INDIANAPOLIS--Ivy Tech Community College announced today that Dr. Rebecca Nickoli will assume the new position of Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development.  She will join the team led by Susan Brooks, former U.S. District Attorney, who was named Ivy Tech’s Senior Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development in October. 

Nickoli has been with Ivy Tech Community College for nearly 30 years.  She most recently served as Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Grants Administration, providing leadership for grants, monitoring progress toward college-wide strategic goals and objectives, as well as supporting the overarching institutional effectiveness goals of the college.

She is also a key member of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, an organization that oversees the accreditation of more than 1,000 degree-granting public and private colleges and universities throughout the country.  Nickoli has served numerous roles with the Commission, including Consultant/Evaluator, Member of the Accreditation Review Council, and most recently President for the organization’s Two-Year College Council.  She also coordinated and authored Ivy Tech’s system wide Higher Learning Commission self-study.

A native of Richmond, Nickoli began her Ivy Tech career at the college’s Richmond campus where she served many roles, including Division Chair of General Education, Dean of Student Affairs, Site Director for the Connersville Instructional Center, Manager of Student Services and Registrar/Admissions Officer.  She was also the Executive Dean of Ivy Tech’s Logansport Campus.

Nickoli earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin, Master’s degree in student personnel administration and Ed.D. in educational administration from Ball State University.

Nickoli’s appointment to Vice President is part of a new organizational structure for Ivy Tech’s Department of Workforce and Economic Development.  The new organizational structure will consist of a Sr. Vice President (Brooks), Vice President (Nickoli), and Assistant Vice President, Dr. Robert Jeffs.  The department will oversee grants administration and the college’s non-credit courses in continuing education and accelerated certified training. 

“Dr. Nickoli brings a diverse set of skills and experience to this newly-created position.  Not only does she have a wealth of institutional knowledge, but she has a proven background in grants administration, adult education and workforce training,” said Susan Brooks, Ivy Tech’s Senior Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development.  “I cannot think of another person that is more qualified to lead our efforts to serve more working adults in pursuit of additional education or retraining to reenter the workforce.”

In addition, Karen Hum will join the new departmental structure as Program Manager for Operations.  Hum has been with Ivy Tech Community College for two years and previously served as an Executive Assistant to both Jeffs and Brooks.  In her new role, Hum will provide support to regional staff on statewide initiatives and projects, as well as assist with the administration of statewide certification programs.  Hum earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

In August, Ivy Tech President Tom Snyder announced an extensive reorganization of Ivy Tech, which included adding Brooks as Sr. Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development.  The College currently has more than 180 workforce development professionals who have provided more than one million hours of accelerated, certified training to more than 20,000 workers.  In addition, the department oversees the College’s apprenticeship program which enrolls more than 5,000 students a year. 

Ivy Tech Community College is one of the nation’s largest statewide community college systems and the state’s second largest public post-secondary institution with more than 110,000 students enrolled annually.  Ivy Tech has 23 campuses throughout Indiana.  It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana.  It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Dr. Rebecca Nickoli