Indiana State University Newsroom

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Indiana State University Alumni Association has announced the recipients of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award. The recipients include Dean Hirsch, Stephen Clinton, Clyde Kersey, and Sheila Powell. Josue Robles will be on campus to receive his Distinguished Alumni Award, bestowed on him in 2005. The alumni will be honored at a banquet on Oct. 20 in Dede I and II, Hulman Memorial Student Union.

Dean R. Hirsch

	Dean Hirsch

ISU alumnus Dean R. Hirsch is doing his part to help the world's poor. Hirsch is the president and chief executive officer of World Vision International and heads a global partnership that last year assisted 100 million people in 99 countries.

Hirsch graduated in 1973 from ISU with a masters of science degree in student personnel.He began working at World Vision International in 1976 as a manager of computer operations. He served as chief operating officer, vice president for relief operations and vice president for development before being appointed to his current position in 1996 as international president.

Under Hirsch's leadership, World Vision's income has tripled allowing them to employ more than 22,000 in the effort to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and HIV/AIDS. He has spread World Vision's mission to the likes of the UN Security Council and the World Bank.

Hirsch conducted his undergraduate studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara where he also holds an honorary doctorate. He also received honorary doctorates from Eastern University in Pennsylvania and Myongji University in Seoul, Korea.

He lives with his wife, Wendy, and son, Ryan, in Altadena, Calif.

Stephen W. Clinton

	Stephen Clinton

After graduating in 1974 with a journalism degree, Stephen Clinton went on to help other college students in their pursuit of higher education. Clinton currently serves as the president of Indiana Secondary Market for Education Loans, Inc., a position he has held since 2002 and previously from 1984 to 1992. The Indianapolis based not-for-profit organization provides funds for student and parent education loans. Under his leadership, the organization has grown from $200 million in assets to over $1.5 billion and has generated 120 new jobs.

Before taking his current position, Clinton served as chairman of USA Group Secondary Market Services, Inc. a multi-billion dollar national financing organization for education loans. He also chaired USA Group Enterprises, Inc., Noel-Levitz Consulting, Inc., and EDULINX Canada. He started his career at the U.S. Office of Education after graduating from ISU and later joined the Student Loan Marketing Association team or Sallie Mae, in its beginnings.

Clinton is active in the educational loan industry and other organizations. He serves as a member of the board of directors for the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs and the Education Finance Council finance committee chairman. Clinton served as chairman for the Lugar Scholarship endowment campaign and a board member for Indiana Dollars for Scholars and the ISU Foundation. He is also on the USA Funds Advisory Board.

Clinton and his wife, Bonnie, reside in Fishers. They have two children, Jennifer Rutherford and Brian Clinton.

Clyde R. Kersey

	Clyde Kersey

Kersey earned two degrees from ISU -- a bachelor's degree in Social Science Education in 1971 and a Master's Degree in 1975.

Currently serving as a State Representative, Kersey began his career as teacher at Terre Haute North Vigo High School. He taught for 27 years before retiring in 1998. During his time as a teacher, Kersey expanded his interests to politics.

Kersey was first elected to the Vigo County Council as a Councilman in the 1st district in 1986 and was reelected in 1990 and 1994. In 1996, he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives were he has served 10 years on the Ways and Means Committee along with the Education, Labor and Election Committees. In 2002, the Speaker of the House of Representatives appointed Kersey as Chairman of the House Ethics Committee which he has chaired for the past two years.

Kersey authored the House Bill 1265 the Prescription Drug Pooling Bill which gave the state the authority to organize all state employees into a large pool in order to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. This bill has been used as a model by other states to get low cost prescription drugs for their state employees.

Kersey has been an advocate for ISU in the House and has pushed for projects that would better the university and community. He worked on the bills for the new Power House and the Stalker Hall and University Hall renovations. He also helped get the bill for the new student recreation center approved. In the next session, Kersey will be working on getting State approval for the demolition of the Statesman Towers.

Kersey and his wife, Susie, have been married since 1963 and have one son, Tim.

Sheila D. Powell

	Sheila Powell

Sheila Powell is a member of an elite group of ISU graduates - one of the women who make up less than 10 percent of the College of Technology's alumnae.

Powell recently assumed a new position with General Motors South Central Region, responsible for promoting the retail sales of ACDelco service components to distributors and independent accounts. Prior to July 2006, she worked her way through the ranks of General Motors Corporation to become one of five Regional Service Managers and the only woman to hold this position.

After graduating in December 1977 with a bachelor's degree in automotive technology, Powell began her career with GM in a cooperative education student program. She quickly moved through the ranks. Powell has served as the Buick Brand/Global Asia Pacific Operations Manager in Shanghai, China and Regional Divisional Marketing Manager for Buick and then Pontiac and GMC. As the South Central Regional Service Manager, Powell was over the service operations of all GM brands and dealerships within the 14 state region.

Powell has remained active in the ISU Automotive Technology Program. She has been working with ISU faculty to provide resources for students in the new motor sports management initiative. She is currently a member of the Automotive Technology Management Advisory Committee. Because of her connections, GM has contacted the committee about employment opportunities for their students. She also served on the Industrial Automotive Technology Committee from 1989 to 1997. On this committee, she was instrumental in obtaining many vehicle components and specialty tools for use in laboratories.

Powell has a degree from Stanford University in Executive Marketing Management. She has also completed work towards a Master's degree in Business Administration from University of Dallas. She currently resides in Irving, Texas.

Josue (Joe) Robles, Jr.

	Josue (Joe) Robles, Jr.

A Puerto Rico native, Robles earned a master's degree in business administration from Indiana State University in 1979. From there, he went to the U.S. Army working his way up to Major General. From the Army, he became the chief financial officer at the largest provider of insurance to military families.

While earning his master's at ISU, Robles taught day classes in accounting and finance at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, while taking night classes to earn his degree. That hard work began his career with the Army. He moved around the world, serving in Korea, Vietnam, Germany and the Middle East. He even made a stop at the Pentagon as the Army's budget director and was commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One). He retired from the military in 1994, after 28 years of service, and headed to Texas.

Robles's military experience helped him land the job of USAA's senior vice president and chief financial officer. He handles all the finances of the Fortune 200 company that employs more than 21,000 people globally. He also has more then 600 people report directly to him. He works to build and protect the financial security of USAA members. In 1995, he also assumed the duties of corporate treasurer of USAA.

Robles and his wife live in San Antonio, Texas. They have a daughter and two sons.

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Contact: Elizabeth Tuttle, ISU Alumni Affairs, (812)237-3779

Writer: Laura Smiley, ISU Communications & Marketing intern, (812) 237-3773