INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College has named Dr. Kathryn Lash as the vice president for K-14 and strategic initiatives. Lash most recently served as executive director for East Central Educational Service Center in Connersville, Indiana. She joins the College October 9, 2023.
“Katie Lash is a proven leader and K-14 collaborator in our state, and I’m very pleased she will be joining the College to help us further our impact on students, employers and communities,” said Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College. “Her enthusiasm and passion for the field of education is contagious and, as a natural convener and relationship builder, Katie will serve us well and further our mission.”
As vice president for K-14 and strategic initiatives, Lash will support the development of partnerships involving secondary schools and career centers. She’ll lead college-wide strategic initiatives related to middle school and high school populations, including dual credit and dual enrollment courses, degree completion pathways, initiatives in support of enrollment of students to the College and the Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP). Lash will work closely with campus teams, statewide leaders and external partners to achieve these objectives and have a positive impact on students and communities around the state.
Growing up in Indiana, Ivy Tech has been a familiar and consistent name throughout the state. A State Policy Retreat with leaders from many different states facilitated by the Lumina Foundation led me personally to engage in conversations about how special it is for Indiana to have a statewide system. Our schools are lucky to have partnerships with Ivy Tech available to all K-14 Hoosiers, and it’s my honor to represent that message in this role.
– Katie Lash, VP of K-14 and Strategic Initiatives
With over 10 years of experience in teaching and leading in the K-12 public sector, Lash has leveraged partnerships with various stakeholders, all possessing a shared interest in supporting students. Throughout her career, Lash has served as a change agent for implementing ideas for students in settings from elementary school through graduate programs.
With Lash’s leadership, ECESC nearly tripled the annual budget and managed awards of over $6 million dollars of competitive grants aimed at innovative solutions. She collaborated daily with superintendents and school leaders from over 40 member organizations in East Central Indiana to provide operations consortiums, professional development and cooperative solutions in education. She transformed the agency from a fiscal deficit to a leading educational agency in the state with many partners in higher education, state agencies, state professional associations, community leaders and employers.
She is a consummate volunteer, serving over the years as the Lilly Scholars Network Advisory Council Chairperson (Outgoing), the East Central Indiana Talent Region’s Guiding Team, and others. Additionally, she was a fellow in the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation.
Lash holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Educational Administration & Supervision, and a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), Educational Leadership & Supervision, from Ball State University. She obtained her Master of Science in Education from Indiana University and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Manchester University (formerly College). Her teaching certifications include elementary, special education, and English as a new language. She holds building-level and district-level administrative licenses.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
