IBJ honors UIndy staff
University of Indianapolis President Beverley Pitts and Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning David Dresslar have been named in the Indianapolis Business Journal “Who’s Who in Education” top 35 educators in Indianapolis list.
“It’s [the award] really a recognition of the quality of UIndy and the impact of UIndy on the local community,” Pitts said. “I’m just the figurehead that represents the university.”
According to Pitts, the recognition is a compliment to the university and how much impact the institution has on education in central Indiana.
“When you look at UIndy, you have to feel pretty good about things. I think that the quality of our students, the quality of our academic programs and the past rates on some of our licensure exams are all indicators of how good UIndy is and how proud we are of it,” Pitts said.
Pitts said that it is not her achievements alone that have pushed UIndy into the spotlight of education, but the achievements of students, staff, deans and all the people that keep the quality of the university.
The university is involved in more than 200 partnerships with businesses and schools in the community. Every major is, in some way, engaged with the education of the surrounding community.
“We’re everywhere. We really take seriously our education for service mission, and we’re expanding our education,” Pitts said. “It’s doing good with what we know.”
According to Pitts, the university has had a strong engagement in improving the quality of education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
“There are a number of institutions across the state that are known for their education programs,” Pitts said. “I would put our program up against any of them in terms of the quality of the graduates that we have.”
Before coming to UIndy, Dresslar was the superintendent for 17 years in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has been working with CELL since 2004 and became its executive director two and a half years ago.
“CELL is 10 years old,” Dresslar said. “It is a nonprofit center here at the university.”
According to Dresslar, CELL is self-sustaining nonprofit organization that receives financial help from Lilly endowments and contracts and grants through the state of Indiana.
The program has impacted schools across the state as it has been recognized for its success and production of skilled educators.
“As an organization, we support Indiana schools with innovative programs and transformational models.”
Dresslar attributes the success of CELL to his predecessor and the work that he has contributed in the time that he has been the executive director. Dresslar said that over the past 10 years, CELL has become a highly reputed organization in the community.
“I think the school people, the Department of Education people and community people see CELL as a leader in education,” Dresslar said. “I think that positive reputation is our greatest achievement.”
The CELL staff is made of 25 individuals, and Dresslar said that they are the most talented and capable people working on education in Indiana today.
“CELL has had an impact and has been successful based on the people that staff it,” he said.
Dresslar said that he takes the “Who’s Who” award with humility.
“It was nice to be recognized with President Pitts,” Dresslar said. “That made it more special for me. I have to take it in perspective that it’s really a recognition of the organization and not me as an individual.”
