Reflections from the first five months of the Office of Workforce and Community Engagement
As we celebrate this year’s graduates and the faculty, staff, employers, and community partners who supported their journeys, we are also looking ahead to the 2026–2027 academic year with a strong sense of momentum and opportunity. Our priorities include expanding access to high-quality experiential learning opportunities such as co-ops, internships, applied research, and capstone experiences, so more students can connect classroom learning to real-world impact. At the same time, we are working closely with schools and deans to strengthen alignment with IU 2030, particularly Pillar 3: Service to the State, and to elevate the many ways IU Indianapolis contributes to Indiana’s workforce, economy, and communities.
Partnerships remain central to this work. From supporting organizations such as Junior Achievement of Central Indiana that expand student opportunity and career readiness, to collaborations with TechPoint and Downtown Indy, Inc. focused on economic and talent development, OWCE is helping strengthen the ecosystem that creates opportunity for both students and employers.
This spring also marked several important milestones for our office, including the launch of the Manager Development Lab in partnership with Invest Hamilton County. The initiative addresses a critical leadership development need identified by employers while leveraging IU Indianapolis faculty expertise to deliver customized, practice-oriented training for emerging managers and leaders. We also reorganized our team around a renewed vision and mission that positions IU Indianapolis as the region’s most trusted higher education partner for talent, innovation, and workforce impact, strengthening employer and community partnerships so that every student has access to real-world experience and every partnership contributes to regional prosperity.
In support of this work, we launched a new website designed to serve as a clearer “front door” for employers, community organizations, and campus partners seeking to engage with IU Indianapolis.
It is an exciting time at IU Indianapolis. The energy, collaboration, and commitment across campus and throughout the community continue to reinforce what makes this institution distinctive: a shared belief that excellence in teaching and research creates real-world impact for our city and state. We are grateful to everyone helping shape that future and look forward to accelerating this work in the year ahead.
Marie Mackintosh
Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Community Engagement, IU Indianapolis
