Ivy Tech Indianapolis faculty and staff gathered on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for the campus’s annual Fall Convocation, beginning the 2026–27 academic year with important updates, well-deserved recognition, and a little friendly competition.
The half-day event kicked off in the ballroom of the Conference Center and Culinary Institute, where members of the Indianapolis Campus Cabinet shared updates and encouraged employees as the College prepared to welcome students for the fall semester.
Vice Chancellor of Student Success Dr. Niki Fjeldal opened the morning program before introducing Interim Chancellor Steph Amos. Announced as the campus’s new leader just one week before Convocation, Amos used the opportunity to introduce herself to the campus community and emphasize that she is ready and excited to listen and learn from Indianapolis faculty and staff.
Chief Operating Officer Andy Cummings followed with an update on renovations underway across campus as part of the College’s ongoing capital project. He thanked employees for their continued patience and flexibility as construction progresses toward creating a more modern and welcoming campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Vice Chancellor of Development Hap Durkin then shared how employees can help advance Ivy Tech Indy: Reimagined for the Future, the College’s effort to modernize the North Meridian Center and Illinois Fall Creek Center. The project will create state-of-the-art learning environments, centralize student services, and enhance the daily campus experience. Faculty and staff were encouraged to share the Indy Reimagined digital brochure with friends, family members, alumni, employers, and professional contacts to connect the Development team with prospective donors. A variety of naming opportunities will allow donors to leave a lasting mark on campus by supporting individual rooms, chairs, benches, programs, and other spaces.
The morning also included one of Convocation’s most meaningful traditions: the presentation of the Don Weathersbe Award. Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Claire Maxson surprised Dr. Rachel Barrett Knight, Department Chair of English, Humanities, and World Languages, by announcing her as this year’s recipient. Hear what her nominators had to say.
“This is an extremely humbling honor. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support I have received,” Barrett Knight said. “I feel lucky every day to work with caring colleagues and our incredible students at the Indianapolis campus. I want to thank so many people, but especially Sara Shlaer and my team for their constant support. Our passionate, dedicated teams make working here the only place I want to be.”
Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Fred Parker then brought some unexpected energy to the ballroom, inviting employees to compete in a campus-wide game of rock-paper-scissors. After several lively rounds, Industrial Technology faculty member Kenny Heifner emerged as the 2026 Ivy Tech Indianapolis Rock-Paper-Scissors champion.
Parker closed his portion of the program by introducing Ovation, a new employee rewards and recognition program launching Sept. 7. Each month, employees will receive 25 Ivy Vines points to award to colleagues in recognition of their outstanding work. Recipients can redeem accumulated points for a variety of gift cards, including Visa gift cards, or donate their value to a participating charitable organization. Staff and faculty can expect more information about the program soon.
The rest of the morning focused on professional development opportunities designed to build skills and strengthen collaboration. Employees participated in a wide array of sessions, including American Sign Language for Beginners, How to Maximize Your Benefits, What Students Are Really Saying, and more.
From welcoming a new interim chancellor and looking ahead to a transformed campus to recognizing colleagues for the many ways they make Ivy Tech Indianapolis special, Fall Convocation offered employees an energizing start to another academic year centered on student success.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech serves more than 200,000 students annually and offers associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training in more than 70 programs across Indiana. The College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is committed to providing affordable, high-quality education aligned with the needs of Indiana’s workforce.
