News release from Ivy Tech Community College:
Ivy Tech Community College promotes two executives
(INDIANAPOLIS) – Ivy Tech Community College announced that Dr. Russell D. Baker has been promoted to Vice President of Academic Affairs and Julie Lorton-Rowland has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources.
Baker has served as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs since July 2011. He has been with the college for six years. Prior to his statewide role, Baker served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Fort Wayne campus, as well as interim Chancellor. During his year as interim Chancellor in 2009-2010, Baker led a team effort to successfully manage a 35 percent increase in enrollment for Fall 2009 and a 45 percent increase for Spring 2010.A new Student Life Center and Technology Center were opened during his service as Interim Chancellor as well.
Prior to his career at Ivy Tech, Baker spent nearly 20 years at the Indiana Institute of Technology where he served multiple leadership roles. He served as Associate Vice President of the College of Business and Arts for six years. He also served as Associate Dean of Students for seven years and was responsible for all aspects of the Freshman College division. He began his career at the Indiana Institute of Technology in 1987 as director of Student Support Services.
Baker began his professional career at Huntington College (now Huntington University) in 1983 as an admissions representative where he was responsible for student recruitment in northern Indiana and Michigan.
A native of Michigan, Baker earned his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Ball State University, a Master of Arts in History from Kent State University, and a Bachelor’s in History from Huntington University.
Julie Lorton-Rowland most recently served as Interim Vice President of Human Resources following the retirement of William F. Morris. Her career with Ivy Tech extends nearly 32 years and began at the college’s Richmond campus after earning a degree from Ball State University. She worked in finance and facility operations for six years before leaving the College, returning just 2 years later to assume a Budget Analyst position with the statewide finance budget office with responsibility for position budgeting, control and classification.
Her Human Resources career began as part of the college’s statewide re-organization in the 90s. At that time, Lorton-Rowland managed employee relations, recruitment and Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS). She was promoted to Director then went on to become the Executive Director of Human Resources expanding her role leading employee policy change and development, compensation, classification and reporting for Ivy Tech’s 10,000 employees college-wide. She has served in that position for nearly 10 years.
Lorton-Rowland’s noted accomplishments include leading two successful HRIS implementations and the development of the college’s first online employment career site. She has held several Board of Director appointments with recognized higher education user organizations.
She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources through the Society for Human Resources Management and looks forward to continue building upon the foundation, created by William Morris, for Human Resources at Ivy Tech.
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
Related Images:
