This portion of the newsletter is devoted to keeping you informed about changes among our colleagues such as moves to new positions and/or institutions, newly hired colleagues, professional recognition honors, retirements, deaths, etc. To include an announcement in “The Changing Scene,” send a note with the key facts to Marne Einarson (mke3@cornell.edu).

John Novak has been appointed Assistant Vice Chancellor for the newly created Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Indiana University-Northwest. As AVC for Institutional Effectiveness and Research, he is charged with evaluating, facilitating, and streamlining the university’s assessment and data-collection activities in support of accreditation and continuous-improvement goals. John began his career in IR as an analyst with Eastern Michigan University in 1997, and he moved back to Indiana in 2004 when he was hired as director of Indiana University-South Bend's first permanent institutional research office. John returns home, to Lake County, Indiana, to serve the Northwest campus of Indiana University after being away for 16 years.

Scott Baumler, Director of Institutional Research at Grinnell College, is moving on to become the Dean of Admissions at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He began his work at Mount Mercy on May 17, 2010. Baumler has served on the Steering Committee for the Association for Institutional Research in the Upper Midwest, been a member of AIR’s U.S. News Advisory Committee, and worked with the Enhancing the Student Experience proposal review committee for AIR Forums.

Jim Eck has been appointed the new Vice President for academic life at Louisburg College in Louisburg, NC, effective June 1. Jim comes to Louisburg from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, where he served as the associate vice president for academic affairs, acting dean of the Rollins Evening Program, and associate professor of statistics. Jim holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in psychology from Ball State University, an M.B.A. from Stamford University, and a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Georgia.

Linda Thomas, administrative aide in Planning and Institutional Research at Illinois State University is retiring on May 31st after 37 years of service to the University. A retirement reception is planned for May 25th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Bone Student Center Atrium. Congratulatory notes may be sent to Linda at llthomas@ilstu.edu.