Ivy Tech Foundation names new president

Ivy Tech Community College has named Courtney Roberts Senior Vice President of Development for the College and President of the Ivy Tech Foundation. As leader of the Foundation, Roberts will partner with donors to invest in Ivy Tech Community College students, faculty, and programs to build stronger communities and a better Indiana. She joins the College January 4, 2022.

“Courtney Roberts is a proven leader and philanthropic force in our state, nation and world, and I’m very pleased she will be joining the College and Foundation to help us further our impact on students, employers and communities,” said Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College. “Her vision and passion for creating shared value in communities across the globe will serve us well and further our mission.”

As president of the Ivy Tech Foundation, Roberts will focus on reaching the five-year statewide capital campaign goal of $285 million by June 2023 and plan future campaigns to grow Ivy Tech’s philanthropic impact on students and communities around the state.

“Ivy Tech is a critically important institution in the State of Indiana. Not only is it fueling the economic engine of Indiana’s workforce – training Hoosiers for the careers that will grow our future economy – it also plays an essential role in advancing access to higher education and opportunities for individuals and communities,” said Roberts. “I’m honored to be part of Ivy Tech’s efforts to make Indiana a more equitable place for all who call this state home.”

Roberts comes to the Foundation following a 14-year tenure with Eli Lilly and Company. She held a number of positions in public policy, government affairs and corporate responsibility, most recently serving as the Director, Social Impact: Global Health Philanthropic Partnerships. In this position, Roberts led a team responsible for Lilly’s philanthropic global health efforts in the United States, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mexico, India and China. This includes the implementation of Lilly’s $12 million, eight-year pilot program to address social determinants of health that are barriers to diabetes care in three underserved Indianapolis neighborhoods. She also led Lilly’s philanthropic product donation response to natural disasters and global crises, which most recently included the company’s donations of COVID-19 therapeutics to low-middle income countries.

Roberts is a 2018 recipient of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Women of Influence distinction and a member of the inaugural class of Hoosier Women Forward.

She is a consummate volunteer, serving over the years as a member of the Butler University Alumni Board of Directors and a member of the Timmy Global Health Board of Directors. She currently serves on the boards of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis, AMPATH’s Development Board, and the Christel House Advisory Committee.  Additionally, she has served as the Mayor’s appointee to the City of Indianapolis Board of Public Works.

Roberts earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Butler University. While attending Butler, Roberts worked with the Indiana General Assembly, transitioning into a full-time role with the Indiana Senate Democrats upon graduation. She served in the administrations of Sen. Evan Bayh and Mayor Bart Peterson, and as a consultant with Bose Public Affairs Group before joining Lilly in 2007.

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 degree and short-term certificate programs, and trainings that align to the needs of the community. The College also offers courses and associate degree programs that seamlessly transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a quality, affordable route to a bachelor’s degree.