This award, established in June 2003 in honor of its inaugural recipient, IU Indianapolis Chancellor Gerald L. Bepko, will be given as warranted by the Faculty Council Executive Committee to recognize outstanding administrators who demonstrate the following characteristics:
Working with faculty to advance the principles of faculty governance
Building consensus with faculty in all new initiatives
Establishing collaborative relationships with faculty within and outside their disciplines
Establishing an environment where excellent faculty are recruited and retained
Clearly articulating a shared vision that is inclusive of multiple constituencies and respectful of the campus commitment to diversity
Demonstrating the qualities of a servant leader--humor, humanity, and humility
Representing with distinction the IU Indianapolis faculty and its programs to the broader community; locally and nationally
Creating an environment that fosters faculty pursuit of excellence and advances inclusiveness at IU Indianapolis
The recipient will receive a personal plaque at the spring Chancellor's Convocation as well as having his or her name added to a permanent plaque to be prominently displayed in a central campus location. This is a selective award that will only be given for exemplary leadership that includes all of the above characteristics.
At the May 2, 2023, Faculty Council meeting, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko Award to David Russomanno, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, for establishing an environment where excellent faculty are recruited and retained, representing with distinction the IU Indianapolis faculty and its programs to the broader community—locally and nationally, and creating an environment that fosters faculty pursuit of excellence and advances inclusiveness at IU Indianapolis.
At the April 20, 2023, Chancellor’s Academic Honors Convocation, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko Award to Kathy Johnson, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, for creating an environment that fosters faculty pursuit of excellence and advances inclusiveness at IU Indianapolis, demonstrating the qualities of a servant leader—humor, humanity, and humility, and working with faculty to advance the principles of faculty governance.
At a retirement celebration for Chancellor Nasser Paydar, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko Award to the chancellor for creating an environment that fosters faculty pursuit of excellence and advances inclusiveness at IU Indianapolis, demonstrating the qualities of a servant leader--humor, humanity, and humility, and working with faculty to advance the principles of faculty governance. Nasser Paydar served as chancellor of IU Indianapolis and executive vice president of Indiana University.
At the May 2021 Faculty Council meeting, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko Award to Stephen Hundley, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Planning and Institutional Improvement, for building consensus with faculty in all new initiatives, demonstrating the qualities of a servant leader--humor, humanity, and humility, and clearly articulating a shared vision that is inclusive of multiple constituencies and respectful of the campus commitment to diversity.
In 2020, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko Award to Associate Vice President of Research and University Clinical Affairs Anantha Shekhar for building consensus with faculty in all new initiatives, establishing collaborative relationships with faculty within and outside his discipline, and creating an environment that fosters faculty pursuit of excellence and advances inclusiveness at IU Indianapolis.
In 2019, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to President of IU Indianapolis Faculty Council and Vice Chancellor for Research Dr. Simon J. Atkinson for "working with faculty to advance the principles of faculty governance and demonstrating the qualities of a servant leader—humor, humanity, and humility."
In 2019, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to Dean of School of Science Dr. Simon J. Rhodes for "establishing collaborative relationships with faculty within and outside his discipline and by clearly articulating a shared vision that is inclusive of multiple constituencies and respectful of the campus commitment to diversity."
In 2016, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to retiring Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Rebecca E. Porter for "clearly articulating a shared vision for student access to IU Indianapolis that is inclusive of multiple constituencies, respectful of the campus commitment to diversity, and focused on student success."
In 2015, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to Chancellor Charles R. Bantz for "representing with distinction the IU Indianapolis faculty and its programs to the broader community -- locally and nationally; and clearly articulating a shared vision that is inclusive of multiple constituencies and respectful of the campus commitment to diversity."
In 2012, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to the retiring Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties Uday Sukhatme for "establishing an environment where excellent faculty are recruited and retained; establishing collaborative relationships with faculty within and outside their disciplines; clearly articulating a shared vision that is inclusive of multiple constituencies and respectful of the campus commitment to diversity; and creating an environment that fosters faculty pursuit of excellence."
In 2011, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to retiring Interim Dean of the School of Science and former President of the IU Indianapolis Faculty Council Bartholomew S. Ng for "working with faculty to advance the principles of faculty governance; building consensus with faculty in all new initiatives; establishing an environment where excellent faculty are recruited and retained; and creating an environment that fosters faculty pursuit of excellence and advances inclusiveness at IU Indianapolis."
In 2010, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to retiring Dean of University College Scott Evenbeck for "representing with distinction the IU Indianapolis faculty and its programs to the broader community; locally and nationally; for establishing collaborative relationships with faculty within and outside their disciplines; and for establishing an environment where excellent faculty are recruited and retained."
In 2010, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to retiring Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology H. Oner Yurtseven for "representing with distinction the IU Indianapolis faculty and its programs to the broader community; locally, nationally, and internationally, and for fostering respectful, productive and collaborative relationships between faculty and administration to advance and sustain IU Indianapolis as both the learner-focused and celebrated urban research campus of Indiana University."
In 2006, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to outgoing Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of Faculties William M. Plater.
In 2004, the Faculty Council Executive Committee presented the Bepko award to retiring registrar Mark C. Grove for "exemplifying the ideal of a servant-leader, for his extraordinary resourcefulness and outstanding service as Registrar (1990 to 2004), for his dedication to making our campus more welcoming to students, and for his strong support of faculty governance."
The inaugural award was presented to its namesake, long-time IU Indianapolis Chancellor Gerald L. Bepko "in recognition of his outstanding service as Chancellor, 1986 to 2002, his inspiring spirit as a servant-leader, and his tireless effort to foster an enduring partnership between faculty and administration in shaping the future of IU Indianapolis as an urban research university."
