I’m pleased to announce that the IUAA will be spotlighting alumni who have named and special scholarships that are awarded during the annual DASA weekend. Through these alumni profiles, we hope to highlight the exemplary service of these distinguished alumni, and in turn, we wish to inspire greater generosity. One such exemplar is Sue Talbot of Bloomington.

The Talbot Advocacy Scholarship is named for Sue H. Talbot, BS’66, MS’71, EdD’92, who earned her undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees from IU Bloomington. She served on the IU Board of Trustees from 2000 – 2010 and received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award (DASA) in 2011. Sue’s commitment to IU and to the field of education earned her the recognition of being the founding executive director of Hoosiers for Higher Education (HHE) in 1991.

Due to Sue’s leadership, HHE became known for upholding best practices in government relations nationally. HHE utilized their impact as a statewide advocacy organization featuring regular events and forums until 2016 when state lobbying regulations were amended. Prior to this, proud Hoosiers for Higher Education members gathered annually in Indianapolis to meet with and thank the state’s elected leaders for their support. This Annual Statehouse Visit set a record participant level in 2009 with more than 700 alumni, staff, students, faculty, and friends of Indiana University dedicated to raising public awareness about the importance of higher education in the state of Indiana.

The Talbot Advocacy Scholarship was created and is supported by the IU Alumni Association to honor Sue and her exemplary service to Indiana University and HHE. As the inaugural executive director of HHE, she was responsible for the development of one of the very first university-based grassroots organizations in the country and served faithfully until her retirement in 2000.

The Talbot Advocacy Scholarship is awarded to a senior during the DASA Scholarship Luncheon and is presented to a student who is interested in the field of education and who demonstrates dedication to this field, community engagement, public service, and to the teaching of our future leaders.