Evansville, IN — Ivy Tech Community College has named Jonathan Weinzapfel to serve as Chancellor of its Evansville campus as a part of its organizational restructure announcement. The new structure, to better align with community needs at the campus level and empower campuses to be responsive and nimble in meeting local needs, was announced on Tuesday.
Prior to the change, multiple campuses reported to regional leadership, including the college’s Evansville and Terre Haute campuses reporting to a single chancellor, a role Weinzapfel held. Evansville will now be self-sustaining campus with Weinzapfel serving as the Chancellor. In Terre Haute, Lea Anne Crooks will continue as the Campus President. Further announcements regarding additional Chancellor appointments will continue through Aug. 1.
“We appreciate Jonathan’s dedication to Ivy Tech and to the difficult work of leading not only the Evansville campus, but also the Terre Haute campus since May 2014. His leadership of the combined regions developed several successful programs and best practices that have been replicated across the state,†Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann said. “This new structure, with Jonathan at the helm of the Evansville campus, will allow Ivy Tech to more intentionally focus on community needs of Evansville and southwest Indiana.â€
“I look forward to continuing to lead the Evansville campus as we serve the Evansville community and Southwest Indiana. The faculty and staff at Ivy Tech’s Evansville campus are extraordinary and provide our students with the skills and knowledge they need to learn, live and work in our communities and beyond.â€
While serving in his role Ivy Tech, Weinzapfel developed and promoted the popular Achieve Your Degree™ program, aligning business and industry tuition reimbursement dollars with Federal Financial Aid, and deferring tuition payments until employees receive their company tuition funding – at the completion of the semester. This program is now been offered throughout the state via nearly 70 employers and more than 2,600 students have enrolled.
His leadership, vision, and direction also led to the Evansville campus receiving a $667,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, to offer free classes to individuals wanting the skills necessary to work in manufacturing; and paying the students during their class and on-the-job training. Among successes at the Terre Haute campus, was a $1.2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration for the college’s Precision Agriculture Technology program.
He came to Ivy Tech from Faegre Baker Daniels where he focused his legal practice on economic development issues and municipal consulting. Previously, Weinzapfel served two terms as Mayor of the City of Evansville and five years as a state representative.
Weinzapfel serves on several boards including the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation, Vigo County School Corporation Superintendent’s Advisory Board, Accelerate West Central Indiana Economic Development, Rural Health Innovation Collaborative Board of Directors, the Indiana Humanities Board of Trustees, Deaconess Board of Directors, NeuMed Board of Directors, WNIN Board of Directors, Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Board of Directors, Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science Board of Trustees, Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville Wisdom Council, United Way of Southwest Indiana, and most recently was named to the Board of Directors of the Indiana United Way.
He is also a member of Rotary of Evansville, Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Jasper Chamber of Commerce.
In 2012, Weinzapfel earned an honorary degree of Associate of Science in College and Community Service from Ivy Tech. He has also earned a J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Indiana University.
