Meet Marie Mackintosh, Vice Chancellor of the IU Indianapolis Office of Workforce and Community Engagement.

Listening and learning in the first 90 days

“The first 60–90 days are about listening, building trust, and putting the right systems in place,” Marie said.

During her first several months in the role, she is focused on building relationships and understanding how the university’s many assets already connect to the broader community. She is meeting with faculty, staff, and students across campus while also connecting with employers and community partners across the region.

“I’m spending time across campus to understand the full range of assets we have, including student talent, faculty expertise, research, labs, centers, and existing partnerships, and how those assets are already connecting to the community and business,” she said.

Creating clearer pathways for employers and partners

“One priority is creating a clearer front door so external partners know how to engage the university and how that engagement connects to talent and research,” Marie said.

Another priority is helping people across campus see how their work contributes to a larger system of partnerships and opportunities. “So we’re leveraging all of our assets, not working in silos,” she said.

IU Indianapolis students take part in the Intern Fair at the Campus Center, meeting with company representatives to learn about internship opportunities. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University) By strengthening coordination and visibility, the university can make it easier for partners to connect with faculty expertise, student talent, and research initiatives in ways that benefit both the university and the communities it serves.

Connecting students, employers, and research

Marie describes her role as helping translate between the needs of employers and the work already happening across the university. “That means encouraging employers to invest early and often in talent at IU Indianapolis through internships, projects, and real-world problem solving, while also amplifying the ways faculty and staff already see employer partnerships strengthening teaching, research, and student outcomes,” she said.

Employers are often focused on their future workforce and staying competitive within rapidly evolving industries. At the same time, faculty and students are engaged in learning, discovery, and research that can shape those industries.

Her goal is to bring those priorities together in ways that create meaningful opportunities for students and real value for employers. “When those connections are intentional, students gain experience and clarity, employers gain talent and insight, and the university’s work has greater reach,” Marie said.

Workforce engagement as part of community engagement

For Marie, workforce engagement is a natural extension of the university’s long-standing commitment to community partnerships.

IU Indianapolis collaborates with neighborhoods, nonprofits, healthcare systems, government agencies, and businesses across Indianapolis and beyond. Workforce development builds on those existing relationships by connecting education and research with opportunities that support students and the broader economy. “Workforce engagement doesn’t replace other forms of engagement,” she said. “It builds on them.”

By aligning education, research, civic partnerships, and talent development, Marie believes IU Indianapolis can deepen its impact for students, communities, and Indiana’s economy. “Our goal is to collaborate well across campus and with partners in the community so that our work supports students, employers, and the long-term success of the state,” she said.

A panel of community partners shares insights from university–community collaborations at the 2025 IU Statewide Community Engagement Institute session, “Grounded in Community: Insights from Partners on Collaborative Impact.” (Photo by Jeni Waters/Indiana University) By bringing together the university’s research, talent, and partnerships, Marie sees new opportunities to strengthen connections between campus and community in ways that expand opportunity and support Indiana’s future workforce.

To learn more about the Office of Workforce and Community Engagement, visit our website. Let’s advance impact together. Partner with IU Indianapolis.