Nowak

IU Kokomo has named Paul Nowak its new vice chancellor for external relations.

Starting Monday, June 27, he will direct fund-raising, communications and marketing efforts for the campus of more than 3,000 students.

With 15 years of development experience, Nowak spent the last six years as executive director of resource development for Ivy Tech State College's North Central region. He directed strategic planning and fund-raising for Ivy Tech's South Bend, Elkhart and Warsaw campuses. Previously, he worked in development, special events and marketing capacities for regional and national agencies devoted to health and the arts. Nowak served on an interim basis as assistant to Ken Perrin, the former chancellor of IU South Bend.

A graduate of the IU Kelley School of Business with a bachelor's degree in marketing, Nowak is completing course work for a master's degree in public affairs at IU. He earned Certified Fund Raising Executive certification in 2000.

"I am very excited about having Paul Nowak join IU Kokomo's senior leadership team," said Chancellor Ruth Person. "His familiarity with IU and with our region will be a great asset to us and to his work here."

Nowak sees many opportunities awaiting him at IU Kokomo. "During my meetings with Dr. Person, as well as the other faculty and staff, I was struck by their dedication and sense of teamwork," he said. "This position allows me to combine my professional experience in development and marketing along with my personal commitment to serve Indiana University."

Nowak was president of the St. Joseph County Chapter of the IU Alumni Association from 1997-2002 and currently serves on the IUAA Executive Council.

Active in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), he was president of AFP's Michiana Chapter in 2003 and a representative to AFP's international Delegate Assembly for the past three years. He chairs the association's Chapter Ten Star Award Task Force and is a member of the international Committee on Directorship and its Governance Task Force.

Stuart Green, vice chancellor for academic affairs at IU Kokomo, headed IU Kokomo's search for the new vice chancellor and called Nowak's appointment "an excellent outcome," to that effort. "Paul Nowak brings experience, energy and a willingness to work to the office," Green said. "He will also bring to the campus a much needed integration between the objectives, strategies, and activities of fundraising and communications and marketing."

"Paul Nowak will be a great addition to the Kokomo campus," said Jack Tharp, vice chancellor for student services at IU Kokomo. "He has considerable knowledge of Indiana University, but, more importantly, his recent employment with Ivy Tech translates into an understanding of the mission of the regional campus, and the students and public we serve. Paul already has an appreciation for the multiple communities that our service region comprises."

In addition to his full-time duties, Tharp has served as interim vice chancellor for external relations since fall 2004, overseeing the successful completion of a $935,000 fund-raising campaign in support of science education at IU Kokomo. Tharp said the public reception to that campaign heartened him, his staff and other campaign volunteers. "We didn't need to explain to anyone what an important resource IU Kokomo is to this region; it was already acknowledged by the business and organizational leaders we called upon," Tharp said. "Paul will find that there is tremendous support from business, professional, and labor sectors for IU Kokomo."

Nowak said he looked forward to building on the momentum of the Kresge Science Initiative's success. "I plan to work with donors to match their philanthropic goals with projects and programs that ensure IU Kokomo students receive the best education possible," he said.

Green thanked those who served on the vice chancellor search committee "for their professionalism and dedication to task." They were Jerre Fercho, director of human resources; Catherine Barnes, coordinator for campus climate; Sue Sciame-Giesecke, dean of the School of Arts and Scineces; Marcia Gillette, senior lecturer in chemistry; Pat McNarny, member of the IU Kokomo Advisory Board; and John Stachacz, library director.