Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University Vice President Nancy Rogers is among the honorees at the city of Terre Haute Human Relations Commission's "A Level Above" Awards Banquet on Sept. 19.

The annual banquet recognizes individuals, business and agencies that promote civil and human rights in the Vigo County area. The evening consists of music, dinner and award presentation. This year's keynote speaker is author/poet Adrian Matejka.

"I am honored to receive this recognition from the Human Relations Commission. The award does not just belong to me. We have an outstanding team in University Engagement and across the campus that are deeply committed to advocating for human rights and helping our students find their own passion for human rights. I am very lucky to regularly get to be the face of this group of dedicated colleagues," said Rogers, vice president for the Division of University Engagement.

Rogers says she feels strongly about helping people, an area where Indiana State has excelled under her leadership -- first as faculty fellow and director of the Center for Public Service and Community Engagement and later associate vice president for community engagement prior to the creation of the Division of University Engagement. She was named vice president in 2015.

"I'm concerned very much about social justice," she said. "I'm concerned about people having the opportunity move ahead in life, to overcome poverty and to overcome prejudice. That's the issue that's most important to me."

Serving others comes naturally to Rogers, who came to Indiana State in 1995 as a faculty member in recreation and sport management.

"It's a commitment that I grew up with in my home," she said. "My parents have been very active in their community. I was active in high school, church, 4-H and other organizations. It's consistent with my faith. Service to others is something that people are called to do. It's a value I try to instill in my children as well. There's work to be done in the community, so if not me, who?"

Each year, students and employees hear that calling and respond, resulting in State averaging a million hours of service each year. For several years running, the university was ranked nationally in the top three for service among 279 universities in Washington Monthly magazine.

"It's a testament to our students, faculty and staff who have embraced it," she said. "When we started this work in the early 2000s, I thought we could be successful, but I wouldn't have guessed that we would come so far so quickly."

Rogers' entire family is Sycamores. Her husband, Don, is professor in the department of kinesiology, recreation, and sport, and their two children, Laura and Jonathan, are a senior and freshman, respectively, at State.

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