“My heart speaks to what Ivy Tech Community College gets to do and the impact we make. It invigorates me to serve,” says Dr. Atkinson. “Serving as chancellor of Ivy Tech Indianapolis has multiplied the impact I can make with a larger employee pool, service area, and student body.” Dr. Atkinson came to the Indianapolis campus with a strong track record of leadership and success at Ivy Tech. Her journey with the College began nearly 10 years ago as a senior instructional designer for academic support services in Ivy Tech’s statewide office, internally referred to as the Systems Office. She later became the vice chancellor for academic affairs at Ivy Tech Richmond, where she was quickly appointed chancellor of the campus. In this role, Dr. Atkinson made history as the youngest Latina chancellor to lead an Ivy Tech campus. She still holds the Richmond campus, its community, and that moment in time dear to her heart. “They are an amazing group of people who continue to do some amazing things. They were my first campus and embraced me so tightly. I would do anything for them. This still holds true today,” Dr. Atkinson said, speaking to her unwavering loyalty to the Ivy Tech Richmond campus. Prior to joining the Indianapolis campus, Dr. Atkinson was the inaugural chancellor of the Ivy Tech Hamilton County campus, where she was pivotal in transforming the then Noblesville site into a full-service campus. The scope of Dr. Atkinson’s accomplishments is long, varied, and impressive. While at Ivy Tech – in addition to building a brand new- campus – Dr. Atkinson was integral to the growth of IvyOnline, the expansion of 8-week course offerings, curriculum redevelopments, and master planning infrastructure. In addition to Dr. Atkinson’s illustrious career at Ivy Tech, she was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, where she served as an avionics technician and worked on the F/A 18A fighter jet during both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. She is a certified SIMPLEX Creative Problem-Solving Trainer for both SIMPLEX I and II, a certified facilitator, and a coach for those seeking facilitator certification. Dr. Atkinson serves in various capacities at AMIGOS Latino Centers, PHASE Foundation, and Central Indiana Girl Scouts. She also serves on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Commission on Accreditation of Higher Education.
SNAPSHOT
Hometown Brooklyn, New York Education • B.S. Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University • M.A. Elementary & Early Child- hood Education, University of South Carolina
• M.A. Curriculum & Instruction, Lesley University
• Ph.D. Adult Learning & Develop- ment, Lesley University
• Currently pursuing her J.D., Indiana University McKinney School of Law Previous job Chancellor, Ivy Tech Hamilton County Biggest barrier broken Youngest Latina chancellor of an Ivy Tech campus Expertise Helping community college students thrive in their educational journey and developing successful leaders Family Husband, Keith, and her children, Kelsey and Jordan
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