Notable Alumni of Indiana University Southeast

Indiana University Southeast (IUS), located in New Albany, Indiana, has a rich history of fostering academic excellence and community engagement. Since its establishment as an extension center in 1941, IUS has grown into a comprehensive university offering over 55 degree programs. Among its many achievements, IUS is particularly proud of its alumni who have made significant contributions to their respective fields and communities. This article highlights some of the notable graduates of Indiana University Southeast and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, showcasing their diverse accomplishments and the impact they have had on the world.

Indiana University Southeast: A Legacy of Achievement

Indiana University Southeast boasts a wide array of alumni who have excelled in various fields, ranging from business and education to the arts and sciences. These graduates have leveraged their education and experiences at IUS to become leaders, innovators, and change-makers in their communities and beyond.

Honoring Distinguished Alumni

The Indiana University Southeast Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes outstanding IUS alumni who have made significant contributions to their communities or professions. One notable recipient of this award is Dr. Marty Pollio, the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Kentucky.

Dr. Marty Pollio: Leading Educational Transformation

Appointed superintendent of JCPS in 2018, Dr. Pollio has dedicated his career to improving education in the Louisville community. He began his journey with JCPS as a social studies teacher at Shawnee High School in 1997 and later served as a teacher and assistant principal at Waggener High School. From 2007 to 2015, he served as the principal of Jeffersontown High School, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to student success.

In 2021, Dr. Pollio's outstanding contributions to education were recognized when he was named the Kentucky 2022 Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA). His dedication to his students and his innovative approaches to education have made a lasting impact on the JCPS district. Dr. Pollio completed an Education Leadership Licensing requirement at IU Southeast in 2007.

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Alumni Spotlights: Diverse Paths to Success

IUS alumni have achieved success in a wide range of fields, demonstrating the versatility and value of an IU Southeast education.

Jesse Rasmussen: From Film to Communications

Jesse Rasmussen, a graduate of New Albany High School, initially pursued his passion for acting at the School for Film and Television in New York City. However, he later returned to southern Indiana and enrolled at IU Southeast, where he earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 2013. During his time at IUS, Rasmussen interned at WDJX radio, gaining valuable experience in the field of broadcasting.

Chris Ratterman: Entrepreneurial Vision

Chris Ratterman is the Founder and CEO of Shady Rays, a rapidly growing lifestyle eyewear brand. Since its inception, Shady Rays has been committed to supporting meaningful nonprofits around the world with every purchase. Today, Shady Rays remains one of the most sought-after, independent sunglasses brands in the country.

Brooke Stewart: Inspiring STEM Education

Brooke Stewart is a dedicated educator at South Central Jr-Sr High School in Elizabeth, IN. She teaches a variety of courses, including biology, dual-credit biology, environmental science, animal science, integrated chemistry and physics, and introduction to engineering and robotics. Stewart earned both her bachelor's degree in 2017 and a master's degree in 2020 from Indiana University Southeast in secondary education with a concentration in biology. She is currently working on completing an Ed.D. She is also an editor for the organization’s journal, The Hoosier Science Teacher.

Aimee Frakes: Ensuring Quality Assurance

Aimee Frakes is the Laboratory and Quality Assurance Manager at Geo. Her expertise in chemistry ensures the quality and reliability of the company's products.

Dr. Heather Hardin: Advancing Nursing Research

Dr. Heather Hardin is an Assistant Professor at the Indiana University School of Nursing at Indianapolis and a nurse scientist with expertise in adolescent health behavior change for health promotion. Hardin graduated from the Indiana University Southeast School of Nursing in 2007, then went on to complete a Master of Science in Nursing in 2012 and a Ph.D. in 2014 at the University of Louisville. Hardin has authored more than twenty publications and her research has been used by research teams around the world.

Morgan Szabo: Driving Social Impact

Morgan Szabo began her career at the Muhammad Ali Center, where she developed social justice and educational programming on a local, state, and international level. Currently, Szabo is a Customer Success Manager at Unite Us, a cross-sector collaboration software company. Szabo earned a BA in International Studies from Indiana University Southeast and an MPA/MBA from the University of Louisville.

Indiana University Maurer School of Law: Shaping Legal Minds

The Indiana University Maurer School of Law has a long-standing tradition of producing exceptional legal professionals who have made significant contributions to the field of law and society. Graduates of the Maurer School of Law have achieved greatness in various settings, from small family firms to international corporations, and have consistently demonstrated a commitment to justice and the rule of law.

Notable Alumni of the Maurer School of Law

The Maurer School of Law has produced numerous distinguished alumni who have excelled in their legal careers and made a positive impact on the world.

Stephen O. Kinnard: Champion of Mediation and Justice

Stephen O. Kinnard, a 1972 graduate of the Maurer School of Law, was a prominent figure in the field of mediation and a dedicated advocate for death row inmates. He served as the chief mediator for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and established the court's mediation program in 1992. Upon his death in 2001, the court renamed the program the Kinnard Mediation Center in recognition of his extraordinary service.

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Kinnard's commitment to justice extended beyond his work as a mediator. He was a tireless advocate for death row inmates and received numerous awards for his pro bono work, including the Bill of Rights Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia in 1987 and the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award in the same year.

Milton Roy Stewart: Expertise in Mergers and Acquisitions

Milton Roy Stewart, a 1971 graduate of the Maurer School of Law, has had a distinguished career in corporate law, specializing in structuring merger and acquisition transactions, reorganizations, and management buyouts. He joined the firm of Davis Wright Tremaine in Portland, Oregon, and served on the firm's Executive Management Committee for 13 years.

Stewart has also been actively involved in legal education, teaching business development and client relations skills at the Lex Mundi Monterey Institute. He served on the law school's Board of Visitors and chaired the Board in 1999/2000. In 2010, he and his wife established the law school’s Center on the Global Legal Profession, which was later named the Milt and Judi Stewart Center on the Global Legal Profession in recognition of their longstanding commitment to the Law School.

Penelope Sue Farthing: A Trailblazer in Law and Public Affairs

Penelope Sue Farthing, a 1970 graduate of the Maurer School of Law, has had a distinguished career in Washington, D.C., working in various government agencies and law firms. She began as a Staff Attorney for the Federal Communications Commission and later worked in the Legislative/Congressional Affairs department of the Federal Trade Commission. She then joined the Department of Agriculture where she served as Special Assistant to the Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Farthing rose to the position of Senior Partner at the Washington offices of Patton Boggs, LLP, before serving as Counsel to the Bose Public Affair Group (Bose McKinney & Evans, LLP). Since 2017, she has been Of Counsel to the Estell Group. Penny Farthing served on the Indiana University School of Law’s Board of Visitors from 1994 to 2004 and was inducted into the Law School’s Academy of Law Alumni Fellows in 2010.

Robert Aden Long: Champion of Justice and Pro Bono Work

Robert Aden Long, a 1971 graduate of the IU School of Law, joined the Los Angeles offices of Latham & Watkins, where he focused on complex business litigation and trial practice. He also developed a specialty in representing major law firms in professional liability and partnership matters.

Long was deeply committed to pro bono work. In the late 1990s, Long became involved in the pro bono prosecution of a habeas corpus petition on behalf of Mario Rocha. Rocha had been convicted of murder in 1996, when he was just 16, and received a life sentence. Long persuaded the California Court of Appeals to hear the habeas petition and the conviction was eventually set aside. The state later dismissed all charges against Rocha. The case was documented in the award-winning film, Mario’s Story.

William Clarence Lawrence: Public Servant and Community Leader

William Clarence Lawrence, a 1979 graduate of the Indiana University School of Law, has had a distinguished career in public service and corporate management. After law school, Lawrence worked as a tax attorney with the United States Internal Revenue Service, before moving into the corporate world. He worked in corporate management for the next twenty years with companies ranging from Cummins Engines to GTE. He then opened his own consulting company, specializing in dispute resolution and general management issues.

In 2000, Lawrence was elected Mayor of Highland Village, Texas, becoming the first African-American mayor elected in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Lawrence is a dedicated public servant, serving on numerous community boards and councils, including the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Dan Emiel Spicer: From Business Professor to Legal Expert

Dan Emiel Spicer, a 1973 graduate of the Indiana University School of Law, had a diverse career that spanned academia and law. Before attending law school, Spicer was a faculty member at Indiana University Southeast, teaching business and economics.

After law school, Spicer moved to Denver, Colorado, where he began his legal career. His practice focused on litigation and arbitration, particularly regarding real estate development and financial transactions. Spicer has co-managed closely held entities for multiple companies, created two international media companies, and assisted numerous nonprofit organizations around the world in efforts to improve living and health conditions of the underserved.

James Glidden Richmond: Public Servant and Legal Professional

James Glidden Richmond, a 1969 graduate of Indiana University’s school of Law, began his legal career in Washington, D.C., as a Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent. Four years later, he became a Special Agent in the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

Richmond returned to public service in 1985, serving as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, before heading back to Washington, D.C., in 1991, to become Special Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States. From 1992-1995, he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the National Health Laboratories. He also spent eight years at the Chicago firm Ungaretti & Harris, rising to Managing Partner and Chair.

Kenneth Robert Yahne: Advocate for Equal Justice

Kenneth Robert Yahne, a 1968 graduate of the Maurer School of Law, dedicated his career to corporate law and pro bono service. After law school, Yahne was drafted into the U. S. Army, earning both the Army Commendation Medal for his work at Fort Jackson as a legal clerk, and a Bronze Star for his service in Long Binh, Vietnam. After two years in the military, he returned to his hometown where he became a corporate lawyer for the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. He remained with the company until his retirement in 2003.

In addition to his legal work for the company, Yahne developed and managed the Lincoln National Corporation Pro-Bono Legal Services Program. Yahne is a co-founder and past president of the Indiana Equal Justice Fund which advocated and raised money for the state’s legal assistance programs.

Larry Jim McKinney: Public Servant and Legal Professional

Larry Jim McKinney, a 1969 graduate of the Indiana University School of Law, was hired by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, first as a law clerk and then a year later as a Deputy Attorney General. In 1971, McKinney and his friend Charlie Rogers opened a private practice in Edinburgh, Indiana. In 1974, he moved to Greenwood and joined Jim Sergeant in the firm of Sergeant & McKinney. He remained with the firm u…

Chancellor’s Medallion: Recognizing Distinguished Service

Indiana University Southeast presents the Chancellor’s Medallion to individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the university and the community. This prestigious award recognizes those who have given their talents in the promotion of human welfare and community well-being, and who, through their integrity, sensitivity, and commitment, serve as models for students and alumni of IU Southeast.

Recent Recipients of the Chancellor’s Medallion

Two recent recipients of the Chancellor’s Medallion are Sally Newkirk and Laura McGuirk, both of whom have made significant contributions to the university and the community.

Sally Newkirk: A Legacy of Museum Leadership

Sally Newkirk retired from the Carnegie Center for Art & History after serving as the Museum Director for 30 years. During that time, the museum underwent many changes, the most impactful of which was becoming a department of the Floyd County Library. Board and community support, the museum became established in the New Albany community and beyond.

Newkirk was a frequent presenter at national and regional museum conferences. She and author Pamela Peters were invited to speak at the Royal Armories Museum in Leeds, England where the Ordinary People, Extraordinary People exhibit was on display for 12 weeks.

Laura McGuirk: Championing Student Success

For Laura McGuirk, student scholarships such as the Chancellor’s Medallion have been near and dear to her heart for most of her career. A lifelong educator and post-secondary counselor retired from New Albany High School, McGuirk went above and beyond to assure her students had every opportunity to attend college and to receive every scholarship or financial aid assistance that was available to them.

During her 22 years at New Albany High School, McGuirk’s students earned more than $145 million in scholarships, many of those scholarships due to her diligence in making sure every application was filled out correctly and personally writing letters of recommendation for her seniors. She also supervised countless aspiring school counselors from IU Southeast School of Education as a practicum supervisor.

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