Media Information
Ivy Tech Community College
Contact: Amanda J. Billings

Phone: (812) 330-6222

E-mail: abillings7@ivytech.edu

September 17, 2003

Ivy Tech Appoints New Academic Dean

Bloomington, IN Assistant Professor James O. Smith, Chair of the Business Division and Chair of the Accounting Program at Ivy Tech State College-Bloomington, has been appointed to the position of Dean of Academic Affairs for the campus. He served as the Interim Dean of Academic Affairs for the campus during the summer term.

Comments Chancellor John Whikehart: "Jim's experience in private sector administration, his teaching background, his demonstrated communications skills, his 'fit' with Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington and support for our regional comprehensive community college goals, his personal leadership in recent partnering efforts with Bloomington Hospital, his understanding of program development and instructional technology, and his proven grant writing abilities were all factors in his appointment. As importantly, Jim has proven to me in his interim role his effectiveness as a real advocate for faculty, demonstrated true collaborative skills in relationships with areas that interact with academic affairs, and, without question, can hit the ground running".

A graduate of Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ball State University in 1978 and a Master of Business Administration degree through the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 1997. He is currently pursuing a doctorate for Leadership in Higher Education at Indiana State University.

Prior to joining Ivy Tech in 2000, Smith served as a Staff Accountant for Kixmiller & Kibbe CPA in Indianapolis and Greenwood, and was an Adjunct Professor for accounting, corporate finance, management systems and budget for the Indiana Institute of Technology in Indianapolis. From 1993-1997, he filled the position of Senior Vice President and Finance Division Manager for National City Bank in Indianapolis. Smith's career also took him overseas to Germany. From 1988-1990, he was the Vice President of Merchants National Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, and was in charge of operations responsible for the central operations and data processing functions for the overseas military banking enterprise in Frankfurt. Following this, from 1990-1993, he served as Senior Vice President & General Manager for National City Bank Frankfurt, Germany, a unionized, multi-cultural environment with 132 branches and a staff of more than 2,200 employees. During the period 1978-1988, before leaving for Germany, Smith was Shift Manger, Data Processing Officer and Assistant Vice President, for Merchants National Bank in Indianapolis. At one time, Smith also ran his own business, called Accounting Outsource, Inc., in Greenwood, Indiana.

Smith will be leading the development of Ivy Tech State College-Bloomington's academic inventory as he sets about fulfilling the academic needs of the communities in Morgan, Monroe, Owen, Greene, Lawrence, and Martin Counties. Within the past two months, three new degree programs - Early Childhood Education, paramedic Science and a Paralegal program - have been added to the Bloomington campus offerings.

Currently the College offers two-year Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees, one-year Technical Certificates, shorter term Career Development Certificates, workforce certification preparation and testing, and continuing education courses for personal and professional enrichment. Academic programs offered include Accounting, Nursing, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Design Technology, Early Childhood Education, Criminal Justice, Electronics and Computer Technology, Manufacturing and Industrial Technology, Office Administration, Paralegal and Paramedic Science, as well as a wide range of general education courses. Academic skills advancement courses are offered to assist a student's transition to an academic environment.

While Ivy Tech's two-year degree programs are complete by themselves, many Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington students continue their education and transfer to other two- and four-year colleges and universities. Most of these institutions accept Ivy Tech Community College credits.

The Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington campus is located on the corner of State Road 48 west and Daniels Way on the west side of Bloomington.

Media Notes:
Jim Smith can be contacted at (812) 330-6062 or emailed at josmith@ivytech.edu.

Chancellor John Whikehart can be contacted at (812) 330-6000.

Photograph of Jim Smith available electronically in a high resolution JPEG file format.