Academic Affairs
Dr. Joel Olufowote
Director of Academic Affairs
Ph.D., M.A. (Political Science) – Southern Illinois University
B.S. (Economics and Finance) – University of Indianapolis.
Curriculum Vitae
Office: WA 172
Phone: 765-285-4136
E-mail: joel.olufowote
Dr. Olufowote joined the Academy in the summer of 2021 after serving several years as a faculty member and then senior administrator at the university level. As the Academy’s Chief Academic Officer, Olufowote provides administrative leadership, academic direction, and evaluation of all academic activities of the school which include overseeing the three principle academic divisions, college counseling, guidance, and their respective faculty and staff. Alongside past teaching and administrative duties, Olufowote formerly worked 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 was a Rockefeller Postdoctoral Fellow in Public Policy and Public Affairs at SUNY- Albany. In 2019, Olufowote was awarded the State of Indiana Achievement in Education by Governor Holcomb. As the founder of MixedMessages LLC, Dr. Olufowote consults across the nation and his 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.
Candace Manship
Administrative Coordinator – Academic Affairs
B.S. – Ball State University
Office: WA 170
Phone: 765-285-8102
E-mail: cmanship
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 Drumm
Attendance Coordinator
Office: WA 156
Phone: 765-285-8110
E-mail: srdrumm
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.
Eric Stassen
Technology Coordinator
M.A. – Ball State University
B.S. – Pillsbury College
Office: WA 274
Phone: 765-285-7317
E-mail: 00etstassen
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.
Rebecca Hammons
Assistant Director of Academic Guidance
Office: WA 160 B
Phone: 765-285-8108
E-mail: rebecca.hammons
Kimberly Hall
Student Information Technology Specialist
B.S. – Ball State University
A.S. – Ivy Tech State College
Office: WA 160 A
Phone: 765-285-7872
E-mail: khall3
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.
James Patterson
Associate Director of College Counseling and Alumni Affairs
M.S. – University of Wisconsin (Whitewater)
B.S. – Ball State University
Office: WA 181
Phone: 765-285-7322
E-mail: jpatter2
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.
Karen Workman
Counseling Center Coordinator
A.S. – Ball State University
Office: WA 180
Phone: 765-285-8317
E-mail: kworkman
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.
Aaron Lake
Associate Director of Special Initiatives and Development
M.S., B.S. – Ball State University
Office: WA 183
Phone: 765-285-8104
E-mail: alake
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.