The Indiana University Alumni Association values service, loyalty, and volunteer leadership. During Alumni Leaders Weekend, June 21—22, the IUAA will honor eight alumni volunteers who exemplify these qualities.
2024 IUAA President’s Award honorees
Established in 1990, President’s Award is the highest award for alumni volunteers and is for outstanding achievements by volunteers that are the most dedicated in their service. The 2024 honorees for the IUAA President’s Award are:
MaryEllen Kiley Bishop, BS’79, JD’82, of Carmel, Indiana
MaryEllen has served on many boards and committees that support IU since earning her degrees – her business degree in Bloomington and her law degree in Indianapolis. Just a few of the activities to which she’s devoted her valuable time include four terms as an elected member of the IU Board of Trustees. She’s also led ably on the IU Women’s Colloquium planning committee and as co-chair of the IU School of Medicine Planned Giving Committee. MaryEllen has been a 30-year volunteer for the Alumni Association, beginning in 1994 with her appointment to the Executive Council, followed by her tenure on the Board of Managers, ultimately serving as chair in 2007. MaryEllen has also faithfully supported the IU Indianapolis campus through appointments on the McKinney School of Law Board of Visitors and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Board of Visitors.
Michael Griffin, BS’71, of Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Michael is originally from Valparaiso, Indiana, and while a student at IU Bloomington, he was editor of the Indiana Daily Student. After retiring and moving to Florida, Michael began volunteering with IUAA and has been a stalwart volunteer in the alumni chapters program since 2011, taking on leadership in the Florida Suncoast Region. The active engagement he has spearheaded is evident in the networking experiences, educational events, game watches, and Indiana Day programs. Under his leadership, the chapter built a scholarship for IU students from their area that now totals almost $39,000. Although Florida Suncoast Chapter was sunset in recent years, Michael’s advocacy and volunteerism on behalf of IU continued. In 2021, he was elected to the IUAA Executive Council and has served on the Belonging Committee since its inception, working as a vocal participant and ally in the work to support IUAA’s priority to cultivate belonging for all.
Sallie Jo Tardy Mitzell, BS’81, MA’83, of Westfield, Indiana
Sallie Jo invests her time, talent, and treasure across IU and her passions run deep. She has served on the IU Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council since 2013, and as its chair from 2020 to 2022, was an integral leader in impacting all of IU’s campuses with more than $1.5 million in grantmaking support. She is a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Executive Dean’s Advisory Board, the Colloquium for Women of IU Steering Committee, and serves as a founding member of the IU Queer Philanthropy Circle. Sallie Jo has impacted myriad areas at IU, including as a member of the Colloquium for Women of IU Steering Committee, Student Foundation Board of Associates, the Curtis R. Simic Steering Committee, and as a member of the IU Foundation Class Campaign Committee and as of 2023, a member of the IU Foundation Board of Directors.
Jeannie Infante Sager, MA’03, of Zionsville, Indiana
Jeannie began serving as board member on the then-Center on Philanthropy beginning in 1999. When the center became the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, she continued to volunteer with the group, and over the years lent her time to the Women’s Colloquium Steering Committee, the IU Indianapolis Alumni Council, the IU Indianapolis Board of Advisors, and the 100 Judges Committee. In 2013, Jeannie was asked to be on the Nominating Committee for the Executive Council and Board – which was her first foray into the corporate governing structure of IUAA. In 2015, Jeannie was elected to the IUAA Board of Managers upon which she served as secretary, manager at large, and ultimately chair. She currently chairs the Past Chairs Council. Her commitment to IU and IUAA, particularly the Indianapolis campus is evident as she advocates for the campus, university, and IU Alumni Association.
2024 Volunteer Leadership Award honorees
The IUAA Volunteer Leadership Award is presented to leaders who are not finished with their volunteer journey and continue to serve the IU Alumni Association in impactful ways. The 2024 honorees for the Volunteer Leadership Award are:
Kareema Boykin, MSW’06
Kareema has been an unwavering force on the IU School of Social Work Alumni Board for the past 12 years. Her dedication extends to every officer position, including her most recent tenure as president. She actively engages in campus-wide events such as the Top 100, Regatta, Alumni Leaders Dinner, and search and screen committees. Her passion, uplifting personality, and commitment unite alumni, fostering a vibrant connection with the school, alumni board, and university. In 2021, Kareema was elected to the IUAA Executive Council and was appointed to the inaugural Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Committee, upon which she continues to serve. In 2019, she received the IU School of Social Worker Distinguished Service Award, and in 2021 was one of three recipients of the Maynard K. Hine Medal.
Jason Gerdom, BS’97, of Watertown, Massachusetts
Jason is in his second term as an at-large member of the Executive Council, currently as a member of the Finance Committee. An avid IUAA volunteer, Jason was part of the IUAA Boston Chapter leadership for 15 years, serving as president for more than a decade. He continues to connect with and serve as a liaison for alumni in New England. Dedicated to higher education, he has been an alumni student recruiter for nearly three decades. Jason also helped create two scholarships: the Boston Alumni Chapter Scholarship, which aids students from the New England area, and the Gerdom Family Scholarship, which helps a student from his high school attend IU, cementing the legacy of his love for Indiana University.
Josh Kornberg, BA’12, of Sellersburg, Indiana
Josh began his IU volunteer service as a student at IU Southeast and is an exceptional example of leadership in action both at IU and in his professional life. He shined as the Student Body President while a student at IU Southeast, became a student representative on the Executive Council, and then after graduation, served as Executive Council alumni member at large for 7 years. He was a member of the IU Southeast Board of Advisors in 2017-2019, and then joined the Board of Managers in 2018 and led as chair immediately following a difficult COVID-19 pandemic year. During the time as national chair, Josh shared his significant gifts and abilities as he helped guide the IUAA in an important transition, always leading with insight and wisdom.
Jim Trilling, BA’94, of Arlington, Virginia
Jim began volunteering in the early 2000s, when he played a role in the University’s student recruitment initiatives in the Washington, DC area. Over the course of two decades, Jim has emerged as a cornerstone of the Washington, D.C. Chapter, culminating in his tenure as President, helping that community to diversify program offerings. An active member of the Executive Council since 2021, Jim has been part of two working subcommittees on IUAA’s Governance Committee which assisted in updating important governing documents. Jim is a triple threat in his service to IU, at least. While on the College of Arts + Sciences Alumni Board starting in 2009, Jim served as president of that community and continues to connect all the facets of his alumni volunteerism together.
The IU Alumni Association is a global alumni organization that brings more than 774,000 IU graduates together to support one another and Indiana University throughout their lives. Learn more about the IU Alumni Association, or call (812) 855-4822.