Bloomington—Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington will welcome Mitch Daniels, former Indiana governor and President Emeritus, Purdue University, as the keynote speaker for the 14th Annual Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship Luncheon on Wednesday, March 26.
“Mitch Daniels will speak to the importance of innovation in large organizations and how that relates to a strong economy,” Steve Bryant, Executive Director of the Ivy Tech Cook Center for Entrepreneurship said. “As a nationally renowned leader, Mr. Daniels will also provide invaluable insights for both small businesses and entrepreneurs. We look forward to his expert perspective.”
Daniels served as a two-term governor of the state of Indiana from 2004 to 2012 and as president of Purdue University from 2013 to 2022. He was elected governor in his first bid for any elected office, and then re-elected with more votes than any candidate in the state's history.
At Purdue, Daniels prioritized student affordability and reinvestment in the university’s strengths. He ended 36 straight years of rising prices by freezing tuition and mandatory fees at 2012 levels for all students.
He currently serves as Distinguished Scholar and Senior Advisor at the Liberty Fund. His background spans from business leadership and public service to higher education and civic engagement.
Daniels earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a law degree from Georgetown. He is the author of three books and a contributing columnist in the Washington Post.
The Cook Center Luncheon was launched in 2010 by Ivy Tech Bloomington to bring students and the community together in a forum to hear from entrepreneurial leaders about the value of supporting innovation and free enterprise. Event funds support student initiatives and programing to serve clients at the Ivy Tech Cook Center for Entrepreneurship.
For more information and to purchase individual tickets or sponsorship tables, visit www.ivytech.edu/cookluncheon.
Ivy Tech Bloomington offers more than 40 career and four-year transfer programs, with courses that start multiple times per year for quick entry and graduation. To get started, apply for free online at ivytech.edu/bloomington, call 812-330-6013, or email askBloomington@ivytech.edu. For information on free, short-term training programs, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/NLJ.
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.
