Annie Willis’s caring spirit and kindhearted smile are beloved fixtures in and around IU Bloomington. She has devoted 43 years of service to Indiana University, becoming a steadfast source of compassion, guidance, and support for generations of students.
She’s currently the associate director for care and advocacy in the Dean of Students Office, occupying a cozy office tucked inside the Indiana Memorial Union. Earlier this month, at the city of Bloomington’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration, she was recognized as one of Bloomington’s 60 Women of the Movement for the Soul, Spirit, and Sacrifice: Honoring the Legacy of Coretta Scott King and the Women Who Faced America to Save U.S.
Learn more about Annie, in her own words.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Westchester, New York, on the southern tip of the state. It’s one of the last stops in the suburbs before you head into New England. I was right near places like Greenwich, Connecticut, and Rye—so that whole area feels like home to me. Interestingly, Bloomington actually reminds me a lot of it: beautiful scenery, lots of land, and a strong sense of community.
How did you become interested in student affairs as a career?
I’ve truly been interested in student affairs my whole life. Even in middle and high school, I was always involved and naturally gravitated toward professionals in the field. Many of the educators in my suburban school district had Ph.D.s and backgrounds in counseling, guidance, and student development, so I was exposed early on to what that work looked like.
(Editor’s note: In October, Annie was featured as part of our “Celebrating Careers in Student Affairs” blog series. Read all about her student life career path.)
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love being involved in my church, including helping with the food pantry program. I’ve also volunteered packing food—sometimes using sorority house kitchens to repackage donated meals from local restaurants.
I enjoy working with children and youth, and I like taking part in community events—like women’s teas hosted by local churches. One memorable event was a tea that benefitted Opportunity House.
What are the challenges and joys of your 43-year career?
This June marks 44 years for me at IU—hard to believe! The greatest joy has always been the students. I love greeting them, encouraging them, supporting them, and sometimes simply being the person who looks them in the eye and acknowledges them. Some students have no one else, and just a bit of care goes a long way. I keep my office door open most days unless privacy is needed. Students run in and out—they hug me, tell me about quizzes, and share family updates. I love being part of their lives.
I also love New Student Orientation and Red Carpet Days. I go to every single one. Red Carpet Days start in February and go through April—thousands of students from all over the country and the world. I don’t meet them all, but I get a glimpse of so many.
As for challenges, I’ve seen higher education shift from something more human-focused to something more business-focused. People can get lost in the competition for resources. And sometimes people are afraid to speak up; the consequences can feel intimidating. Still, I’m grateful for my division because they do listen and make changes when they can, even as they must follow university, state, and federal guidelines.
Another challenge—and blessing—has been technology. I’ve lived through floppy disks, CDROMs, pre-email days, and now the GenAI course and its modules. It’s a lot! But I keep learning, module by module.
What inspires you day after day?
What really fuels me is offering people kindness. I tell students that I can’t fix everything, but I can always give kindness—and sometimes that makes all the difference. I once received silk flowers from a Chicago lawyer whose son I had helped through a difficult time. He wrote that the way I treated his son meant more than anything else. Moments like that remind me why I do this work.
My faith has guided me my whole life, and my parents modeled love, humanity, and nonjudgment. Growing up around people from many backgrounds—including some very wealthy families and even people connected to the New York mafia—taught me that people are people. Everyone deserves respect.
