Welcome Message

November 1, 2017

Today marks my first day as the Chancellor of IPFW and I just wanted to tell you how excited I am to be here. Over the past several weeks, I have had the great fortune of spending some time on campus meeting with stakeholders as well as interacting with various leaders who all have a vested interest in the success of our university. Throughout these conversations, common themes have emerged: a passion for the students we serve and our commitment to serving the northeast Indiana region.

And now, I truly look forward to meeting and hearing from you. I have received such a warm welcome from so many on campus and in the community. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Chancellor Carwein for her leadership and gracious welcome, and know that I can’t wait to meet the rest of you who make up the Mastodon family.

The university’s commitment to helping students pursue their dreams and provide them with a life changing experience is something for which we should all take great pride. As I shared during my interview for this position, my journey in higher education has now come full circle as I humbly take on a leadership role within the Purdue system, the same institution that offered me so much opportunity as a first-generation college student myself. I am much like many of the students we serve and we are in the unique position to change thousands of lives offering them a higher education that they may not otherwise have access to.

And, as we move closer towards the university’s realignment, I realize there is much yet to be done but have every confidence that, together, we will make this transition seamless for our students, who remain our number one priority. This is a critical juncture in the life of the institution and there is much work ahead to ensure its bright future. We will look back on the institution’s rich history of prioritizing an excellent education to the region and beyond, but also our commitment to accessibility and affordability. 

There is no question that there will be challenges but together, we will work hard to transform those challenges into tremendous opportunities and reality.  This is the PFW way, and I am excited to get started with you!  

With tremendous enthusiasm,

Ron Elsenbaumer
Chancellor