Academy Personnel

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.

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.

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. In addition to twenty-one 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.

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.

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.

Stephanie Nagelkirk joined the Academy in the fall of 2005. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and worked in the law enforcement field for several years before returning to school for a master’s degree in English education. Currently ABD in literature, her doctoral research focuses on African-American and Postcolonial difference feminisms. In her tenure at the Academy, Ms. Nagelkirk has taught the following literature courses: American, World, African-American, Women’s, Utopian, and Holocaust, as well as Creative Writing, AP English Language and Composition, Writing Lab, and the Colloquia series. Additionally, she has developed an International Exchange Program with Sankt Afra School in Meissen, Germany into a bi-annual project and cultural collaboration that enables Academy students to travel to Germany during the spring semester for deep dive work into various content areas. In 2020, Ms. Nagelkirk moved to the newly-formed position of Inclusive Excellence Coordinator, which works to improve inclusivity and diversity at all levels of the Academy. As both the English department head and the Humanities Division Chair, Ms. Nagelkirk has a widely varied set of responsibilities, but she also prioritizes distance running, attending her children’s sporting events, international travel, and advocating for underrepresented groups of people, both within and outside of the Academy.

Stephanie Nagelkirk News

• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• Indiana Academic All-Star
• Two Indiana Academy Teachers Awarded Grants
• Envirothon Teams Travel to Purdue

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.

Tom Arnold News

• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• Two Indiana Academy Teachers Awarded Grants
• Plato on Trial

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.

Clara Chi News

• Team Places First in Japan Olympiad of Indiana for Third Straight Year
• Teacher Awarded Funding for Creative and Innovative Classroom Project
• Japanese Instructor at the Academy Named a Rising Star

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 at the Indiana Academy. Currently, she teaches AP Computer Science A/Java, Introduction to Programming/C++, Visual Programming/Python, Virtual Reality, Web Page Design and Personal Finance. Since the summer of 1997, Ms. Cunningham has also taught summer workshops for teachers and elementary through high school students. During the school year, she is also active in presenting computer technology Saturday programs for elementary through high school students. She is an AP Computer Science A Consultant for the College Board and AP Reader for AP Computer Science A tests.

Before coming to the Indiana Academy, she was Departmental Manager for various computer departments at Ontario Systems Corp. in Muncie, Indiana. She has experience as a Software Project Manager/Systems Analyst at Conseco, Inc. (Carmel, IN) and started as a Programmer Analyst at Ball Corporation in Muncie, Indiana. While attending Ball State University as an undergraduate, she was a programmer consultant for the Charles A. Beard School Corporation in Knightstown, Indiana and was instrumental in setting up their first computer labs. She has also taught night classes at Indiana Wesleyan University, Indianapolis, IN. Currently, she is an independent contractor for various programming projects.

Ms. Cunningham is a former member and officer (serving 3 terms) on the Board of Directors for Heritage Place in Indianapolis, Indiana, former member of the Indianapolis Computer Society, former member of the Network of Business Women in Indianapolis, former member of Toastmasters, former member of Sigma Iota Epsilon (Ball State) and has served on the YMCA Programs and Activities Committee, Muncie, IN. In 1989, she was in the Who’s Who Among Women Executives.

Susie Cunningham News

• Ms. Susie Cunningham, Students Receive Awards from NCWIT
• PhyxtGears Robotics Team Wins Bloomington Regional Competition
• Satellite Designed by Indiana Academy Students Set to Launch Aboard a NASA Rocket
• HOSA Leadership Conference

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.

Jessica Edrington News

• Academic Super Bowl State Finals
• Academic Super Bowl Results
• 2020 Academic Super Bowl Results

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.

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.

David Haynes News

• Academy Instructor’s Film Wins at Canadian Festival
• Ball State’s Teachers College Centennial Celebration
• Update on David Haynes Film
• Lilly Grant Makes Filmmaking Dream a Reality for David Haynes

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. Diane Kallmeyer News

• Dr. Kallmeyer Awarded Community Foundation Grant

Dr. Bridget Lester joined the Indiana Academy in 2020. She earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology before earning her Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics from the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State University (BSU) in 2010. Prior to joining the Academy, Dr. Lester was on the faculty at Elmhurst College and Anderson University in their respective Kinesiology Departments where she taught exercise science classes. She has also taught undergraduate cell biology classes at BSU in the Biology Department. Additionally, she has worked as a research associate conducting exercise science research at BSU’s Human Performance Laboratory. Dr. Lester is passionate about sharing her excitement and curiosity for science with the students she teaches. Additionally, she enjoys running and spending time with her husband and two boys.

Dr. Lobo began teaching at the Academy in the fall of 2019. He majored in English as an undergraduate at Tufts University, before going on to receive his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Southern California. His research interests include the modern novel, games, formal realism, and the part all three play in the production of identity and subjectivity. He has been published in journals such as Postmodern Culture, Game Studies, and Chiasma, on subjects ranging from ecocriticism to Japanese film. His teaching career includes Comparative Literature, Women Writers, World Culture and Writing Composition. At the Academy he teaches English courses, including American Literature, World Literature, Creative Writing, and Junior Colloquium. He maintains an interest in the way the literary and the ludic converge to create new possibilities, and how they might make room for new voices and new forms of self-expression.

Phillip Lobo News

• English Instructor Publishes Game Research Paper

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.

John Marsh News

• Teaching During a Pandemic – a Century Ago by Mr. John Marsh
• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• John Marsh Named Recipient of Inaugural Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award
• Explore the “Cave of Time” at the Indiana Academy
• Indiana Academy Instructors Awarded Robert P. Bell Education Grants

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.

Mike Mayfield News

• Science Olympiad Team Advances to State
• Academy Instructor of Life Sciences Receives Prestigious Award
• Envirothon Teams Travel to Purdue
• HOSA Leadership Conference
• Indiana Academy Instructors Awarded Robert P. Bell Education Grants

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 Academy in the fall of 2005. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and worked in the law enforcement field for several years before returning to school for a master’s degree in English education. Currently ABD in literature, her doctoral research focuses on African-American and Postcolonial difference feminisms. In her tenure at the Academy, Ms. Nagelkirk has taught the following literature courses: American, World, African-American, Women’s, Utopian, and Holocaust, as well as Creative Writing, AP English Language and Composition, Writing Lab, and the Colloquia series. Additionally, she has developed an International Exchange Program with Sankt Afra School in Meissen, Germany into a bi-annual project and cultural collaboration that enables Academy students to travel to Germany during the spring semester for deep dive work into various content areas. In 2020, Ms. Nagelkirk moved to the newly-formed position of Inclusive Excellence Coordinator, which works to improve inclusivity and diversity at all levels of the Academy. As both the English department head and the Humanities Division Chair, Ms. Nagelkirk has a widely varied set of responsibilities, but she also prioritizes distance running, attending her children’s sporting events, international travel, and advocating for underrepresented groups of people, both within and outside of the Academy.

Stephanie Nagelkirk News

• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• Indiana Academic All-Star
• Two Indiana Academy Teachers Awarded Grants
• Envirothon Teams Travel to Purdue

Dr. Sazzad Nasir joined the Academy in the fall of 2019. He received his BS with Honors in physics from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Subsequently, he earned his Master of Advanced Study with Distinction and Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from the University of Cambridge, England. His teaching and research career straddled multiple scientific disciplines. Before joining the Academy, he has been a faculty member at Northwestern University, where he taught and led research in neuroscience. His research in physics and neuroscience appeared in leading journals such as Communications in Mathematical Physics, Physics Letters, Nature Neuroscience, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Neuropsychologia. Currently, he has a research affiliation with Haskins Laboratories at Yale University.

He has deep passion for teaching. He takes great satisfaction in nurturing young talents and rekindling in them the passion for learning and making them curious about the world they live in.

Dr. Michael Niemeier joined the Academy in the fall of 2020. He received his BS in Mathematics from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2014. He then went on to receive his Master and Ph. D. in Mathematics from Florida State University in 2019 and 2020, respectively. His research interests are in Category Theory, Algebraic Geometry, and Homotopy Theory. While attending Florida State as a Graduate student he taught a variety of courses including: Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Calculus I, Calculus II, and Pre-Calculus. In addition, he received the Distinguished Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in Spring 2019 and helped mentor graduate students teaching solo for the first time in Spring 2020. In his personal time, Dr. Niemeier enjoys rock climbing, traveling, and spending time with his cat, Puma.

Dr. Michael Niemeier News

• Academic Super Bowl State Finals

ChristyAnn Norton joined the Academy in the fall of 2018 teaching General Chemistry and AP Chemistry. Her philosophy on education is that it is not a spectator sport; students must be engaged in what they are learning and be provided with opportunities to apply what they have learned in novel situations. She has over twenty years of teaching experience and continues to seek better and more engaging methods to the classroom. ChristyAnn received her Master’s in Science Education from Indiana Wesleyan and has begun work on her Master’s in Chemistry where she will continue her focus on Chemistry Education. She holds a BA from Indiana University in Sociology with a concentration in Psychology and a BS from Trine University in Chemistry Education and a concentration in Mathematics.

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.

Heather Rogers News

• Academic Super Bowl State Finals
• Science Olympiad Team Advances to State
• Academy Students Take Home Gold and Silver at Russian Olympiad
• National German Exam
• ACTR Olympiada of Spoken Russian

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.

Joshua Ruark News

• Science Olympiad Team Advances to State
• Indiana Academy Takes First Place in Academic Super Bowl State Finals
• Indiana Academy Recognized as a Top Dual Credit School

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.

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.

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.

Evan Ward News

• 2020 National Latin Exam Results
• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• National Latin Exam

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.

Julie serves as the Academy’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Since joining the Academy in 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 is a lifelong resident of Indiana, but loves to travel, explore, and go on adventures – especially with her husband and two sons. (Her youngest son is also a proud 2015 alum of the Academy!) Other interests include reading and writing science fiction. While she loves a good sci-fi story, she also enjoys learning more about real science and technology. In 2011, she was invited by NASA to be a citizen journalist at the last space shuttle launch (STS-135) and witnessed the event from the famous countdown clock at the Kennedy Space Center. Since then she’s been invited to cover numerous NASA events and launches, and she’s been known to make occasional visits to SpaceX facilities too. She also serves on the non-profit Board of Directors for the Midwest Writers Workshop and has been serving as Board President since September 2019.

In 1989, Dr. Tuite joined the Admissions staff at Ball State University, moving to the Office of Admissions at the Indiana Academy in 1991. Dr. Tuite is the Associate Director and Head of Admissions. In this role, she is responsible for developing an effective recruitment and enrollment management 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.

As the Head of Admissions, Dr. Tuite manages the Admissions Team who coordinates Open House, Preview Days, Shadow Days, Summer Orientation, Move-In Orientation, the CTD Academic Recognition Program, and a middle school enrichment initiative. She directs the File Review Team, and is a member or participant on the Intervention and Retention Committee and the Curriculum Committee.

Additionally, Dr. Tuite is a co-founder of the Association of Consortium Admissions Representatives (ACAR) which is an organization made up of admission professionals from high ability, residential high schools around the United States. ACAR members meet regularly to support each other and to discuss admissions issues, policies, and practices.

Dr. Tuite completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2020 and her dissertation is entitled: An Exploration of the Sense of School Belonging, Connectedness, and Life Satisfaction of Students from a Residential High Ability High School, Differentiated by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

After some time away, Nathan (Class of ’13) realized he couldn’t stay away from Wagoner for too long. He is back again for a second year on staff as the first floor Student Life Team Leader. As an Academy Alum, Nathan spent more than a few nights in the hallowed halls of our student housing. After graduating from the Academy, he 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 there, you can still see a 10-foot image of him plastered along Congress Parkway on the side of his university—so a part of him never left Chicago. Nathan held many roles at his university and served as the 76th Student Body President of Roosevelt. He 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, Nathan 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 Hemingway 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, Nathan will be running the Gaga Ball intramural.

Brandy Reichle is the International Program Director at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. In this position, she serves as the Indiana Academy’s PDSO, and oversees all components of the Academy’s international student program. She is responsible for issuing I-20 documents, maintaining SEVIS, 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.

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.

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 19th year as a proud member of the Academy Community, but this will be his third year as Director of Residential and Student Affairs. He is looking forward to the unique year 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 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, 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 opportunity and role of 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 and his wife, Sabra, celebrate 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 he looks forward to faithfully serving 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.

Bridger is excited to begin his second full school year as Associate Director of Residential and Student Affairs. He loves working in an office directly across the courtyard from the apartment he lived in as a 1st floor SLC from 2013-2016.

Bridger was born in Hong Kong and lived in Macau through his childhood. His family moved to Huntington, Indiana when he was in fifth grade. He attended Huntington North High School and Huntington University (BA English ’09). During his time at HU, he was employed part-time as a local sportswriter and radio broadcaster. Bridger has returned to Southeast Asia many times since moving to Indiana, including seven trips as a volunteer with English camps in China and a two-year stint as an English instructor in Macau after college.

Bridger lives in Muncie with his wife Shannon (3rd floor SLC, 2012-2015), son Ben (age two), and baby daughter Hazel. Ben and Hazel are the only grandchildren on both sides of the family, so most of Bridger and Shannon’s free time is spent visiting with family around Indiana. Bridger is an avid sports fan (Go Cubs!), loves learning about other cultures, and is always eager to try new types of food—the spicier, the better!

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.

Taylor is happy to return for her third year at the Indiana Academy. She graduated from the IASMH in 2011 and continued her education across several states. She began her undergraduate study at the University of Rochester, continued at Indiana University Bloomington, and finished 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 and spent time as a sustainability intern focusing on the preservation and maintenance of old growth forests and the removal of invasive species. Currently, Taylor is continuing her education in educational psychology.

Taylor has several non-academic interests, such as kayaking, soccer, baseball, ultimate frisbee, science fiction, music, and theater. Dogs, soft pretzels, and board games always make her smile and she can’t wait to get to know our Academy students both new and returning in this new year.

Daniel is elated to be returning to his second year at IASMH as a Student Life Team Leader. He graduated from Ball State University in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, as well as minors in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and women’s and gender studies. During his time at Ball State, he served on the executive board for BSU Spectrum, which ignited his passion for working with marginalized communities. He obtained his Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification in the fall of 2018, which allowed him the opportunity to spend a year working as a therapist for children with autism.

During his free time, Daniel enjoys watching sports, making music, and traveling. His favorite thing to do, however, is spend quality time with his one-year-old niece. In the future, he plans to obtain a master’s degree in student affairs and eventually travel the country in a renovated school bus. Daniel is looking forward to helping all of the new and returning Academy students grow both personally and professionally throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

Andrew is a legend from days gone by, returning to the Academy to take his rightful place as king. A self-made “thousandaire,” he graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s in Spanish. While there, he became both a published author and a decorated chicken wing eater. 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, including (but not limited to) reading, writing, playing guitar, comic strips, cracking wise, glowstringing, juggling, puzzles, biking, hiking, and vikings.

This is Andrew’s second year as an SLC. He 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 SLCS in charge of Lil’ Sibs Weekend and the end-of-year Slideshow.

Rachel is pumped for her third year at the Indiana Academy. She was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana and has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She enjoys a wide variety of hobbies and activities including reading, writing, painting, and obsessing over the Enneagram, neuroscience, and psychology. She’s also teaching herself to play the ukulele and to skateboard (not at the same time). Rachel has two nephews that are seven and four years old, along with a one year old niece who she loves spending time with. She also has a cat named Sprout. Words are important to her and she’s always keeping an eye out for her next favorite quote or poem. Rachel has too many plants and books and is excited to continue to collect more this school year. She is always up for spontaneous dance parties, deep conversation, and time spent getting to know the students of the Academy!

Sarah is excited to begin her second school year at the Indiana Academy. Sarah grew up in Monroe, Indiana and graduated from Huntington University in May of 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in public relations. While at Huntington, Sarah worked toward building a community and a better campus in many different organizations including the Student Activities Board and the Student Government Association.

Sarah has many different passions and hobbies. She enjoys watching and playing basketball, softball, football, and most sports. After a summer spent as an intern at the Bluffton Fire Department, Sarah is looking forward to continue to learn more about fire services. She also likes to beatbox, draw, play video games, and spend time in nature. Sarah works to spend as much time with her family as possible, especially her nieces and nephews. Sarah is excited to continue in her role as a Student Life Counselor and cannot wait for this school year to start!

Taryn is excited to be starting a third school year as an SLC. Taryn graduated from the Indiana Academy in 2013 and went on to Hanover College, graduating with a double major in Spanish and Theatre in 2017. Taryn spent the next year with the AmeriCorps Great Oaks TutorCorps program in Newark, New Jersey before returning to Indiana to start as an SLC in 2018. While at the Academy, Taryn has enjoyed organizing the Talent Show each semester, offering fun programs on interesting topics and more than anything getting the chance to know a wide range of Academy students. When not working, Taryn enjoys creative projects like painting and cross-stitching as well as roller skating with the local Muncie Cornfed Derby Dames.

Mitchell is excited to begin his second year at the Indiana Academy. Mitchell is from the Crawfordsville, IN area. He graduated from the University of Indianapolis where he studied communications with an emphasis in electronic media. In his time at UINDY, Mitchell spent two years on the TV stations management team. He was also an active three-year member of the Society of Professional Journalists and a two-year member of the UINDY Black Student Association.

Mitchell enjoys spending time watching cult classic movies and playing video games. He visits family as much as possible during his time off. Mitchell is a faithful fan of the Red Sox and Ravens and currently spends a lot of free time working on the podcast he is creating.

Lauren is thrilled to begin her 2nd (and a half) year as an SLC at the Indiana Academy. She was born just outside of Boulder, CO and moved to Bloomington, IN at the age of four. In 2018, Lauren completed her B.S. in Education with a minor in Educational and Public Policy at Indiana University. While at IU, she volunteered with schools around Indiana, Wonderlab, and the Boys & Girls Club. Throughout the summer of 2017, Lauren interned as a Supplemental Instructor at Ivy Tech Bloomington for a freshman level composition class in the ASAP program and helped with data input for the school’s literary book. Currently, Lauren is pursuing a Master’s degree in Adult and Community Education through Ball State. Working alongside adolescents has continued to enrich Lauren’s life—she enjoys hearing their perspectives and supporting them.

Outside of school, Lauren has a variety of interests. She loves to travel and has been to Fiji and all around the Virgin Islands. She reads (and collects) books, listens to just about every genre of music (as evidenced by her growing vinyl collection), writes poetry, and appreciates a lively game of billiards, a great kayaking adventure, or being surrounded by trees and nature. Lauren also treasures time with her family and two dogs. She is looking forward to connecting with students and hopes to co-coordinate another marvelous Academy Prom with Katie Miller in the Spring semester.

This year marks Chris’s fifth 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 is currently working toward his Master’s degree in Executive Development for Public Service and plans to pursue a career in residential student affairs.

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 grandparents. He is excited to be working with students at the Academy and see their continued development 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 fourth year working as a Student Life Counselor at the Indiana Academy! She grew up in Pendleton, Indiana, and went to Pendleton Heights High School. After graduating from 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 in 2015. During her years at Ball State, Katie designed pages and worked on projects for the Ball State Daily News, Ball Bearings magazine, and Cardinal Communications. Katie was also part of the Excellence in Leadership program, where she learned about different leadership styles and how to incorporate them in daily life. After graduating college, Katie spent the next two years working as a freelance graphic designer and newspaper page designer for Community Newspapers Holdings Inc., in Anderson, Indiana. Currently, she is working on a master’s degree with the Department of Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources at Ball State, in hopes of becoming an interpretive/park naturalist in the future.

Katie spends her free time listening to music, reading books, drawing, working out, playing video games, and making crafts. She also likes traveling, especially to U.S. State and National Parks. Katie is looking forward to getting to know the students and planning fun, educational programs for them! This year, Katie will be co-coordinating the 2021 Indiana Academy Prom with Lauren Means.

Mitch, a Chicago, IL native, is excited to be returning for a fourth year as a Student Life Counselor. Mitch attended Thornton Township High School where he was a 3-sport athlete in cross country, wrestling, and track & field. Following his graduation in 2009, Mitch went on to earn two degrees from Eastern Illinois University: Bachelor’s in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Public Relations in 2014; Master’s in Technology with an emphasis on Training and Development in 2016. While as a student at Eastern, Mitch was highly involved in campus life and served with several student organizations: Black Student Union (President), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Social Affairs/Event Program Coordinator), and NAACP (Community Service Chair) to name a few. In addition, Mitch won second place in both the Mr. EIU bodybuilding competition and Mr. Essence of a Man scholarship pageant. Mitch is currently working on his Doctoral Degree (Ed.D) in Adult Education at Ball State University.

Fun facts about Mitch:
Enjoys long walks around the block; Loves singing (but only in a mirror with headphones or a really loud speaker); Professional Hulu/Netflix binge watcher (once watched 12 seasons of supernatural in 7 weeks); Believes he has superpowers (Just Ask Him!); Oldest of 13 siblings; Hates Cheese.

One of his favorite quotes is:
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

Ashley is eager for her second year at the Indiana Academy (her first full year!!) to get going. She was born and raised in Seymour, Indiana and has her bachelor’s degree from Ball State in Hospitality and Food Management with a minor in Creative Writing. Before working at the Academy, she worked for Disney World as part of their college intern program—she loves to tell stories about this! She enjoys a wide variety of hobbies and activities including trying foods form other countries, watching anime, playing video games, finding new k-dramas, and listening to k-pop. Specifically, she adores Super Junior! She’s also teaching herself Korean, as she hopes to one day move to Korea to teach English. Ashley has a dog named Grace Lucille who goes by Gooby, and she is the love of her life. She loves it when people ask to see pictures of her Goobers! She is always up for a good conversation about anything from an anime you’re really into all the way to a deep conversation about life.