Pittman to serve full-time as vice provost for online education

TERRE HAUTE -- Ivy Tech Community College's Wabash Valley (Terre Haute) Chancellor Dr. Jeff Pittman will serve full-time in the role of vice provost for online education.

With the recent growth in online learning at Ivy Tech, the college has asked Pittman to focus his attention and efforts on further expansion in distance education and be based in Indianapolis.

Lea Anne Crooks, who currently serves as the Wabash Valley region's executive director for workforce and economic development, has been named the region's interim chancellor. A committee is being formed as the college starts the search process for a new chancellor.

Pittman served as chancellor for the Wabash Valley since 1999. In addition to this role, he has served the college as the executive dean at the Sellersburg Region, dean of academic affairs for the Bloomington Campus, and department chair of Manufacturing Technology and Industrial Trades at the Columbus Campus.

Pittman has earned a bachelor of science degree in business from Indiana University at Bloomington, a master of science degree in technology from Indiana State University, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership, administration and foundations from Indiana State University.

He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Chapter from Indiana State University and of Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Rho Sigma Chapter.

While serving as chancellor he also served the dual role of vice provost for online education for the last two years. Under Pittman's statewide leadership the college has seen enrollment in distance education double from just over 32,728 in 2008 to 65,470 in 2010.

Crooks has been with the college since 1991 and has served as executive director of workforce and economic development since 1999.

In addition to this role, she has served the college as the assistant administrator to the vice president and chancellor and manager of community and workforce development.

Crooks earned a bachelor of science degree in business education and a master of science degree in human resource development from Indiana State University. She also has served or serves on a number of boards including United Way of the Wabash Valley, Rotary International, and the Workforce Investment Board.

She was also the past president of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers and is currently serving as a technical advisor for a federal project focused on Designing Instruction for Career Pathways.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana.

It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.