Indiana State University Newsroom

Chris McGrew has been named director of the Office of International Programs and Services at Indiana State University.

McGrew is president of Global Indiana: A Consortium for International Exchange and previously served for 10 years as social studies coordinator for the Indiana Department of Education.

"Chris is well positioned to lead Indiana State's critical international initiatives. He has been a longtime partner with ISU and its faculty on student and faculty exchanges and assisted with the university's recent Thai student exchange," said Jay Gatrell, dean of the ISU College of Graduate and Professional Studies, interim director of international programs and services and chair of the director search committee.

McGrew is "an outstanding international educator who has extensive experience developing international partnerships," Gatrell said. "His skills will enhance the already outstanding work being done in international programs and services. Chris is unique in that he has already had experience with ISU faculty as well as partner institutions in China and Thailand."

As president of Global Indiana since July 2010, McGrew designed and directed exchange programs for 76 K-12 schools and has raised money to fund exchange activities. From 2002 to 2007, he directed international education efforts related to K-12 social studies for the state education department. In 2004, he was co-leader of Fulbright-Hays group project that sent Indiana State faculty and several K-12 teachers and administrators to China.

"I have been working for the past five years toward just this kind of opportunity," McGrew said of his selection to head Indiana State's international efforts. "I love working with faculty, teachers, administrators and students to find ways to increase cultural and language studies programs. ISU and the Office of International Programs and Services (IPS) have provided me with the platform and resources to do even more. I am looking forward to working with the staff of the IPS as well as the larger faculty and student community at ISU to carry out and expand upon the learning and engagement mission of the university."

McGrew holds a master's degree in economic education and entrepreneurship from the University of Delaware and bachelor's degrees from Purdue University in secondary social studies education and in political science and economics. He is completing a Ph.D. in education, with a social studies emphasis, from Purdue.

McGrew will begin his duties at Indiana State June 1. He will succeed Jacques Fuqua, who left in January for a similar position at Auburn University-Montgomery in Alabama.

Contact: Jay Gatrell, dean, College of Graduate and Professional Studies and interim director, Office of International Programs and Services, Indiana State University, 812-237-3087 or jay.gatrell@indstate.edu

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