5 Questions Interviews

Vesna Dimitrieska

Coordinator, Global Education Initiatives

School of Education and Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies

Vesna Dimitrieska stewards a host of programs that help Hoosier educators internationalize their teaching and curricula for students from kindergarten to college.

Kate Johnson

Voice Student

Jacobs School of Music

Learn about Kate Johnson's path to IU and how she is preparing for the titular role of "Anne Frank" with IU Jacobs School of Music Opera Theater.

Britt Koehnlein

Ph.D. candidate

Department of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences

Ph.D. candidate and Ostrom Fellow Britt Koehnlein will present a March 8 workshop on how vaccination campaigns can both improve health and build capacity in states that are in conflict or are newly independent. 

César Félix-Brasdefer

Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies

Department of Spanish and Portuguese, College of Arts & Sciences

César offers ambitious, collaborative goals for IU’s Mexico Gateway and helpful advice for speaking respectfully with people of different cultures.

Jennifer Engel

Associate Vice President

Office of Overseas Study

Jennifer joined IU as director of Overseas Study in July. Among the things she loves about the work is connecting students with opportunities -- especially those who didn’t think study abroad was within reach.

Luke Leftwich

Executive Director

Residential Programs and Services

What has 3,300 toilets, 2,600 showers, and serves 28,000 meals a day to 11,000 people? Luke Leftwich offers a look inside the massive operation that is Residential Programs & Services.

Steven Lalevich

Healthy IU Dietitian

IU Student Health Center

Steven offers tips on creating healthful habits, the ups and downs of diverse diets, and surviving the Bub’s “Big Ugly” challenge – twice.

Kyle Seibert

Public Affairs, Policy Analysis Student

O’Neill School

The IU Student Body President shares how he is working with focus groups to bring a student perspective to the IUB 2030 strategic planning process.

Maqubè Reese

Associate Director of Diversity Initiatives

Kelley School of Business

Maqubè Reese is the youngest of 13 siblings, CEO of TRIBE Consulting, and associate director of diversity initiatives at Kelley. 

Angela Opsahl

Assistant Dean, Associate Professor

IU School of Nursing Bloomington

Angela Opsahl, assistant dean of the School of Nursing program in Bloomington helps lead the school's BSN programs, which are No. 1 in the state and were recently ranked one of the country’s top 25 programs.

Nikeetha Farfan D’Souza

Associate Director for Student Support & Bias Response

Student Care and Resource Center, Division of Student Affairs

While Nikeetha Farfan D’Souza's path from India to Indiana wasn't a straight line, the thread of her lifelong commitment to DEI-focused work has remained consistent. "I found a community here that I had never had before in the U.S."

Kimberly Bloodgood

Director

Center for Veteran and Military Students

U.S. Air Force veteran Kimberly Bloodgood relates to the IU students she meets and works with as director of the Center for Veteran and Military Students.

Shakoor Karim

Director

Community and School Partnerships, Herbert Presidential Scholars Program, OVPDEMA

Shakoor Karim traverses the U.S. to create college pathways for historically marginalized populations. 

Paul Fogleman

Director

IU Office of National Scholarships and Award

Paul Fogleman directs the Office of National Scholarships and Awards, connecting undergraduate students to competitive awards. 

Catherine Blankensop

IU United Way Campaign Coordinator O'Neill School MPA Candidate (2023)

Catherine Blankensop’s second year of studies in the O'Neill School's No.1-MPA program coincides with her second year as campus coordinator for the annual IU-United Way campaign.

Abby Henkel

Development Manager

Environmental Resilience Institute

In addition to her work at ERI, the multitalented Abby Henkel cultivates land, is president of the WFIU Community Advisory Board, and sings with two chamber choirs. 

Lisa Kwong

Poet, Adjunct Lecturer, Asian American Studies Program

College of Arts and Sciences

Lisa Kwong spearheaded a series of events in Novemeber that explored and celebrated the African American Appalachian experience.

Vincent Isom

Director, 21st Century Scholars Program

OVPDEMA

Vincent Isom applies his own past experiences as a first-generation college student at IU to his work as director of the 21st Century Scholars Program.

Ochmaa Escue

Director of Overseas Studies & Scholarship Program

OVPDEMA

In the past 10 years, Ochmaa Escue has helped nearly 1,000 IU OVPDEMA students successfully prepare for study abroad programs.

Sarah Smith-Robbins and Mark Bell

Director of Learning Tech./Web Developer

Kelley School

Every year, the couple goes big to decorate for the spooky season. This year’s theme: "Goblins & Goodies," an homage to Dungeons & Dragons.

James Brosher

Photographer

IU Studios

As an IU photographer since 2014, James Brosher does his best to blend into the background while finding images that capture the essence of Indiana University. 

Hannah McConnell

Senior Assistant Director

IU Outdoor Adventures, Division of Student Affairs

Hannah McConnell is living her best life as senior assistant director at IU’s Outdoor Adventures. Hannah reflects on her own journey from IU student to director and shares tips on discounts and trip options for faculty and staff.

Audrie Osterman

Director of Communication and Marketing

The Media School

As a teen, Audrie took part in the Media School’s High School Journalism Institute. Now she’s director of communications and marketing at the school and a champion of student work. 

Ann Elsner

Distinguished Professor,

School of Optometry

The fourth-generation alumna and Distinguished Professor will accept a prestigious award from the American Academy of Optometry in late October. 

Steve Withem

Assistant Director of Administration,

Maurer School of Law

Filmmaker. Hometown Hero. Community leader. Meet Steve, who expresses appreciation for his colleagues through homemade barbeque feasts (and get his signature recipe for rib rub).

Mallory Naselroad

Communication and Administrative Coordinator

OVPFAA

Mallory Naselroad graduated from IU Kokomo in May and landed a position in OVPFAA, where she coordinates faculty award nominations, monitors the sabbatical process, and is in the process of updating the website.

Seth Debro

Facility Operations Specialist

IU Health Sciences Building

Seth has served as Chair of the city’s Commission on the Status of Black Males, coached youth basketball, and has a degree in public safety and homeland security. Now, Seth turns his community-minded approach to ensuring smooth operations at the new hospital.

Heather Akou

Program Director, Associate Professor

Eskenazi School

"I would argue that dress is one of the most important mediums for visual art in Africa and the African diaspora.” Heather Akou is andco-author of a new book, "Creating African Fashion Histories." 

Mike Wells

Lecturer

The Media School

“I never envisioned, 20-plus years ago, that being a print journalist would turn into writing live stories for a website, being a court reporter, learning how to request public records, shooting videos, doing stand-up television hits, and making radio appearances.” 

Jenny Mack

Museum Exhibition Specialist

Lilly Library

"Sherlock Holmes … remains popular because he is unashamedly, irreducibly strange." Jenny's latest project at Lilly Library shares rarities, correspondence, artwork, and other gems from a touring Sherlock collection. 

Anna Bednarski

Associate Director, Student Services

Luddy School

Anna Bednarski’s past experiences as an IU student help her guide Luddy students to map out courses and future career paths—and avoid some common mistakes. 

John Bates

Professor and Director of Clinical Training

Psychological and Brain Sciences

Over his 50+ year career at IU, John has studied the development of children’s behavior issues and social competencies. He is the 2022 recipient of the Ernest R. Hilgard Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association.

Sarah Hare

Open Education Librarian

IU Libraries

Learn more about Sarah's work to help faculty make better use of open and affordable educational materials and how to apply for the Course Material Fellowship Program.

Nia I'man Smith

Ph.D. student

Ethnomusicology

“I wanted to study somewhere that had a facility dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the very music that soundtracked my life.” Nia is a doctoral student in ethnomusicology and a graduate assistant with the Archives of African American Music and Culture. 

Martha MacLeish

Associate Professor and Program Director, Creative Core

Eskenazi School

Martha MacLeish and her students at the Eskenazi School worked with a Huntingburg Elementary School class to create a mural featuring the children’s art.