Campus Leadership

Meet IU East’s First Director and the Chancellors

Frederick Grohsmeyer (Director from 1971-1975)

Fred Grohsmeyer was the director of the Eastern Indiana Center of Earlham College from 1969-1975.

Grohsmeyer was a professor of psychology at Earlham College for 20 years. Before joining the faculty there, he worked for the Institute for Executive Growth and served as a psychological consultant to industries.

A native of Canton, Ohio, Grohsmeyer attended Kent State University before joining the U.S. Air Force during World War II. While a cadet, he attended Hamilton College in New York for courses in meteorology. Grohsmeyer went on to attend DePauw University and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. He received his master’s degree in psychology from Northwestern University and his Ph.D. from Purdue.

In addition to serving Earlham College as a professor, Grohsmeyer was the dean of General Studies before he became the director of the Eastern Indiana Center of Earlham College.

Grohsmeyer, along with Earlham College President Landrum Bolling and community leader Brice Hayes, proposed to the Indiana University Board of Trustees the idea of a regional campus in Richmond. By October 1970, Indiana University took administrative control and started development of the new campus. Grohsmeyer was director when the IU Board of Trustees established IU East as one of seven regional campuses on July 1, 1971.

Alexander Schilt (First Chancellor, 1976-1980)

Alexander F. Schilt was appointed dean of IU East by the IU Board of Trustees in March 1976. Schilt, then a resident of New Albany, Ind., had served as dean of Student Services at IU Southeast since 1970.

The change from director to Dean of the Campus was to more truly reflect the academic and administrative aspects of the responsibilities of the chief officer of IU East. A reorganization of the administration provided a renewed title of chancellor for Schilt, the first for IU East.

A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., Schilt received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wyoming and his Master of Arts in Psychology and Ph.D. in Psychology from Arizona State University. Prior to being named dean of Student Services at IU Southeast, he held a number of positions at Arizona State University including assistant director of financial aid; director of residence and assistant dean of students, and head resident.

While at IU East, Schilt continued teaching and carried the title of professor of education in addition to chancellor.

During Schilt’s tenure as chancellor, full-time faculty grew by 30 percent, enrollment increased, he saw the university through accreditation with the North Central Association, and reorganized the administration.

Schilt served on several boards while in Richmond including the Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Richmond Rotary Club, Leadership Wayne County and the Whitewater Valley Opera Company. Schilt is currently a professor in the College of Education at the University of Houston.

Glenn Goerke (1981-1986)

Glenn Goerke was IU East’s second chancellor from 1981-1986.

Goerke was born and raised in Lincoln Park, Michigan. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and Master of Arts in Administration at Eastern Michigan University. Goerke received his Ph.D. in Adult and Higher Education from Michigan State University.

Before his appointment as chancellor, Goerke was the dean of the Division of University Extension at the University of Rhode Island. He was a finalist in 1978 for position of dean of the School of Continuing Studies at Indiana University.

Goerke also was elected as a member of the Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce in 1982, serving as its president in 1985. He was also a member of the Reid Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, First National Bank Board of Directors, and he served on an advisory panel for the Indiana Arts Commission.

Prior to 1978, Goerke was vice president for community affairs of Florida International University in Miami, Fla., where he also held positions as the associate vice president for academic affairs, dean of faculties and dean of university services and continuing education.

While IU East’s chancellor, Goerke explored the possibility of baccalaureate degrees and received approval from the IU Board of Trustees for baccalaureate admission in1983. The first degree programs designed for the IU East campus were business, behavioral sciences and nursing. In 1986, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved four-year programs at IU East.

Charlie Nelms (1987-1994)

Charlie Nelms served IU East as its third chancellor from 1987-1994.

He was born in Crawfordsville, Ark. Nelms would receive his Bachelor of Science in Agronomy and Chemistry from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Later, he attended Indiana University where he received his Master of Science in College Student Personnel and Higher Education Administration and his Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration. He was a Ford Fellow at Columbia University; he received a Lilly Endowment Intern in Higher Education Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award Rockefeller Student Leadership Award; and he was a recipient of an IU Dons Outstanding Citizen Award.

Prior to being IU East’s chancellor, Nelms was the vice president for Student Services at Sinclair Community College in Dayton. He was also the associate dean for Academic Affairs at IU Northwest; ombudsman for Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; associate dean for Student Development at Earlham College; and he was lecturer and counselor at Lehman College at the City University of New York.

While chancellor, Nelms served the community as a board member for the Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce, Reid Memorial Hospital, Indiana Youth Institute, Wayne County Opportunities Industrialization Center, Leadership Wayne County, Whitewater Community Television (WCTV), Richmond YMCA Endowment Fund, and the Bank One Community Advisory Committee.

During his time at IU East, Nelms was also a professor of education. As chancellor, he saw an increase in enrollment and full-time faculty on staff. IU East’s scholarship endowment, budget, and funding grew as well as the campus. Construction of Hayes Hall was completed providing the campus with the library, nursing labs and classroom space. He also saw the establishment of several new programs including Tutorial Services, Moving On, and the IU East Alumni Association. Nelms is now the chancellor at North Carolina Central University.

David Fulton (1995-2007)

David Fulton was IU East’s fourth chancellor from 1995-2007.

Fulton came to Richmond in 1971 as an instructor in history and political science before he was promoted to assistant professor of history and political science. During his tenure as assistant professor, Fulton took on administrative duties as assistant to Chancellor Alex Shilt for Campus Planning and Academic Development. He was later named director of Planning and Budget by then Chancellor Glenn Goerke. In 1988, he was named vice chancellor for Administrative Affairs and also served as acting chancellor in 1986-1987 and again in 1994-1995, prior to being named chancellor.

Fulton first joined Indiana University in 1966 when he began work toward a Ph.D. in East European History in Bloomington. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History degree from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. Immediately after, he traveled overseas to study political science at the University of Manchester in England. As a specialist in Balkan history, Fulton spent considerable time in Yugoslavia in the 1960s and held a Fulbright Fellowship in Zagreb, Yugoslavia in 1969-1970.

Fulton was known for his efforts in weaving the university into the communities it serves by building community partnerships. During his time as chancellor, Fulton managed the construction of Springwood Hall in Richmond, the Danielson Learning Center in New Castle and the Connersville Center.

While chancellor, Fulton served the community as past president of the Starr-Gennett Foundation; Planning Group CEO Roundtable of the Richmond Wayne County Chamber of Commerce; Indiana University Foundation Development Committee; Boards of Historic Landmarks of Indiana; Greater Richmond Progress Committee, Chair of Task Force dealing with city master plan, performing arts center, and neighborhood development: 1997 Campaign Chair of United Way; United Way of Indiana Board member, serving as treasurer in 1987 and vice president in 1988; served as president of the United Way of Wayne County, Community Services Council, Social Services Planning Board; and board member Reid Hospital and Health Care Services from 2001-2004.

Fulton was the recipient of numerous awards for community work and is a frequent speaker on current East European affairs as well as community and campus activities to local organizations.

Fulton remains active in the Richmond community as a member of the Board of Directors of Wayne Bank and Trust; Leadership Group Facilitator for the American Council on Education Fellows Program; Chair of the Steering Committee of the Countrywide Partnership for Youth, Wayne County; Member of the Mayor’s Council on Economic Vitality and Chair of the Certified Technology Park Committee; and as the Treasurer of the Starr-Gennett Foundation Board.

Nasser Paydar (2007-2012)

Nasser H. Paydar was appointed IU East’s fifth in January 2009. He was the university’s interim chancellor from June 2007-December 2008.

Before coming to IU East, Paydar served as vice chancellor and dean of Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus for three and a half years, where he was credited with overseeing significant growth in enrollment, faculty and programs.

Paydar began his service at Indiana University in 1985 when he joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IUPUI as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. From 1989 to 2003, he served as chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, associate dean for graduate programs, associate dean for academic programs, and executive associate dean. In spring 2004, Paydar was named vice chancellor and dean for Indiana University – Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC).

Paydar holds bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Syracuse University. He has authored over 60 scientific publications in solid mechanics and computational methods based on finite element analysis with applications in electronic packaging and biomechanics.

Paydar has been principal and co­principal investigator of research grants from National Institutes of Health, Cummins Electronics, Carrier Electronics, Delco Electronics Corporations, Rockwell International, DePuy Inc., and U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center.

While chancellor, Paydar has brought a new mission to IU East as the region’s premier four-year and master’s public institution in eastern Indiana and western Ohio. He has also brought record-breaking enrollment to the campus which now has an enrollment of over 3,000 students.

In March 2008, Paydar formed an innovative partnership with Ivy Tech Community College to enhance learning opportunities for residents of east central Indiana and west central Ohio. The two campuses declared their commitment to working together to provide efficient and affordable academic programs to their surrounding communities. Ivy Tech is responsible for the delivery of college preparatory, workforce certification, associate degree and transfer programming while IU East provides over 50 four-year baccalaureate and master’s degree programs.

Larry Richards (2012-2013)

Larry Richards served as interim chancellor of Indiana University East from June 2012 to July 2013. He was appointed to the position by Indiana University after former Chancellor Nasser Paydar, who is now the executive vice chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Richards, whose academic background is in engineering, business management and operations research, has served as vice chancellor and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at IU East since 2004. He returned as the executive vice chancellor of Academic Affairs July 1, 2013.

Richards’ research interests include cybernetics and systems theory, policy-level decision making, and social design/change. He served as founding dean and professor in the School of Management and Aviation Science at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass., and founding chair and professor in the Department of Engineering Management at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.

He has a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maine, master’s degrees in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida and business administration from Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. in operations research from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

He has served as president of the American Society for Engineering Management and the American Society for Cybernetics. He received the Norbert Wiener Medal from the American Society for Cybernetics and was named a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Management.^[1]

Kathryn (Cruz-Uribe) Girten  (2013-2022)

Dr. Kathryn Girten joined Indiana University as the sixth Chancellor of IU East in July 2013. She is the first woman chancellor to serve the campus. Chancellor Girten led the development of the IU East Strategic Plan (2016-2019), which dovetails with the IU Bicentennial Strategic Plan and lays out the priorities for the near future. The focus is on increasing student success and continuing to foster meaningful community connections. During the 2021-2022 school year, Chancellor Girten also served as the acting Chancellor for IU Southeast. Chancellor Girten officially retired July 1st, 2022.

Under Chancellor Girten’s leadership, the campus has seen record enrollment, improvement in student retention and graduation rates, record numbers of graduates, and increased student diversity. Student loan default rates have dropped dramatically. New degree programs have been launched, including a B.A. in Spanish. Online program development has continued to be a priority, including offering collaborative programs with other IU regional campuses.

Capital projects Girten has overseen include a renovation of the campus quad, installation of outdoor sculptures in the quad area, and the construction of the Student Events and Activities Center, the fifth building on the campus and the first since 1999. Athletics has grown to include men’s and women’s soccer as well as men’s and women’s track and field, bringing the total number of athletic teams to 15.

Prior to coming to Indiana, Dr. (Cruz-Uribe) Girten was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State University, Monterey Bay (2007 – 2013). In that role, she was responsible for leading the academic programs of the university. During her tenure, Dr. Girten oversaw the implementation of eight new academic programs, as well as a significant revision of the university’s general education program, the successful re-affirmation of the university’s accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and a significant improvement in student retention.

Dr.  Girten received an A.B. from Middlebury College (with a double major in art history and anthropology), and an A.M. and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Chicago. She spent much of her career (1989 – 2007) at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, as a faculty member and then as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her academic area of expertise is the analysis of animal bones from archaeological sites, and she conducted field and laboratory research in South Africa for more than twenty years. She is proud to have received the Northern Arizona University Teaching Scholar Award and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award.

Community involvement is important to Dr. Girten, and she serves on the board of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, the Richmond Art Museum, Reid Health, the Wayne County Foundation, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the First Bank Richmond Community Foundation and First Bank Richmond.

Chancellor Girten was born and raised in New York. She and her late husband, Dr. Eugene Cruz-Uribe, raised two daughters who are grown and married. In March 2020, the Chancellor married Gary Girten, a retired bank examiner and a Marine Corps veteran from Dayton, Ohio. The couple live in Richmond and enjoy many outdoor activities such as playing disc golf and running together. ^[2]

Dennis M. Rome  (2023-)

A former Indiana University Bloomington professor of African-American studies and criminal justice with broad, collaborative experience in academic and student affairs will serve as chancellor of IU East pending approval of the IU Board of Trustees.

Dennis M. Rome will assume the role July 1, overseeing all aspects of the academic and operational components of the campus, in collaboration with university administration and other Indiana University regional campuses.

Rome currently serves as assistant to the president for community engagement and strategic partnerships at Northeastern Illinois University, moving from his previous position as provost and vice president for academic affairs. ^[3]