IU Trustee Candidate Profile Of Dennis Dawson Elliott

After graduation I began a 22-year career with Bristol-Myers in Evansville, Indiana that placed me on the front lines of premier medical research, working both domestically and internationally. At the time I chose to leave the company 1989 to become executive vice president of a multi-division communications company in New York, I was the director of advertising for the company’s five pharmaceutical and nutritional divisions, a position that honed my administrative and financial management skills, and human capital succession planning.

It was during this period I developed an understanding of philanthropy development through the Bristol-Myers foundation.  Concurrently I served on the board and was president of the IU Alumni Club of Southern Indiana for many years and worked to establish an annual scholarship for a deserving high school senior planning to attend IU.

Prior to returning to the Bloomington campus in 2007 to join the faculty of the School of Journalism I led and supervised the accreditation of two continuing medical education companies. These organizations provided the opportunity to pursue my continuing research orientation while developing educational programs for physicians in the fields of oncology, central nervous system disorders and cardiovascular medicine. During this period I also served as vice president and senior strategist for a communications organization in New York.

Being an officer in these companies did not detract from my ongoing involvement with IU. I returned to campus for career day presentations and discussion panels for students and as a member of the Journalism Alumni Board. In 2006 I was appointed the School of Journalism representative on the executive committee for the “Matching the Promise” $1.1 billion funding campaign.

Until my retirement from the Bloomington faculty in 2014 my connectivity to student learning and their concerns was continually evolving. I listened, I counseled, and I was rewarded by observing their development, and today former students frequently keep me informed of their career successes. I served on a number of campus boards and committees including the Dean of Students Advisory Committee, the IU Cinema Board of Advisors, as a Faculty Fellow for the Office of Service Learning, and as a Hutton Honors Resident Fellow. I was also the faculty advisor for a student professional organization, advisor for a campus wide honor society and was a sponsor of student athletes as they began their academic studies.

As a research committed university IU’s reputation is strong. My orientation to research as the precursor to informed action continues to this day as I continue research on the use of technology as a communication tool for the education and management of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

I support the multi-discipline research collaboration approach that uses the strongest attributes of these disciplines to work toward robust and innovative outcomes. I support research as the catalyst for documented insight across initiatives that will reflect positively on the university.

I look to the university to lead attitude change on all of our campuses and be a leader nationwide in addressing the issue of sexual assault. Process and policy must be preceded by student education and student commitment to change the assault paradigm.

As a candidate for the Board of Trustees my awareness of the Board’s purpose, priorities and accomplishments has been developed through informed observation, discussions with alumni and fellow faculty members and reviewing Board meeting agendas and administrative actions.  My desire to serve on the Board of Trustees is a reflection of my full-circle commitment to the university. My knowledge and perspective from my time as a faculty member will help guide meaningful personal contributions in the form of discussion and insightful proposals while fulfilling committee assignments and collaboration on new initiatives important to the university pursuit of excellence.

I look forward to active involvement in a fashion that will effectively apply my experience from management positions in corporate America and from time on the Bloomington campus as a faculty member. My career has been rewarding, with profound recognition of the solid foundation from my IU education.  I believe my skills and insights developed through the years will complement the competencies of fellow Board members as we work collaboratively for immediate benefits as well as the long-term advancement of the university. I appreciate the support of alumni to place me in a position to represent them and I welcome contact through email at elliotdd@indiana.edu.