IU Kokomo launches search for next chancellor as Mark Canada plans retirement

KOKOMO, Ind. - Indiana University has launched a national search for the next chancellor of IU Kokomo as Chancellor Mark Canada prepares to retire June 30, 2027.

The university is seeking an energetic, student-focused leader who will build on IU Kokomo's role as a regional campus deeply connected to the communities it serves. IU Kokomo provides access to an IU education for approximately 3,000 students, many of whom live, study and build their careers in north central Indiana. The campus also contributes to the region through community-connected research, workforce development, support for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and partnerships that strengthen the local economy and quality of life.

Canada has served as IU Kokomo's eighth chancellor since August 2022, following seven years as executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. During his time at IU Kokomo, he has championed student success, experiential learning and the campus's role in serving north central Indiana.

A search committee representing faculty, staff, students and the community will lead the effort to identify IU Kokomo's next chancellor. Susan Sciame-Giesecke, emerita professor of communication arts and former IU Kokomo chancellor, will chair the committee.

Committee members include:

• Lori Dukes, community member and president and CEO of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance
• Heather Hayes, athletic director
• Jared Hayman, vice chancellor for finance
• Alan Krabbenhoft, Faculty Senate president and professor of economics, School of Business
• Mark Meng, associate professor of hospitality and tourism, School of Business
• Cheryl Moore-Beyioku, senior lecturer in education, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Patrick Motl, dean of sciences
• Sarah Sarber, senior advisor to the chancellor
• Heidi Sebastian, associate clinical professor of radiologic sciences, School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
• Leigh Swartzendruber, clinical associate professor of nursing
• Christine Taff, teaching professor of Spanish, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• William Van Heyningen, student representative and Student Government president

The chancellor provides leadership for all academic, student, financial, development, and administrative aspects of IU Kokomo in coordination with university administration and IU's other regional campuses.

The next chancellor also will be expected to serve as a visible and engaged leader on campus and throughout the region, building relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, employers, community organizations, and government and economic development partners. The university is seeking a leader who understands the distinctive role of a regional campus in providing educational opportunity while helping address the workforce, economic, and community needs of the region it serves.

IU Kokomo's connections to the region extend beyond the classroom. Faculty and undergraduate students engage in research that addresses issues relevant to Indiana communities, while campus programs and partnerships support workforce development, entrepreneurship, innovation and community engagement. The campus also serves as a cultural and educational resource for north central Indiana.

Innovation Hall is one example of that work. Opened in 2024 with support from a $1.5 million Indiana READI grant and matching funds from IU, the collaborative learning space brings together resources for students and the community. It includes the KEY Center for Innovation, a business analytics lab, technology studio, media lab and eSports arena, multicultural center, and other training and gathering spaces. The campus later expanded Innovation Hall's community connections through a partnership with the Hoosier Heartland Indiana Small Business Development Center, providing entrepreneurial resources to students and opportunities to connect area businesses with IU Kokomo expertise.

Experiential learning also has been a hallmark of Canada's leadership. He led the development of Kokomo Experience and You, or KEY, the campus's signature experiential learning program, while serving as executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. KEY provides students with opportunities including internships, research, community projects, domestic and international travel, retreats and simulations.

Canada joined IU Kokomo in 2015 and became deputy chancellor in 2021 before being named chancellor the following year. At the beginning of his tenure as chancellor, he introduced the theme "Better Together" and launched "100 Ways in 100 Days," an initiative that invited faculty, staff and students to identify ways they could contribute to making the campus and region stronger.

The search for IU Kokomo's next chancellor comes as IU continues to emphasize the role its regional campuses play in serving Indiana. Regional campuses educate students where they live, prepare graduates for careers in their communities and connect university expertise with local needs. Together, those efforts support the talent pipeline, economic vitality and quality of life of communities across the state.

IU has partnered with DSG Global Leadership Recruiting to assist with the national search. Faculty and staff also will have opportunities to provide input through listening sessions as the search progresses.

Potential candidates must apply through DSG Global Leadership Recruiting. Faculty, staff and others may also nominate candidates for consideration. Additional information about the position, search committee, listening sessions and application and nomination process is available on the IU Kokomo Chancellor Search website.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.