Meet Our 2016-17 IUAA Student Fellows

By IUAA Staff | January 30, 2017

The IUAA Student Fellows program strives to identify, inspire, involve, and invest in young professionals/leaders through an intensive student fellowship program. Significant and unique professional experiences are offered to help Student Fellows build deep connections that will last a lifetime and help groom them for lives as volunteers, members, connectors, and donors.

Currently, there are seven Fellows working in marketing, administration, and community departments. They assist with event preparation and daily office tasks as well as represent the IU Alumni Association at on- and off-campus events throughout the academic year. Our esteemed Student Fellows for 2016-17 include:

George “Trip” Lukemeyer III

  • Year in school: First-year graduate student in the Master’s of Athletic Administration program with a concentration in Marketing
  • Majors/minors: No majors, no minors, just a master’s program
  • Hometown: Bloomington, IN. Went to Bloomington High School North.
  • Favorite spot on campus: The wooden bridges over the Jordan River
  • Favorite random piece of IU trivia: I went to my first IU basketball game when I was less than a year old.
  • Your department at IUAA and how long you’ve worked here: I am in the middle of my second year working for the I Association, which is the alumni group of varsity letter winners (a.k.a. student-athletes).
  • Favorite thing about working for IUAA: All the free food from events. No joke!
  • Something you’ve learned from your experience as an IUAA Student Fellow: In the polarized world in which we currently live, there is harmony between people of all races, genders, religions, and walks of life as long as they can find common ground. In my experience at the IUAA, Indiana University has been the foundation for many of those interactions. This gives me hope for a better future.

Ying “Lorraine” Liu

  • Year in school: Second year in the Kelley School 3/2 MBA program
  • Majors/minors: Finance and Accounting
  • Hometown: Henan, China
  • Favorite spot on campus: The path from Ballantine to the Sample Gates
  • Favorite random piece of IU trivia: Found in my senior year that the best caramel latte is from the Wells Library’s underground café!
  • Your department at IUAA and how long you’ve worked here: International Relations. I have been working here for two months.
  • Favorite thing about working for IUAA: Listening to people talk about their lives at IU and how it has helped them to become who they are today.
  • Something you’ve learned from your experience as an IUAA Student Fellow: To be open to learn things from the people around me and to bring my value to the team as an individual and also as the student representative to bridge the gap between any connections.

Katie Cole

  • Year in school: Senior
  • Majors/minors: History
  • Hometown: South Bend, IN
  • Favorite spot on campus: Dunn Meadow
  • Favorite random piece of IU trivia: Our campus is considered one of the five most beautiful campuses in the nation (cited in Thomas Gaine’s book The Campus as a Work of Art).
  • Your department at IUAA and how long you’ve worked here: Programs for about six months
  • Favorite thing about working for IUAA: It’s a fun office with fun people working in it. I always leave work with a smile on my face.
  • Something you’ve learned from your experience as an IUAA Student Fellow: I’ve learned a lot of time-management skills (especially during the hectic week of Homecoming).

Carmen Vernon

  • Year in school: Senior
  • Majors/minors: English and Gender Studies; Political and Civic Engagement Certificate
  • Hometown: Indianapolis
  • Favorite spot on campus: IMU Student Activities Tower
  • Favorite random piece of IU trivia: Students were instrumental in starting Alfred Kinsey’s marriage course. In 1938, the Association of Women students petitioned Indiana University to offer the course.
  • Your department at IUAA and how long you’ve worked here: IU Travels / September
  • Favorite thing about working for IUAA: The people! My co-workers are funny, hardworking, and a joy to be around. All work and no play makes for a very boring day.
  • Something you’ve learned from your experience as an IUAA Student Fellow: Revision, revision, revision. Marketing materials can never be too perfect.

Allie Gardner

  • Year in school: Third-year law student
  • Majors/minors: Law
  • Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
  • Favorite spot on campus: South Lounge in the IMU by the fireplace
  • Favorite random piece of IU trivia: IU has had a lot of (failed) attempts at establishing an official mascot, including a bison, a goat, a collie, the Hoosier Schoolmaster, the Crimson Bull, and Mr. Hoosier Pride.
  • Your department at IUAA and how long you’ve worked here: I work on University advocacy and citizenship, especially the Hoosiers for Higher Education (HHE) program. I started in August 2015.
  • Favorite thing about working for IUAA: I love the culture of fun and positivity! People are excited about and proud of their work. It’s contagious!
  • Something you’ve learned from your experience as an IUAA Student Fellow: I’ve learned the importance of being a team player. So much more can be accomplished when everyone is willing to pitch in and collaborate, and I’ve seen such great examples of that at IUAA!

Kathy Lopez

  • Year in school: Senior
  • Majors/minors: Journalism, Spanish, Arts Administration
  • Hometown: Hammond, IN
  • Favorite spot on campus: The new Media School
  • Favorite random piece of IU trivia: In that historic photo of T. C. Steele working on a painting in the middle of Dunn Meadow (I believe), there’s a student gazing on, watching him. That student was Herman B Wells!
  • Your department at IUAA and how long you’ve worked here: Diversity Programs under Clarence Boone. I’ve been with the team since September 2014.
  • Favorite thing about working for IUAA: The help everyone is willing to provide, personally and professionally. Everyone has made me feel welcome since day one!
  • Something you’ve learned from your experience as an IUAA Student Fellow: I’ve learned the importance of hard work and collaborative work. All the group projects in class can leave a bad, lasting impression of what it means to work on a team. However, that’s never been the case during my time as a Fellow. I’m very grateful for that.

Hannah Thomas

  • Year in school: Junior
  • Major/minors: Public Relations & Media Advertising with a minor in Political Science
  • Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
  • Favorite spot on campus: The outdoors patio at the IU Art Museum
  • Favorite random piece of IU trivia: The fire that created IUAA
  • Your department at IUAA and how long you’ve worked here: Alumni Communities (August 2016)
  • Favorite thing about working for IUAA: Getting to connect with people who share the same love for this school
  • Something you’ve learned from your experience as an IUAA Student Fellow: Always keep an open mind and think outside the box!
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