Indiana State University Newsroom

John Conant, professor and chair of Indiana State University's department of economics, is the newest member of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Conant began service this week on the 14-member body charged with defining the mission of Indiana's colleges and universities, planning and coordinating postsecondary education and ensuring that Indiana's higher education system meets the needs of students and the state.

"We are excited to have John serve in this capacity," said Dan Bradley, Indiana State's president. "He will be a great faculty representative and will bring both intelligence and thoughtfulness to this important role."

Faculty members at Indiana State nominated Conant for the position and a statewide screening committee recommended him for appointment by Gov. Mike Pence.

"It is quite an honor to be chosen to provide the voice of the faculty of the state to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education," Conant said. "I take the responsibility for speaking on behalf of faculty on this very important body very seriously. It is quite an honor and quite a responsibility."

Conant said he found his first commission meeting to be very interesting, both in terms of the other members of the panel and the issues the body deals with.

"It has been quite interesting to read up on the commission's strategic plan which we will be redoing during my term and to begin to see some of the exciting things that are happening on campuses across the state."

Conant is only the second Indiana State faculty member to serve on the commission since it was expanded to include faculty and student representation in 1990. His appointment runs until June 30, 2017. Robert Puckett, professor emeritus of political science, served as faculty representative from 1993-94.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-gKQMvDF/0/3X/i-gKQMvDF-3X.jpg

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