External Affairs & Admissions

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.

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, and has a Bacon number of 4.