie designed pages for the Ball State Daily News, Ball Bearings magazine, and worked on various design projects with Cardinal Communications. She also was a part of the Excellence in leadership program, where she learned about different leadership styles and how to use them in her daily life. After graduating college, Katie spent the next two years working as a freelance graphic designer and as a newspaper page designer for Community Newspapers Holdings Inc., in Anderson, Indiana. This year, she will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Management at Ball State.

Katie is looking forward to getting to know the students and planning fun and educational programs for them. She will also be in charge co-coordinating Prom. Katie spends her free time listening to music, reading books, drawing, working out, playing video games, and making crafts.

Mitch is a Chicago IL native and is excited to be returning for a second year as a Student Life Counselor. Relocating to Harvey IL at the age of 14, he attended Thornton Township High School where he was a 3-sport athlete in cross country, wrestling and track & field. Following his graduation in 2009, David went on to attend college in the fall at Eastern Illinois University where he earned two degrees, (Bachelors degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Public Relations in 2014 and his Masters degree in Technology with an emphasis on Training and Development in 2016.) While as a student at Eastern, he was highly involved in campus life and join several student organizations such as; President of the Black Student Union, Social Affairs/Event Program coordinator of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Community Service chair for NAACP, just to name a few. In addition, Mitch has won second place in both the Mr. EIU bodybuilding competition and Mr. Essence of a man scholarship pageant. Mitch is currently working on his 3rd degree in creative writing.

Fun facts about Mitch:
Enjoys long walks around the block.
Loves singing but only in a mirror with headphones or a really large speaker.
Professional Hulu/Netflix binge watch (once watched 12 seasons of supernatural in 7 weeks.)
Mitch believes he has superpowers (when you see him, just ask.)
Oldest of 13 siblings.
Hates cheese (however, he will have your occasional cheese burger.)

One of his favorite quotes is –
“The effect you have on others, is the most valuable currency there is” – Jim Carrey

Clare Pratt is very excited to begin her second year working at the Indiana Academy! She is originally from Greensburg Indiana, and has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southern Indiana, and a Master’s degree in Student Affairs from Western Kentucky University. She was previously a Property Manager at Gamma Phi Beta sorority house at the University of South Carolina, and has had a variety of employment opportunities during her time getting her education, everything from sports writing to running a high school drama club.

In her spare time, Clare enjoys playing tennis, watching (and discussing) movies, reading, writing, dancing, going to the beach, travel, photography, hiking, camping, kayaking, art, and collecting odds and ends she has found at antique malls and mom and pop stores. Clare will be working with fellow SLC Nathan Stoll on two special events this year, Carnival and Academy Awards. She is looking forward to another great year at Indiana Academy, and getting to know its amazing students even more!

After some time away Nathan realized he couldn’t stay away from Wagoner for too long. As an Academy Alum from the class of 2013, he’s spent more than a few nights in the hallowed halls of our student housing. He’s beyond excited to come back home for his first year as an SLC. After graduating from the academy, Nathan set his sights on the big city to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in Mental Health from Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago. While he no longer lives in the city, you can still see a 10 foot image of him plastered along Congress Parkway in city on the side of his university, so there’s still a part of him that never left. During his time in Chicago, he held many roles at his university and served as the 76th Student Body President of Roosevelt. He also spent his free time working in the non-profit world as the Campaign Director for the Chicago fundraising office of the Human Rights Campaign. After graduating from Roosevelt, he spent a year exploring a new field as a real estate agent in Chicago.

When he’s not modeling for a university marketing campaign or fighting for equality, Nathan enjoys reading some Hemmingway or Stein and watching a documentary or two or three. He loves to spend time listening to stories and learning about new people so as you can imagine he’s looking forward to meeting all of the students and getting to know all about the passions and dreams. This year he will also be working on our Carnival and the Academy Awards and heading up the volleyball intramural.

Kelsey is no stranger to Wagoner Hall as an Academy graduate of the class of 2009, but is very excited to be starting her fifth year as an SLC. She started college at Valparaiso University, but after her first year transferred to Indiana University-Bloomington where she graduated in May 2014 with a degree in English Education. Before coming to the academy she taught in an adult education program helping her students to earn their high school equivalency diploma. When she isn’t working, Kelsey likes to read, watch documentaries and musicals, cook, play with cats, and sing. She has never been that gifted in playing sports or video games, but definitely enjoys watching both and will be sponsoring the Quidditch intermural this school year. Kelsey is looking forward to putting her talents of teaching and lesson planning to good use in planning programming this year, and is looking forward to serving as one of the PA advisors this year!