ISU president Deborah Curtis to retire

Oct. 4—Indiana State University President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis on Wednesday announced her retirement after nearly 38 years in higher education.

Curtis says she will serve through June 30, 2024, although her contract extends through June 30, 2025.

Robert Casey, chairman of the ISU Board of Trustees, says a search process for ISU's next president will begin immediately.

Curtis began her tenure as the 12th president of ISU on Jan. 3, 2018.

In May 2021 she received a three-year contract extension through June 30, 2025.

"It's just the right time," she told reporters Wednesday afternoon. "Thirty-eight years in higher education and having had the opportunity to serve my alma mater for six years, it doesn't get any better than that."

She added, "I feel so good about the career contributions I've made. Now, it's time to be with my family and my husband."

Asked if she wanted to comment about the final year of her contract and whether a buyout might be involved, she responded, "No, that's all in the works. We're all just talking about that right now. ... That's not relevant."

She is the first female and only the second graduate of Indiana State to serve as president. She came to ISU from the University of Central Missouri where she had served as provost and chief learning officer since 2012.

Asked about accomplishments during her tenure, she referred to the "Be So Bold" fundraising campaign, which is just about to hit the $100 million mark, she said.

The campaign "has resulted in some huge gifts to this university ... That's evidence that alumni and donors believe in what we do here at Indiana State," she said.

In fiscal year 2023, ISU raised more than $30 million, the highest annual fundraising amount in ISU history.

She also talked about tough decisions involving budget cuts and re-organization "to face the new environment in higher ed."

Curtis' tenure also involved responding to the COVID pandemic.

"Navigating a pandemic, a global pandemic, on a campus of this size, no one person does this. This campus came together," students, faculty and staff, she said.

Curtis' tenure also has been marked by a significant decrease in enrollment and resulting budget cuts.

Some of those enrollment challenges, occurring both in Indiana and nationally, relate to dramatically lower college-going rates as well as ongoing impact of smaller classes during the COVID pandemic, officials have said.

In addition, this past summer, Curtis and her administration faced some criticism, including from elected officials, for what has been described as a "disconnect" with the Terre Haute community.

ISU's decision not to host an NCAA Super Regional baseball tournament — due to a prior commitment with Indiana Special Olympics — drew some heated criticism.

During the June board of trustees meeting, then board Chair Kathy Cabello made the following statement:

"The board of trustees recognizes and acknowledges the concerns expressed by the Terre Haute and Wabash Valley community and ISU friends and alumni. We are working with the president to create greater engagement with the community."

Asked if the board of trustees had a role in her decision to retire one year early, she said, "Certainly I discussed it with the board chair."

The controversy involving the baseball tournament over the summer did not have any bearing on her decision, she said.

"This institution is right at the right spot now. Everything has been put in place to hand off this institution to the next leader, with a vision for the future. It's just the right time. We're financially stable, we're growing our freshmen enrollment. ... We're where we need to be," Curtis said.

Curtis hopes to be remembered as someone who "served her alma mater well" and also as someone who brought passion for ISU to the role.

What she'll miss most is colleagues and students, colleagues who grew in their careers and students who took the next steps in their lives and achieved careers of significance.

"It's never been boring. It's always been inspiring," she said.

Serving as president of a major university does have "a tremendous amount of pressure," she said, "but it's always related to opportunity as well."

The decision to retire is an emotional one, she said.

"The fact I get to cap my career at the place that gave me my start in higher ed ... you can't imagine the emotional satisfaction and gratitude I've had for that opportunity."

Going forward as she finishes her tenure at ISU, "We'll make sure we've done everything we need to do to be ready" for the transition to a new president, Curtis said.

She also plans to focus on the strategic plan and student success, with continued improvements in student retention and graduation rates.

In a statement, trustees Chair Casey said,

"For the past six years, President Curtis has led ISU in a way that is emblematic of her deep loyalty and pride in her alma mater, working with her cabinet, faculty and staff to take ISU to new heights in delivering high-quality education to students in all of its disciplines."

He further stated, "Her advocacy for ISU in the Statehouse, the broader Wabash Valley community and the alumni community has been energetic and passionate, creating renewed enthusiasm for the ISU brand among all of these key stakeholders."

Curtis earned her doctorate from Indiana State University in curriculum and instruction with specializations in secondary education and supervision of instruction.

Curtis and her husband, Lynn, are the parents of five children and they have several grandchildren.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue