Christina Downey, new associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education and dean of University College at IUPUI, shared her goals for this position and what she looks forward to most about being on our campus.
Q: What made you decide to pursue higher education as a career?
A: It was an accident in a lot of ways. I had a professor in my undergrad that was very inspiring to me. That was the first time I saw someone who was dedicated to creating this rich experience in the classroom, even though there were 125 of us in there. He was very personable. He was welcoming, and he had us do activities. That was the first time I thought, “Oh, that's a job. People can grow up and do that.”
Fast forward many years, I was finishing my doctoral degree in clinical psychology, and I decided that was my chance to try to become a professor. In 2007, I ended up getting a position at IU Kokomo, and I was there for over 15 years. Thinking back, one thing that really stuck with me and encouraged me to apply for tenure-track jobs was something my dissertation advisor helped me understand. I didn’t have to be a clinician to change lives. I could change lives and grow my scope in the classroom or through research.
Q: What was your favorite part about higher education when you were a student?
A: I just love learning. I love knowing more. I like understanding how things work. Being a psychology major and then a doctoral student, you get to immerse yourself in "how do people work?" So many things about how people work do not make any sense. They're not rational, and that's fascinating. I enjoyed the learning process, reading, and gaining understanding.
Q: What led you to apply for the role here at IUPUI?
A: I was invited to apply, and the opportunity of this position to learn and grow while remaining part of the IU family grabbed my interest. I had been invited to apply for various jobs at different institutions for a while, but I wasn't particularly interested in leaving my previous campus at those times, to be honest. I've lived in Noblesville since I started my job at Kokomo, and my son is in high school here. I didn’t want to yank him out of high school to pursue a career elsewhere. Well, this role was the best of all worlds because this was the first one where I thought, “The stars are aligned.” I wasn’t sure if I would get it, but I did. Life is funny!
I think that one of my biggest interests and challenges is to try to bring a sense of home to this campus for all students. No matter what they're studying at the undergraduate level or where they come from. I want every student to feel that this is their home.
Q: What do you hope to bring to your new role and IUPUI as a whole?
A: I love that question. One of my biggest interests and challenges is to try to bring a sense of home to this campus for all students. No matter what they're studying at the undergraduate level or where they come from, I want every student to feel that this is their home. Most places I went to during undergrad did feel like home. If I can do anything to help create that here, I would see it as a victory because our students deserve it.
Q: What experience from your time at IU Kokomo are you most excited or feel you're most equipped to apply here?
A: My time at IU Kokomo gave me a deep appreciation for how it takes the entire village to create the educational experience for students. Being a faculty member on such a small campus, I knew everybody, and even though I know that's not realistic to hope for here, I am so glad I got a chance to see and appreciate everyone's work. I think that if I had been socialized on a campus this size from the beginning of my higher education career and not had those opportunities, I don't think I would have developed the same knowledge and ability to see everyone's contributions the way I can now.
Q: What are you most excited about in your new role or about being on our campus?
A: I like to see the division and the institution through the eyes of a student. I’m excited to bring that perspective to everything, and so when I'm pushing for processes to change, it's because I'm thinking from a student's perspective. I'm excited to have the chance to ask those questions and push the institution that way.
The most exciting thing is to be on campus. It’s Indianapolis, and it’s exciting to see the coming realignment and help us to take every opportunity that becoming IU Indianapolis means. I think there's enormous possibility.
Q: Is there anything else that you'd like to share about you?
A: A characteristic of mine that I value is I am so willing to call myself ignorant. When I'm starting something new, even though I've been a part of Indiana University for a long time, my great modesty about my own knowledge is helpful because every one of these campuses is very different. I'm learning every day.
For more information, contact the Division of Undergraduate Education Office of Communications at duecomm@iupui.edu.