Indiana State University Newsroom

Renae Kirby has been named executive director of Leadership Wabash Valley, Indiana State University Foundation officials announced.

Kirby has served as interim director since July following the retirement of longtime executive director Dixie Brown. She provided excellent leadership for the program and was a natural choice for the director's position, said Karen O'Rourke, Leadership Wabash Valley board president and associate vice president of development for the ISU Foundation.

"Renae has the full support of the board of directors and the board will be looking to her to help lead the organization through a strategic planning effort and to raise the awareness of leadership and learning training in the community," O'Rourke said.

"This is an exciting time to be a part of the Leadership Wabash Valley organization; and I am thrilled to have this opportunity," said Kirby. "I'm pleased the board is supportive of the vision to take the organization to a new level in the near future."

Kirby joined the foundation in September 2007 as communications coordinator. In 2009, she completed a master's degree in communication at Indiana State with an emphasis on motorsports. Prior to arriving at ISU, Kirby served as senior admissions counselor at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb. and as creative services director for KMA radio in Shenandoah, Iowa. In addition to her master's degree from ISU, she holds a bachelor's degree in media production from Hastings College in Hastings, Neb.

"Renae's passion for Leadership Wabash Valley, extensive connections in the community and support of the board will serve her very well in this new position as executive director," said Scott Teffeteller, Leadership Wabash Valley board member and president and CEO of Union Hospital. "Renae has demonstrated that she is committed to moving this organization forward in serving our community in whatever way she can that fits with the mission."

In addition to Kirby's appointment, the foundation announced that Hilary Duncan will serve as communications coordinator for the foundation.

Duncan, a native of Huntingburg, is a 2010 graduate of Indiana State with a bachelor's degree in communication. She will be working with Leadership Wabash Valley and will be assisting the university president's office.

A nonpartisan community leadership educational program, Leadership Wabash Valley is designed to identify potential community leaders, assist them in the development of their leadership skills, and enhance their ability to positively impact the community. During its more than 30 years of existence, the program has produced more than 1,000 alumni who hold a variety of leadership positions in business, education, government and the not for profit sector. It became part of the ISU Foundation in 2009.

Leadership Wabash Valley is temporarily housed in Gillum Hall, Room 360, on the ISU campus. In February, it will relocate with other ISU Foundation offices to the foundation's new building at Fifth and Cherry streets.

Photos:

http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/1129304522_DBWXn-L.jpg - Renae Kirby

http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/1129304253_jPW93-L.jpg - Hilary Duncan

Contact: Karen O'Rourke, president, Leadership Wabash Valley board of directors and associate vice president, Indiana State University Foundation, 812-237-8727 or korourke@indstatefoundation.org.

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu.