Academic Affairs

Dr. Joel Olufowote is excited to join the Indiana Academy community this summer and considers it a tremendous privilege to serve as its next Director of Academic Affairs. Olufowote has spent over a decade on the college campus as a professor of political science with increasing academic and administrative responsibility over diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Prior to joining the Academy, Dr. Olufowote served as Associate Professor of Political Science and Executive Director for Inclusive Excellence at Indiana Wesleyan University, he was an Assistant Professor of Political Science and founding Faculty Director of the Center for Community Inclusion at McMurry University from 2013-2018, and a Rockefeller Postdoctoral Fellow in Public Policy and Public Affairs at SUNY- Albany before joining the McMurry faculty. From 2009-2016, Dr. Olufowote also worked as a program advisor for the Study of the United States Summer Institute for exceptional foreign students- funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. State Department- and is currently a diversity research consultant for senior management with the Association of Equipment Distributors.

Dr. Olufowote’s research and scholarly activity can be found in outlets such as USA Today, the Association of Equipment Distributors Foundation Report, Construction Equipment Guide, Equipment World, Service Truck Magazine, among others.

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.

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.