Five things to know about Chris Lowery, Indiana's newest higher education commissioner

Chris Lowery was named Indiana's new higher education commission in March, entering the post at one of the most challenging times in recent memory.

Lowery recently sat down with IndyStar to discuss his background, the challenges and opportunities ahead. You can read that full interview here.

Here are five things to know about the man working to get more Hoosiers educated, whether it be with a short-term certificate, credential or college degree.

Lowery is a first-generation college student

Lowery was born and raised in Anderson and graduated from since-closed Highland High School. His dad worked at General Motors and his mom worked part-time, but was primarily a homemaker.

He went on to study public affairs at Indiana University after developing an interest for politics while working at the local pharmacy in high school.

“One of the owner’s wife was involved in politics,” Lowery said. “She said ‘hey, would you like to pass out these leaflets door-to-door and would you like to come to an event?’ I was starting to get a little bit of a taste and going, ‘wow, it's interesting getting to hear these policymakers speak on issues that I've started to read about,’ and then decided, well, maybe that's what I should pursue.”

He spent time in politics and private industry

After graduating from IU, Lowery spent a year in Washington, DC working for then-Sen. Dan Quayle. He came back to Indiana for work for then-Gov. Robert Orr and focused on Orr’s education reform initiative. He was later recruited to work on strategy at Hillenbrand, the parent company of Batesville Casket, where he spent two decades in various roles.

During his time with Hillenbrand, Lowery stayed involved in education running for, and eventually leading, the local school board.

He burns the candle at both ends

Lowery regularly works over 12 hour days, getting to the office while most people are rolling out of bed and staying well past quitting time. He said he aims to get six hours of sleep each night.

“It’s just a place, I think, in life where I can do that,” he said. “It just fits my life and for many years I've been able to find great satisfaction in the work I've been allowed to do, whether it was at Hillenbrand, whether it was at Ivy Tech and is the case here.”

Lowery said that since his children are both now adults and he’s splitting his time between Indianapolis and Batesville – where he and wife Jerilyn still maintain their family home – work is how he likes to spend his time. But he doesn’t expect others to keep the same hours.

He makes time for fitness and family

Even with the long hours at the office, Lowery said he makes time to run, bike and do yoga. He credits his twice daily yoga practice to his wife, Jerilyn. He’s run one full marathon and regularly runs shorter races. He and Jerilyn regularly host a New Year’s Day 5k at their Batesville home.

“We've had anywhere from 10 to 80 people,” he said. “We just make it very fun and official… and the only thing we do is ask people to bring food for our local food pantry.”

People misunderstand the value of post-secondary education

Lowery and his team at ICHE are still reeling from the most recent College Readiness Report, released last month. The commission reported the sharpest decline in Indiana’s college-going rate in recent history. Working to get more Hoosiers moving from high school to some kind of post-secondary education is among his top priorities, as is helping adults without an education beyond high school get some kind of high-value credential or degree.

One of the biggest challenges, he said, are misconceptions about the value of post-secondary education.

“The fact of the matter is, in economic terms and social terms and really understanding what the true costs are, the outcomes are good,” he said. “This is really about individuals and their loved ones, you know, being able to thrive economically and socially, to have economic and social mobility.

“It's not just something that we feel is the truth, or we think, or we would like to be the case. It's absolutely the reality that the value of training and education beyond a high school diploma is there.”

Call IndyStar education reporter Arika Herron at 317-201-5620 or email her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana's higher education commissioner: Things to know about Chris Lowery