Ivy Tech Community College Foundation President John Murphy Announces Retirement

Ivy Tech is home to the top community college fundraising Foundation in the nation

(File Photo)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College Foundation President John Murphy announced his retirement effective July 31, 2021. Murphy has led the Foundation for the last eight years. For seven of those years, the Ivy Tech Foundation ranked first amongst community colleges in dollars raised according to Voluntary Support of Education (VSE).

“It has been my highest honor to serve the Ivy Tech Foundation. My priority was always our students and their needs. Ivy Tech is a special place and our students are making such an important difference in our state,” Murphy said. “I want to thank our Board of Directors for their tireless pursuit and guidance on our fundraising initiatives to support our students.”

“John Murphy has taken every opportunity he can to tell the story of Ivy Tech in a way that has inspired people and organizations to invest in our mission,” Ivy Tech Community College President Sue Ellspermann said. “He has been one of our biggest cheerleaders, first as a Foundation board member, and then most recently, its President. John has grown the Ivy Tech Foundation more than three-fold allowing us to ever better serve our mission to students and our communities. We will miss John’s leadership and enthusiasm.”

Murphy’s commitment to Ivy Tech began more than 26 years ago serving in various roles as a board member, adjunct professor, and donor. He served as the chair of the Foundation Board from 1999-2001.

“Our organization has grown and become more robust thanks to John's commitment to our mission, vision, and values. The impact he has made goes beyond measure. The Foundation has never been in a better place than it is right now, and our fundraising successes have continually reached record numbers under his leadership,” Ivy Tech Foundation Board Chair Mike Harmless said.

Under Murphy’s leadership the Foundation created a metrics-driven culture raising more than $365 million to support students and programs throughout the state. It increased overall annual fundraising from an average of $15 million in his first year as Foundation President to exceeding an average of $55 million in recent years. Recently, he led efforts to raise $1.2 million in 30 days to assist in COVID relief efforts for Ivy Tech students in a critical time of need. He created one of the most successful giving initiatives in Ivy Tech’s history through Circle of Ivy with nearly 900 members annually and raising $750,000 since inception. He will serve an advisory role with the Foundation.

A national search will be conducted for his successor. Becky Miller has been appointed interim President of the Ivy Tech Foundation effective August 1. Miller has been with Ivy Tech for more than 22 years, 15 of those leading the Foundation’s fundraising efforts both at the campus and statewide levels.

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 degree and short-term certificate programs, and trainings that align to the needs of the community. The College also offers courses and associate degree programs that seamlessly transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a Bachelor’s degree.