INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Dr. Sue Ellspermann, the ninth president of Ivy Tech Community College, today announced she will retire in June 2025, at the end of her current contract. She joined the College in 2016 after serving as Indiana’s fiftieth Lieutenant Governor.

“Few positions afford the opportunity to change lives, strengthen communities and fuel our workforce and economy, and I am honored to have led this remarkable institution,” said Ellspermann. “I am forever grateful to the students, faculty, staff, trustees and community partners who trusted me to help Ivy Tech reach new heights in service of our students, employers and the state. I am deeply proud of what we have achieved together and have full confidence that Ivy Tech will continue to deliver on its mission as Indiana’s workforce engine and springboard for social and economic mobility.”

Under Ellspermann’s leadership, Ivy Tech aligned its more than 70 degrees and credentials to the workforce needs of Indiana employers while launching dozens of innovative new programs, including the nation’s first smart manufacturing and digital integration pathway. Her administration also led an enrollment resurgence at Ivy Tech’s 19 campuses across the state: More than 195,000 students enrolled in academic year 2023-2024 – the College’s highest headcount since 2014. More than 90,000 of these students are still in high school, making Ivy Tech the leading awarder of early college credits in the country.

Additional achievements of the Ellspermann presidency include:  

  • Adoption of a flat rate tuition model for full-time students, elimination of unnecessary student fees and the launch of Ivy+ Textbooks, the College’s award-winning equitable access textbook initiative.

  • New and expanded partnerships with public and private colleges and universities, resulting in better transfer outcomes for tens of thousands of students each year.

  • Transition to predominantly eight-week terms to help students better juggle the demands of work, family and life.

  • Expansion of the College’s nursing program – the top producer of associate-level nurses in the U.S. – to respond to Indiana’s healthcare workforce shortage.

  • Launch of Ivy+ Career Link, a best-in-class model for career advising and talent development offered at all Ivy Tech locations statewide.

  • Support for dozens of economic development initiatives amounting to billions of dollars of investment and the creation of thousands of jobs with employers such as Google, SK hynix, Amazon Web Services, Toyota and more.

  • Completion of significant campus transformations and upgrades to provide modern learning and working environments for students, faculty and staff.

  • Development of the Higher Education at the Speed of Life strategic plan, which articulates Ivy Tech’s goals of increasing student enrollment, retention and completion while ensuring 60 percent of graduates earn above Indiana’s median wage by 2025.

  • Completed College's first statewide capital campaign raising $345M.

A detailed list of Ivy Tech milestones under Dr. Ellspermann’s leadership can be found here.

"President Ellspermann has been an extraordinary leader and advocate for the Ivy Tech system, the communities it serves and the hundreds of thousands of students whose lives have been transformed through high-quality education and training beyond high school,” Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees Chairman Andrew Wilson said. "She has elevated Ivy Tech’s reputation as a key higher education partner for employers throughout the state. The Board is committed to identifying a successor who will continue the accelerated growth of the College and build upon Sue’s legacy to continue serving as Indiana’s workforce engine.”

The Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees will begin a nationwide search for Ivy Tech’s tenth president this fall. The State Board anticipates the new president will assume leadership of the College on or before July 1, 2025. More details on the search process and opportunities for community input are forthcoming and can be found at IvyTech.edu/President-Search. 

Individuals and organizations that wish to recognize Dr. Ellspermann's impact on Ivy Tech and the State of Indiana may consider giving to the Ivy Tech Foundation.

Media Note
A press kit with additional images, logos and resources can be found here.

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.