Letter from Vice President for Government and Community Relations Shannon Kiely Heider
Dear friend of IU,
It is my pleasure to introduce you to the Indiana University Office of the Vice President for Government and Community Relations and share my appreciation for the warm reception I have received since joining IU.
Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet faculty, staff, students, alumni, elected leaders, and community partners across Indiana and beyond. In every conversation, I am reminded that IU’s greatest strength lies in its people and in the deep, trusted relationships they cultivate in service of the university’s mission. Together, these connections enable IU to improve lives, strengthen communities, and contribute meaningfully to the future success of our state and nation.
The transition from the Office of the Vice President for University Relations to the Office of the Vice President for Government and Community Relations signals a clear emphasis on the university’s role as an active partner in public policy and community engagement. It affirms IU’s commitment to working closely with government and community leaders to support shared priorities and strengthen the connection between the university’s expertise and the communities it serves.
As vice president for government and community relations, I have the privilege of advancing Indiana University’s engagement with federal, state, and local leaders while championing public policy efforts that support education, research, economic development, and workforce readiness. By strengthening partnerships aligned with the IU 2030 strategic plan, this work underscores IU’s role as a public university committed to turning knowledge, innovation, and collaboration into real-world impact.
Before returning to IU, I spent 14 years in the private sector at Cummins Inc., where I worked across state, federal, and international governmental relations, trade policy, and commercial operations. Earlier in my career, I served as staff in the Indiana General Assembly, in Governor Mitch Daniels’ administration, and as a lobbyist with Krieg DeVault LLP. These experiences reinforced the value of collaboration across sectors and the importance of institutions that can bring people together around shared goals. I am proud to bring that perspective back to my alma mater.
President Pamela Whitten’s vision of Indiana University as an engine for opportunity – one that improves lives, supports innovation, and contributes to the economic vitality of Indiana – resonated deeply with me. IU’s scale, talent, and statewide presence create an unmatched platform for partnership. By aligning our academic, research, and engagement strengths with public needs, IU is positioned to help address some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities.
This is an exciting moment to be at Indiana University. Across our campuses, IU is investing in research excellence, student success, and community engagement in ways that will shape the future of the state for generations. The Office of the Vice President for Government and Community Relations is proud to support that work by fostering strong relationships and effective advocacy on behalf of the university.
I look forward to working with you to advance IU’s mission and to strengthen the partnerships that make our impact possible. Thank you for all you do for Indiana University and for the communities we serve.
Sincerely,
Shannon Kiely Heider
Vice President for Government and Community Relations
Indiana University
IU addresses critical microelectronics needs while training students for rapidly growing industry
From coding and data analysis to presenting and communicating, Huseyin Amac is gaining the skills he needs at Indiana University to land a job as an engineer in the microelectronics industry after graduation.
A junior studying intelligent systems engineering at the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Amac has gained hands-on experience as a student researcher at the IU Center for Reliable and Trusted Electronics, or IU CREATE, since the summer after his freshman year.
IU CREATE’s goal is to improve the reliability of microelectronics — the tiny computer chips that power every modern device, including cell phones, laptops, cars and spacecraft — while also providing a new generation of students with skills they can use to land highly paid careers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which is rapidly growing in Indiana and nationally.
The approach aligns with the overall emphasis on career-readiness at the Luddy School, which also has several new degrees in other growing fields, including computer engineering and robotics, as well as a business intelligence and data science joint degree in partnership with the IU Kelley School of Business.
“We put workforce development at the forefront of all our activities,” said Daniel Loveless, director of IU CREATE and associate professor of intelligent systems engineering at the Luddy School. “It’s in our mission statement. It’s not a side effect; it’s a foundational priority of IU CREATE.”
Learn more about how IU is investing in tomorrow’s microelectronics workforce
Learn more about the IU Center for Reliable and Trusted Electronics
State Update
The latest State Update covers: IU School of Medicine students joining county health departments through Public Health Externships; findings from a new ERI report that modernizing Northwest Indiana’s steel industry could bring major community benefits; IU Indianapolis O’Neill graduate students creating a reusable sustainability playbook for this year’s Final Four; new research from IU School of Nursing on the use of music therapy to improve health outcomes in children with cancer; and the community benefits of the IU School of Optometry Optical Lab.
Read the State Update
Federal Update
This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional, Executive Branch, and Judicial Branch of interest in Washington, D.C.
Read the Federal Update
Previous editions
Economic Engagement Update
Call for Proposals: 2026 IU Economic Development Summit
IU faculty, staff, leadership, and external partners are invited to propose sessions highlighting the work, partnerships, research, or community engagement that contribute to Indiana’s economic development at the 2026 IU Economic Development Summit.
The Summit, happening on August 3, 2026, at the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington, will bring together campus and community partners, practitioners, and leaders from across Indiana to explore ideas, partnerships, and strategies that support economic development statewide.
Deadline to submit proposals is Friday, June 5, 2026, at 11:59PM.
Submit your proposal here
Learn more about the 2026 Summit
Add the 2026 Summit to your calendar
IU names inaugural board members of university-affiliated research nonprofit IU Inc.
Indiana University has named the inaugural board of directors for IU Inc., a nonprofit organization that aims to accelerate the university’s partnerships with industry, startups and government agencies to drive impact at scale for Indiana and the world.
IU Inc. will catalyze innovation and new economic activity by driving stronger collaboration between IU’s research enterprise, entrepreneurs and other potential partners while creating new opportunities for students and faculty to advance transformational research. Through revenue-generating ventures, IU Inc. will drive reinvestment in the university’s academic and research mission.
The inaugural IU Inc. board brings together leaders from global industry, venture capital, real estate development and higher education to guide the organization’s strategy, governance and operations.
Learn more about the IU Inc. Board of Directors
Learn more about IU Inc.
Indiana population estimates: Strong growth continued in 2025; signs of slowdown on the horizon
Indiana added 38,579 residents in 2025 to reach a total population of 6.97 million, according to analysis by the Indiana Business Research Center at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. The state’s population growth slowed compared to the previous year, yet Indiana’s gains in 2025 still rank as the state’s seventh-largest annual increase over the past two decades.
“Since 2023, Indiana has had an average annual growth of more than 43,900 residents per year, which is the state’s largest increase over a three-year stretch since adding roughly 48,700 residents a year from 2006 to 2008,” said Matt Kinghorn, senior demographer at the Indiana Business Research Center. While the scale of growth is similar for these two periods, the drivers of change have shifted drastically.
From 2006 to 2008, for instance, natural increase — or the difference between births and deaths — accounted for 70% of Indiana’s growth. Over the past three years, by contrast, migration is responsible for 81% of the state’s gains.
For the fourth consecutive year, net international migration was the largest source of Indiana’s growth, with a net inflow of 17,852 residents last year. While still the state’s leading source of growth, net international migration to Indiana declined by 53% from 2024 to 2025.
Learn more about Indiana’s 2025 population estimates
Regional campuses prepare IU students for professions critical to small communities
The country is experiencing severe labor shortages in education and healthcare. Indiana is no exception, and the challenges are especially felt in small towns and rural communities. Hoosiers who are eager to fill the gap turn to Indiana University’s regional campuses to prepare for high-demand jobs. Given the breadth of flexible programs, depth of local partnerships and proximity to home, Indiana residents use regional campuses to launch their careers and serve their communities.
Learn more about the labor market impact of IU's regional campuses
IU in the News
O’Neill MPA No. 1 overall, Kelley MBA No. 7 among public universities in US News rankings
Indiana University leads the state in top-ranked graduate education programs and specialties, earning the most top placements among Indiana institutions in the 2026 U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings. The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs’ Master of Public Affairs program in Bloomington was named No. 1 in the nation, and the Kelley School of Business Master of Business Administration program in Bloomington was ranked No. 7 among all public institutions.
Read the full story
Cook Medical selects Indiana University as Interventional MRI Center of Excellence
Cook Medical has selected Indiana University as one of the first Interventional MRI (iMRI) Centers of Excellence. The collaboration is designed to accelerate the advancement, validation and clinical integration of innovative MRI‑guided technologies and make certain medical procedures safer, more precise and less invasive for patients. The iMRI Center of Excellence builds on a five‑year agreement announced in 2025 between Cook Medical and the Indiana University Launch Accelerator for Biosciences to translate IU research into real‑world health care applications.
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Little 500 to celebrate 75 years of racing for a purpose
When student cyclists line up on the cinder track at Indiana University Bloomington’s Bill Armstrong Stadium next week, it will mark the 75th running of what’s been dubbed “the world’s greatest college weekend.” Little 500 is the nation’s largest collegiate bike race, drawing a record number of 30,000 spectators — but there’s always been a purpose behind the pedaling.
Read the full story
Learn more about the history of IU Bloomington’s Little 500
