Deborah Jenkins Ahaus: BS '87 (1998)
Deborah Ahaus is the former president of Bank One and currently is the president of the Cincinnati Employees Credit Union and database coordinator/development assistant for Community Health Network Foundation. She currently lives in Florida. She and her husband, Rick Ahaus are instrumental in the creation of the Richmond Third Grade Academy, an 501(c)3 independent, voluntary, community-based program with a single focus-to have all third-grade students in Richmond reading on the grade level by the time they enter fourth grade.
Dennis L. Andrews: AS '76, BS '79 (1994)
Dennis Andrews began his career in law enforcement and eventually served as the Sheriff of Wayne County, Indiana. He also served as the Mayor of Richmond Indiana. After called to the ministry, Dennis attended the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has served churches in Indiana. He is currently the Senior Pastor at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, Miami Shores Florida.
He is a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association.
Lora K. Baldwin: BS '82 (2019)
Lora K. Baldwin (September 1958-March 2019) received her associates and bachelor’s degrees in business from IU East in 1982. She earned her Master’s of Library and Information Science in 1985 and a M.S. in Educational Psychology 1989 from Indiana University Bloomington. Baldwin worked for IU East for over 35 years, first as a work-study student in the library and then as librarian/faculty member starting in 1985.
She was a founding charter secretary of the IU East Alumni Association and a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association. Baldwin was the recipient of the IU Alumni Association President’s Award in 1994 and an IU Bicentennial Medal as a posthumous award on September 6.
Pamela F. Bliss: BS '98, MA '10 (2008)
Pamela Bliss is a muralist with over 20 years painting experience including "My Affair with Kurt Vonnegut, Jr." and "Jazz Masters of Indiana Avenue" in Indianapolis, which were commissioned for the Superbowl XLVI project. She was commissioned to paint several murals around Richmond, IN including the corner of South Ninth and South A streets, at the entrance to Paulee's Restaurant and on the Bartel Building which celebrates Richmond's jazz heritage, documenting the legacy of the Starr Piano Company and Gennett Records. She has several paintings and murals around the city depicting historical residents and landmarks. Pam was one of the artists who contributed to the experimental animated biographical and Academy Award nominated film-“Loving Vincent.”
Jeff F. Cappa: AS '98 (2014)
Jeff Cappa served 38 years in the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Wayne County, Indiana, retiring after being elected for two terms as Sheriff in 2018. Jeff was instrumental in raising the Sheriff’s Department’s accreditation to meet the highest professional standards recognized by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc, He is the former president of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association and was named Sheriff of the Year in 2013. He is the recipient of the Department of Defense Patriot Award.
As an advocate for community/police relations, Jeff presented to the US House of Representatives Law Enforcement Taskforce along with then Indiana attorney general Greg Zoeller.
Jeff is currently the Manager of Security at Reid Health in Richmond Indiana.
He is a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association, a 2010 recipient of the IU Alumni Association’s President’s Award. The Cappa Family is a three generation IU East Legacy Family.
Robert C. Chamness: AS '74, BS '75 (2002)
Robert V. Chamness Jr. has served as Deputy Sheriff, and eventually as the Probation Chief Probation Officer for Wayne County, Indiana. He was elected to and currently serves on the Wayne County Council. Bob was awarded the IU Alumni Association’s President’s Award in 1993. He is a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association. The Chamness Family is a two generation IU East Legacy Family
LuAnne Christofaro: AS '81, BS '89, MS '92 (2007)
LuAnne Christofaro is currently a performance improvement advisor with Vizient, Inc. She served for 25 year at Reid Health, Richmond, Indiana in various roles including, the Director of med-surg/outpatient care/respiratory and Director of Technical Services. LuAnne also teaches in an adjunct role for the IU East School of Nursing and Health Sciences She was awarded the IU Alumni Association’s President Award in 2001. LuAnne is a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association.
Robert J. Cline: AS '72, BS '82 (1999)
Robert J. Cline was a member of the first graduating class at IU East. He has a distinguished career law enforcement, joining the Indiana State Police in 1948, rising to the rank of Colonel, serving each rank from Trooper to Assistant Superintendent. His Indiana State Police career covered 34 years. Robert was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and member of the FBI National Academy Associates for 47 years. He has served as the Criminal Investigation Director of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Chief Police for Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana. He was a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association.
Robert J. Cline passed away on March 8, 2019
Robert Coons: AS '81, BS '85 (2013)
Robert A. Coons was named President of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in November 2018. He had previously served as is the Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative, as well as various finance and management-level positions before being promoted to his current position.
Rob also serves as the vice president of the Indiana Risk Management Board of Trustees, a member of the UAP Clinic, LLC Board of Managers and a member of the Indiana TechPoint Board of Directors. His experience includes roles as a past president of the Indiana Association of College and University Business Officers and has held various committee appointments on the Central Association of College and University Business Officers during his tenure. Rob is a past treasurer and Finance Committee Chair of the United Way of the Wabash Valley, a past president of Vigo County Lifeline, and is a graduate of Leadership Terre Haute.
Rob was a recipient of the Rose-Hulman President's Outstanding Service Award in 2010. He holds a MBA from Indiana State University, a CPA from North Carolina, and is a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Institute for Education Management.
Bette G. Davenport: AS '81, BS '92 (2006)
Bette Davenport served 19 years as IU East Alumni Director and a total of 27 years on the IU campus. While director, she was instrumental in leading the organization of the IU East Alumni Association, which was chartered in 1989.
Following her retirement in 2004, she assumed a volunteer role with the IU Alumni Association. Davenport was honored with a School of Continuing Studies Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004 and the IU Alumni Association’s President’s Award in 2016.
Bette is a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association.
Don Day: BS '98 (2017)
Don Day is currently the Senior Director of Nursing Operations at St, Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. A former coordinator of IU East's School of Nursing and Health Sciences Learning Lab, Don has also worked at Ball Memorial Hospital, Reid Health, and Honor Health in Scottsdale, Arizona. Don attended Grand Canyon University in Arizona where he earned a master's in nursing (M.S.N.) and doctorate of nursing practice (D.N.P.). He has served as an adjunct faculty member in the nursing graduate program at Grand Canyon University. He has also served as vice president of Patient Care Services at Fayette Regional Hospital, Connersville Indiana.
Donald is a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association.
Michael R. Day: BS '95 (2019)
Michael R. Day received his B.S. in Education in 1995 from IU East. He teaches seventh and ninth grade social studies at Centerville Junior and Senior High School in Centerville, Indiana. He has coached junior and high school football for 23 years, and he has been the head coach for wrestling and girls track.
Day emphasizes an importance on learning about different cultures through his curriculum, giving, community service and he promotes literacy through the Silent Sustained Reading program at CHS. He sponsors Student Council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a board member for Chrysalis (Emmaus) Community and worship team member for Fountain City Wesleyan Church.
John R. DeGraw: AS '75, BS '79, MD '83 (1995)
Dr. John DeGraw is a board certified family physician based in Crystal River, FL. providing primary care for patients in Beverly Hills, Crystal River, Hernando, Homosassa, Inverness, Lecanto and the surrounding communities. He is active in his local community, having funded a scholarship program for children in Citrus County School.
Dr. DeGraw is the first member of the IU East Alumni Hall of Fame.
Keith N. Fargo: BS '97, PhD '06 (2009)
Keith Fargo, of Napierville, Illinois, is currently the Director of Scientific Programs & Outreach at National Alzheimer Association.
Keith graduated from IU East with highest distinction and was the Naomi R. Osborne Scholar, an honor given to the graduate with the highest grade point average. After completing his degree, he was a post-baccalaureate student at the University of Cincinnati in 1998. Then in 2006, he earned his Ph.D. in Neural Science and in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Indiana University. Keith was the Chancellor's Fellow and a National Research Service Award (NRSA) trainee.
He would go on to the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and Hines VA Hospital to complete his postdoctoral training as a Ruth L. Kirschtein Individual NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow. While there, his research was focused on molecular neurobiology. He was a research health scientist in the Research and Development Service of the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital located in Hines, Ill. He has written and published several research articles and has served as an ad hoc reviewer for three scientific journals.
He has also served as is a Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics and taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.
Anthony (Tony) Foster II: BS '97 (2015)
Anthony L. (Tony) Foster, of Richmond, Ind., is currently the Assistant General Manager of Richmond Power and Light, Richmond, IN. He has served as Director of Compliance and Special Services at Indiana University East, Executive Director of Area 9 Agency on Aging, as well as the Executive Director of He is the executive director of the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Richmond where he was successful in garnering major grant funding. Tony serves as a member of the Wayne County Area Board of Directors.
Tim Frame: AS '89, BS '94 (2017)
Timothy R. Frame, of Richmond, Indiana, is the president/CEO of West End Bank, S.B., and West End Indiana Bancshares, Inc.
In January 2015, Tim was named president/CEO and now oversees 85 employees at four locations in Richmond, Hagerstown and Liberty. In his role, he has general oversight of the bank's loan portfolio, credit quality, loan yield, portfolio growth and retail operation. He has over 30 years of experience in financial services industry and serves on numerous community boards such as the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Richmond Hospital Authority, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, Circle U, United Way and the IU East Board of Advisors.
The Frame family is a two generation IU East Legacy Family
Susy S. Hasecoster: BS '89 (2005)
Susy Hasecoster retired from teaching in Richmond Community School, Richmond, Indiana. She was the recipient of the 2004 Indiana Association for the Gifted Teacher of the Year. She served as the lead teacher of Early College Preparatory Academy of the Richmond Community Schools and the Secondary Professional Development Consultant Team of the High Ability Program Staff in the school district. She currently involved in the Westview Elementary PTO where she and her husband, James, were named “2016 Friends of Education”.
Kate Hogg: BS '00 (2014)
Kate Hogg is currently teaches seventh and eighth grade classes at the Richmond Friends School, Richmond Indiana. Kate’s fourteen years of teaching freshmen at Richmond High School allowed her the opportunity to form many close relationships with students and faculty. Inspired by renowned teacher Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers, Kate and her ninth grade team created lessons for the English classroom that centered around tolerance, self-reliance, and service to the community. A multi-genre writing project over tolerance secured Kate and her ninth grade team the honor of presenting at the NCTE conference in New York City.
Continually seeking creative ways to engage students, Kate started a travel club to expose students to global issues; began an afterschool club for at-risk girls; coordinated work projects in poor communities; and organized events to expose her students to diversity and cultural opportunities.
Raymond C. Kelley: BS '04 (2010)
Ray currently serves as the Staff Director for the United States House of Representative, House Committee on Veteran Affairs where he oversees the daily operations of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democratic Staff while serving as the primary legislative and political advisor to Ranking Members
Formerly, Ray served as Director of the National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), as well as the National Legislative Director for AMVETS, the fourth largest Veterans Service Organization where he directed the organization's policies concerning the Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Defense and education and labor issues facing military service members, veterans and their families.
Ray enlisted in the military as soon as he graduated from Hagerstown High School, Hagerstown, Indiana. Before becoming a student at IU East, He was a military police officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1989 to 1995. He returned to the U.S. Army Reserve as a psychological operations team leader where he conducted over 250 combat missions independently and in conjunction with indigenous forces and Special Forces in North Babel Province of Iraq.
Regina McConnell, BS '99 JD '02 (2017)
Regina McConnell, of Henderson, Nevada, was a first-generation college student when she received her Bachelor of Business Administration in 1999 from IU East and her Juris Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis. She established her own family law firm, McConnell Law, Inc., in 2008.
Regina is recognized in Nevada as one of the top family attorneys. She received the prestigious "AV Preeminent" rating for attorneys by Martindale-Hubbell. She has been recognized by Avvo and Thumbtack with the "Client Choice Award" in 2017, 2016 and 2015.
Shelley Miller: BS '86 (2004)
Shelley D. Miller serves as the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary of West End Bank, S.B. in Richmond, IN. She is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive), and has extensive of experience in the financial services industry.
Shelley also served the City of Richmond, Indiana as Controller from 1996 to 2000 and Mayor from 2000 to 2003.
Rachel Mullen: BS '02, Ph.D '11 (2015)
Rachel is a postdoctoral fellow and a member of the research faculty at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center where she conducts a research in Molecular Biology, Endocrinology and Developmental Biology. Rachel has authored many research papers. Her most recent publication is 'Osterix functions downstream of anti-Müllerian hormone signaling to regulate Müllerian duct regression'.
She currently resides in Spring, Texas.
D. Sue Roberson: BS '80 (1997)
Sue served as the ADA Coordination/Director of Human Resources for the city of Richmond, IN. Prior to this position, Roberson worked for the State of Indiana DFC and was the State Personnel Director for the state government.
David H. Runyon: AS '72 (1996)
David Runyon was a member of the first graduating class from IU East and retired president of Bank One Richmond.
He was the founding owner of Atlantis Adventures Submarines, a tourism submarine company operating undersea tours in Grand Cayman, Barbados, Aruba, St.Thomas, Cozumel and Hawaii Islands of Kona, Maui and Oahu.
David resides in Reno, Nevada
Valerie Shaffer: BS '05 (2015)
Valerie is the president of Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County (Indiana). She previously held the position of Senior Project Manager for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. In 2016, Shaffer was named one of North America’s Top 50 economic developers, a recognition of her work in economic development and job creation.
She is a member of the Reid Health Community Board, as well as the Indiana University East Board of Advisors.
David M. Thurman: BS '83 (2000)
David began his banking career as a computer programmer and eventually a data processing manager at then, First National Bank of Richmond. He graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University in 1983. His thesis, “Asset and Liability Management in a Community Banks was a library selection and, upon publication in 1984, was added to the libraries of the American Bankers Association and the Harvard Business School. During his tenure at First National, he served as a vice president, Thurman went on to serve as the executive vice president of the Anderson Banking Company, 1986-88; president and chief executive officer at the Elston Bank & Trust in Crawfordsville, 1988-93; and president of National City Bank, Northwest Indiana Region, 1993-96. He formed and became a partner in Equity+LLC, a private investment and financial institution consulting firm. Thurman served as director of the Indiana Bankers Assocation on several occasions in the 1980s and 1990s.
Ingrid Y. Toschlog: AS '84, BS '87 (2003)
Ingrid Toschlog retired as the Bursar at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She previously served as Bursar on the IU East Campus. She has held the office of president of the School of Continuing Studies Alumni Association and a community captain for Hoosiers for Higher Education.
She received the IU Alumni Association’s President's Award in 1995. She has served on the IU Alumni Association’s executive council and the board of managers. Ingrid has also served as the treasurer of the Indiana Association of College and University Business Officers.
Ingrid is a lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association.
James R. White: AS '75, BS '79 (2019)
James R. White received his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice in 1975 and his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from IU East in 1979. He earned his Masters of Education from Butler University. White retired as a clinical lecturer from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI in 2019. Previously, he was a public safety lecturer at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI. He served the U.S. Army and Indiana Army National Guard, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve.
White is a retired Indiana State Police lieutenant with over 20 years of service who commanded the Indianapolis District. Upon retiring White returned to active duty with the U.S. Army serving as a security planner for the 1993 World University Games, the 1994 World Cup Soccer Championships, and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. After Iraq he served as the deputy assistant commandant of the U.S. Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He also served as the deputy director of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and then as the deputy director of the Marion County Emergency Management Agency.
