ADMINISTRATORS HONORED
FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

 

President Lloyd W. Benjamin (left) congratulates administrative University Medallion recipients John Newton, David Ridenour, Linda Eldred, Jeff Jacso and Bob Murray.

Five executive, administrative and professional (EAP) staff members were awarded with the University Medallion at the EAP Honors Banquet Nov. 16.

Those honored for their loyalty and dedication to the university were:  Linda Eldred, associate director of Student Life Programs; Jeff Jacso, director of financial accounting; Bob Murray, associate vice president for administration and risk management; John Newton, executive director of Alumni Affairs; and David Ridenour, registrar.

LINDA ELDRED

After graduating with a degree in elementary education from ISU in 1963 and teaching first graders for a semester, Linda Eldred believed that she was ready to take on college students. So later that year, she came back to her alma mater as program director for the Tirey Memorial Union Board.  In her programming roles, she has presented outstanding educational, social, recreational and cultural activities and events for thousands of ISU students for nearly 37 years.

Eldred, 59, is a native of Terre Haute and a graduate of Glenn High School. A firm believer in servant-leadership, she has given much back to the community through her work with the United Way, the American Cancer Society, the Salvation Army, St. Patrick’s Church and the Greater Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, among others.

For two consecutive years she has been recognized by the President’s Commission for Ethnic Diversity, earning its Outstanding Leadership Award for her efforts in multicultural programming. Others include the Butts-Whiting Award for distinguished service to the Association of College Unions-International and the American Society of Association Executives Award of Excellence. She also was recognized as one of the 75 Outstanding Women of the Wabash Valley in commemoration of the Girl Scouts of America’s 75 anniversary (1987).

JEFF JACSO

Jacso, a graduate of ISU, began working for his alma mater in 1985 as a staff accountant.

He has gradually moved up the ranks to senior accountant, chief accountant and now, director of financial accounting.

He and his staff were successful in planning for and implementing the conversion of the financial systems to BANNER and in implementing the recent upgrade of that system. His office serves as a resource to other offices, as the accounting staff have worked closely with other units on campus during the BANNER conversion, in moving the administrative functions of DegreeLink into the mainstream system and most recently, in providing more accountability in travel expenditures.

He also has shown dedication in working with the international student population on campus.  Understanding how impenetrable the labyrinth of rules and regulations associated with federal tax reporting and filing can be, especially for international students, he initiated a program to help them with these obligations.

Active also in the community, he serves as treasurer of the Terre Haute North Vigo High School Booster Club and treasurer  and coach of Terre Haute Miss Softball America.

BOB MURRAY

Born in Kokomo, Bob Murray earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Indiana State in 1963. After graduation, he worked as a senior accountant with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co. out of Indianapolis for four years prior to returning to work at his alma mater in 1967 as vice president and treasurer in the office of University Properties and Planning.

In 1992, he became assistant vice president for Properties, Planning and Risk Management, and, in 1998, was named associate vice president for Administration and Risk Management.

During his years at ISU, he played a lead role in the development of the campus master plan and has been responsible for the acquisition of more than 300 individual properties within or adjacent to campus boundaries. 

Murray, 62, is a firm believer in giving back to his community and university. He has a long-standing commitment to the Boys and Girls Club, serving most recently as president of its board of directors. He also worked for many years with the United Way and has served on its board and allocations committee. 

In 1998, he was recognized for his community activities when he received the Terre Award from the Greater Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce.

JOHN NEWTON

Newton, executive director of Alumni Affairs, has served his alma mater with distinction for 27 years.  Beginning with his appointment as associate director of Alumni Affairs in 1973, his professional service to ISU has covered a full range of important positions.  

His success as associate director earned him an appointment as director of Alumni Affairs.  From 1991 to 1994, he served as assistant vice president for Alumni and Public Affairs.  A few years later, he took on the role of director of annual giving.  He later became director of major gifts within the office of University Development.  In that role, he really made his mark, taking the President’s Society to its highest level of membership and financial support.

Newton later served in a dual capacity as director of major gifts and interim director of Alumni Affairs.  In 1998, he was asked to devote his many years of experience, expertise, friendships, and knowledge of alumni to serve as the new executive director of Alumni Affairs. 

A graduate of Wiley High School (1965), Newton earned his bachelor’s degree in history (1970) and his master’s in public administration (1981), both from Indiana State.

Newton, 53,  is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Indiana Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (I-CASE), Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, Kiwanis Club of Terre Haute, Memorial United Methodist Church, the ISU Alumni Association, the ISU Sycamore Athletics Scholarship Fund, the ISU President’s Society, the Indiana Society of Chicago, the Indiana Society of Washington, D.C., and the NAACP (life member). He also has served as chapter advisor for Alpha Tau Omega since 1994. In addition, he is president of the Vigo County Council and a member of the Vigo County Alliance for Growth and Progress.

DAVID RIDENOUR

David Ridenour has worn many hats since he was first employed at Indiana State as a student worker in 1965.  He’s been a research associate in the office of institutional research and testing, and when the student administrative services unit was formed in 1968, he was named assistant to the dean.  In 1973, he was named associate registrar and director of registration, followed by a stint as acting dean of Student Academic Services and registrar. Then, in 1990, he was named registrar.  For three years he also served as director of Student Financial Aid.

His list of accomplishments begins with the  writing and administration of the university’s first computerized student information system. He also transformed the old Arena registration process to first an on-line registration and then to a voice response registration system in preparation for Web registration.  He introduced terminal access to both student and financial aid records, making ISU the first institution in the nation to accomplish this.  He was also responsible for the successful implementation of student systems through three major conversions, has been a leader in the development of end-user reporting and has  implemented two degree audit systems

He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ISU and has taught courses in both the departments of English and in mathematics and computer science. He is retiring from Indiana State later this month.

 December 13, 2000