Lori Montalbano, division chair of the Division of
Arts and Letters at Governors State University in
University Park, Illinois, has been named associate
dean of academic and student affairs at IUPUC
effective July 1, subject to approval by the
IU Board of Trustees.
Dr. Montalbano taught at Indiana University Northwest for 17 years, where she served as Chair of the Department of Communication, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Chair of the Department of Performing Arts and Artistic Director of Theatre Northwest. She has published articles, book chapters; a book entitled Taking Narrative Risk: The Empowerment of Abuse Survivors, and she co-authored a textbook, Public Speaking, and Responsibility in a Changing World, with Dr. Dorothy W. Ige. She has won many teaching awards, directed, and performed and produced a number of theatrical productions. She also serves as Co-Producer for the Theatre and Performance Studies program at GSU.
IUPUC's mission is to be the first choice for those who seek a small-campus experience in south-central Indiana emphasizing intellectual and personal development, community engagement, and preparation to enter the workforce. IUPUC primarily serves students who live in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Ripley and Shelby counties and delivers higher education through selected degree programs and the advancement of knowledge aligned with regional needs.
"Lori Montalbano brings a strong record of collaboration, engagement, new program development, and experience with accreditation to this position," IUPUC Vice Chancellor and Dean Reinhold R. Hill said. "Dr. Montalbano is joining us at an exciting time at IUPUC as we implement our new strategic plan focused on student success, economic development, and economic opportunity, and engagement, Lori brings success in each of these areas to this position."
Montalbano received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a minor in Communication from Indiana University Northwest, a Master of Arts in Communication from Purdue University Calumet, and her Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
"I look forward to working with the talented faculty, staff and students at IUPUC. I appreciate the student-centered mission and values of the university that provide for a high-quality education with a small-campus experience," shares Montalbano.
Montalbano is succeeding Gary Felsten, who is retiring after twenty-five years of service to IUPUC, including serving for the past seven years as IUPUC's first associate dean of academic affairs.
"Gary has been a big part of the growth and development of IUPUC over the past twenty-five years," said Hill, "I am grateful to him for his many years of service to IUPUC, his commitment to our campus and to the community."
IUPUC offers degrees from both Indiana University and Purdue University. Students can complete undergraduate programs in business, communication studies, education, English, general studies, nursing and psychology; and the courses for degrees in mechanical engineering, sociology, and biology in Columbus. Students can also complete graduate degrees in business and in mental health counseling in Columbus.