Every Open Door Led Back to the Classroom for Ivy Tech Adjunct Cheryl Piotrowski

Long before she became an Ivy Tech Community College adjunct faculty member, Cheryl Piotrowski already knew exactly what she wanted to do.

"I think I decided in ninth grade that I wanted to be a teacher," she said.

More than two decades later, that decision has led her through high school classrooms, school counseling offices, psychology courses and now one of Ivy Tech's most impactful first-semester experiences: helping new students discover what it takes to succeed in college.

"It's been a journey of walking through open doors," Piotrowski said. "If an opportunity comes, I'll do it. I love new environments. I love new schools. I love new students. I just love new challenges."

Piotrowski joined Ivy Tech in 2019, originally teaching psychology before finding what she describes as the perfect fit in the College's Student Success course. The class introduces new students to the skills, resources and habits they need to thrive both academically and personally.

"I just love student success," she said. "I love being the first point of contact for students and helping them navigate college."

Her own professional path has been anything but linear.

After earning her bachelor's degree in English education, Piotrowski taught high school before realizing many of her students needed more support than she could provide in the classroom alone. So, she earned a master's degree in school counseling from Johns Hopkins University and spent the next chapter of her career helping students navigate academic and personal challenges.

When her husband's career brought their family to Indiana, Piotrowski planned to stay home with their young children for a while. But that didn't last long.

Her husband's employer soon needed someone to teach psychology. One opportunity led to another, and she became a psychology instructor, an academic advisor, and began adjunct teaching at multiple colleges, eventually landing at Ivy Tech.

"It wasn't intentional," she said with a laugh. "But it's just been a journey where I've basically walked through open doors."

Today, Piotrowski balances adjunct teaching with serving as an interim high school counselor, filling temporary counseling positions for schools across central Indiana. The flexibility of adjunct teaching allows her to continue working with students at multiple stages of their educational journey.

"I still love working with high school students," she said. "Being an adjunct at Ivy Tech gives me the flexibility to do both."

That broad range of experiences enriches every class she teaches.

Rather than relying solely on textbooks, Piotrowski draws on years of counseling students, working across different educational settings, and helping people solve real-world challenges. Even her side business as a professional home organizer finds its way into the classroom.

"Students benefit from a professor who's organized," she said. "Whether it's understanding expectations, managing technology or developing study habits, organization is part of being successful."

For Piotrowski, success isn't just about earning good grades.

She encourages students to ask for help, manage their time intentionally and reflect on the obstacles standing between them and their goals.

"If you want to be successful, you have to learn how to meet deadlines," she said. "I want students to stop and ask themselves, 'Why couldn't I meet this expectation?' That kind of self-reflection is a life skill."

One of her favorite parts of teaching Student Success is introducing students to the people and resources available across campus.

During the eight-week course, she regularly invites guest speakers from departments across Ivy Tech so students can meet the people who will support them throughout their college experience.

"I think it's very helpful for students to put a name with a face," she said. "They learn the resources that are available to support them before they need them."

Having taught at both community colleges and four-year institutions, Piotrowski believes Ivy Tech's commitment to student support stands apart.

"I feel like this class really does help set students up for success if they're willing to engage," she said. "Students aren't just left to figure everything out on their own."

Although many of her students are balancing full-time jobs, family responsibilities and college coursework, she sees determination in the classroom every day.

Helping them navigate those competing priorities—and discover what they're capable of—is what keeps bringing her back.

"I really like the concept of success," she said. "How can we be the best version of ourselves? How can we find happiness? How can we look back on our lives and be content with the life we've lived? Education is a great place to meet people where they are and help them achieve their goals."

For professionals who have considered teaching but aren't sure they're qualified, Piotrowski offers simple advice.

"Just try it," she said. "You're not signing your life away to something. Sometimes you just don't realize the impact that you can make until you're given the opportunity to impact people."

Help Us Connect with Future Educators

Do you know a dynamic professional who would be an inspiring instructor? Perhaps it's a colleague, a friend, or even yourself.

Please share the Ivy Tech Careers Page within your networks. Potential candidates can explore current adjunct faculty opportunities and apply online.