Walda to direct federal relations for university

By James Tinney

Walda, an attorney from Fort Wayne, has served on the IU Board of Trustees since 1990, including eight years as the board’s president. He will resign from the board by the end of the year to accept this new position.

“As IU reorganizes federal relations to better position ourselves in Washington, we are fortunate to be able to enlist John’s services. He has an in-depth knowledge of Indiana University and the state it serves. He will bring unique skills and a valuable perspective to this job,” said Brand.

“This is an opportunity that I cannot let pass. It gives me a new venue from which to advance a cause of an institution I love, Indiana University,” said Walda. “IU’s partnerships with government and business will be critical to the success of the university and the state, and I look forward to playing a role in advancing those efforts.”

Brand explained that Walda will devote 50 percent of his time to federal relations for the university. He will also represent Clarian Health Partners’ interests in the nation’s capital and assist IU’s technology transfer organization, ARTI, with corporate development efforts. Clarian and ARTI will compensate Walda for the remaining 50 percent of his time.

While president of the IU Board of Trustees, Walda helped facilitate the merger of the IU and Riley Children’s Hospitals with Methodist Hospital to form Clarian. For the past four years, Walda has served as chairman of the board of Clarian.

IU Board President James T. Morris and other trustees encouraged Walda to accept the new federal relations position. “John Walda’s service and dedication to IU have been remarkable. For the university to be able to attract someone of John’s stature to do this important work is extraordinary,” Morris said.

As executive director, Walda will serve as IU’s point person with members of Congress and representatives of the executive branch. IU’s relationship with the federal government continues to expand with research and special initiatives in information technology and the life sciences. Also, as Congress has moved more toward earmarking funds for specific projects in higher education, it has become more important for colleges and universities to maintain an active presence on Capitol Hill.

Walda is a gubernatorial appointee to the Board of Trustees.

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