Legacy Magazine

Winter 2024

We’ll share highlights from Homecoming, and the events that brought Cougars from across the decades together to celebrate our shared legacy.

We’ll introduce (or reintroduce!) you to beloved faculty member Joann Kaiser, whose retirement at the end of the spring semester was preceded by a special final performance of Pride and Prejudice including returning performing arts alumni from the original IU Kokomo cast. 

We’ll meet our new alumni scholarship recipients, and the Cougars receiving our highest alumni honors.

And finally, we’ll share thrilling updates from our Cougar athletics teams and their fall competitions, including taking a closer look at our eSports program as it expands with new games, new teams – and a dynamic new space.

If you use assistive technology, please find an accessible version of the Winter 2024 issue of Legacy available at this link.

Winter 2023

In this issue, we take a look back on the history of Cougar athletics, and celebrate the legacy and impact of our many former student-athletes.

We’ll walk through a timeline of IU Kokomo sports from the very beginning, sharing fun facts and memories from the archives, as well as “then and now” profiles of Cougar alumni who once graced the court or field. 

Our new interim athletics director, Heather Hayes, will discuss the remarkable evolution and growth of IU Kokomo athletics over the past 12 years, and share her thoughts on the powerful blend of vision, unwavering determination, and commitment to excellence that led the program to its current success.

We’ll highlight past Cougar athletes who have returned as coaches – like Grant Gaylor, a member of IU Kokomo’s first track and field throwing team. Grant won the campus’s first NAIA championship in shot put in 2021, and today, he’s coaching the next generation of Cougar track and field competitors.

And of course, an issue celebrating all things athletics wouldn’t be complete without a rundown on our successful fall seasons – including our first-ever national championship win in women’s cross country by IU Kokomo junior, Hannah Wells.

If you use assistive technology, please find an accessible version of the Winter 2023 issue of Legacy available at this link.

Summer 2023

In this issue, we highlight our long-time friend and colleague, American poet Nikki Giovanni, and her return to campus this spring. Read on for details about her emotional and insightful presentation to the community, her reflections on her life and work, and a behind-the-scenes look at the master class she hosted for the next generation of creative writers at IU Kokomo.

In addition, we’ll explore the newest co-ed varsity sport to debut at IU Kokomo – eSports – and learn about the program and its potential impact from our first eSports coach, Nick Liegey. We’ll also share highlights from the Cougars’ successful spring athletics seasons – from golf, to track and field, and everything in between.

A deep dive into our Multicultural Center and its programming will showcase how IU Kokomo is building community for all on campus, and an overview of the Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) will highlight the program’s success this semester, and its starring role in our recent Chancellor’s Guild Dinner.

And of course, we can’t overlook our 54th Commencement: We’ll share details about this beautiful, celebratory day on campus, the Chancellor’s charge to make a difference. and the impact the class of 2023 is already making on our community and our world!

We hope you enjoy reading it!

If you use assistive technology, please find an accessible version of the Summer 2023 issue of Legacy available at this link.

Winter 2022

As we look ahead to a New Year, we welcome a new chancellor – and look back on all we’ve accomplished together in 2022!

Mark Canada, Ph.D. took the helm in October 2022 after first joining campus in 2015. In this issue, we highlight Chancellor Canada’s vision for IU Kokomo, his priorities for our campus and our community, and recap his installation and first steps as he stewards IU Kokomo into its next chapter.

We also reflect on some of our greatest success stories of 2022, including Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) trips that opened doors to new opportunities for our students; the athletic successes that made 2022 a banner year for our Cougar teams; and new initiatives in sustainability that will help make campus better for students now and in the future. Explore the issue here to learn more!

If you use assistive technology, please find an accessible version of the Winter 2022 issue of Legacy available at this link.

Summer 2022

Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke’s career at Indiana University Kokomo can truly be described as remarkable.

From her beginnings as an assistant professor of communication arts more than 40 years ago, all the way to the chancellor’s office, she has been a leader at all levels. Now, she’s stepping into a new role, as IU’s Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education.

In this issue, she reflects on her legacy at IU Kokomo – what’s been accomplished, and where the campus will go in the future.

Thank you, Chancellor, for your contributions in making IU Kokomo what it is today!

We hope you enjoy reading more about her impact on IU Kokomo and the communities we serve!

If you use assistive technology, please find an accessible version of the Summer 2022 issue of Legacy available at this link.

Winter 2021

The last few years have been challenging for educators.

With a looming teacher shortage, the demands of both virtual and in-person classrooms amidst a global pandemic, and the everyday stresses that go with the job, it’s no wonder these essential workers are feeling the effects.

In this issue of Legacy, you will be inspired by our School of Education and its efforts not only to recruit and prepare future teachers, but also to support its alumni in the field, as well as our local schools. From the Tomorrow’s Teachers program, to  wellness mentoring, and lifelong learning, our faculty are making an impact on education in north central Indiana.

We hope you enjoy reading it!

If you use assistive technology, please find an accessible version of the Winter 2021 issue of Legacy available at this link.

Summer 2021

Leadership is for everyone, if they accept the challenge.

In this issue of Legacy, you will meet amazing alumnae who are doing that every day in their careers. Women like Amanda Bagwell, who fights for equal employment opportunities for all, based on her own difficulties as a blind woman finding employment. Or Priyanka Singh Deo, who had the courage to move across the world to chase her dream job.

We hope you enjoy reading it!

If you use assistive technology, please find an accessible version of the Summer 2021 issue of Legacy available at this link.