"Lux et Veritas"
Election Day: June 2025
IU stands at a critical crossroads. Recent decisions by the Board of Trustees—from President Whitten's 28% raise without her required performance review to abrupt policy changes with minimal explanation—signal a concerning departure from principles of transparency and shared governance.
Meanwhile, universities nationwide face unprecedented pressure to compromise their values under political and financial threats. Federal funding is being weaponized to influence campus policies, particularly around free expression and support for marginalized communities.
I'm running because I believe Indiana University can and must do better. Our motto "Lux et Veritas" (Light and Truth) isn't just a Latin phrase—it's a commitment to operate with transparency, to pursue truth even when inconvenient, and to foster an environment where all voices can be heard.
The Board of Trustees should be more than a rubber stamp for administrative priorities. It should ask tough questions, demand accountability, and ensure that IU remains true to its core mission as a place of learning, discovery, and growth for all.
"Lux et Veritas": Light and Truth
University leadership should operate in daylight, not shadow. Decision-making processes should be clear and open, with meaningful explanations for significant changes. When rules and procedures exist—like required performance reviews—they should apply to everyone, regardless of position.
A university thrives when all stakeholders have a meaningful voice in its direction. Faculty expertise should guide academic decisions, staff insights should inform operational changes, and student perspectives should shape campus policies. True shared governance isn't token consultation after decisions are made—it's collaborative problem-solving from the beginning.
In challenging times, it's easy to compromise principles for expediency. Yet a great university must stand firm on fundamental values—academic freedom, pursuit of truth, and protection of diverse viewpoints. I will be an independent voice who asks difficult questions, challenges assumptions, and ensures that IU's long-term mission isn't sacrificed for short-term convenience.
My connection to IU runs deep. After arriving in Bloomington in 2013 to pursue my PhD in Physics, I quickly became involved in university governance. I served as the Physics Department representative to the Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSO) and was elected Vice President for the 2014-2015 academic year.
In that role, I chaired the Student Affairs committee, represented graduate students on the Bloomington Faculty Council, and served on a search committee for the IU Vice President of Research. I co-authored constitutional amendments that transformed GPSO into the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) as it's known today.
My work tackled substantial issues affecting our university community—from fossil fuel divestment in the IU Foundation to improving graduate student mental health resources and implementing inclusive ID card policies that allowed preferred names in place of legal names.
After completing my PhD in experimental particle physics in 2021, I've remained deeply committed to IU's success and concerned about its direction. My scientific training has taught me to seek evidence, ask probing questions, and propose solutions based on data rather than ideology—skills I'll bring to the Board of Trustees.
Ensure that established procedures—like performance reviews and community input—are followed before major decisions are made.
Provide regular updates about board deliberations and my positions on key issues, explaining the reasoning behind my votes.
Hold regular listening sessions with faculty, staff, students, and alumni across all IU campuses to understand their concerns and ideas.
Stand firm against external pressure to restrict free inquiry, expression, or support for marginalized communities.
Carefully review budgets, administrative growth, and resource allocation to ensure alignment with IU's core educational mission.
Regularly engage with each IU campus to understand their unique challenges and ensure all perspectives are represented in board discussions.
Make decisions based on evidence and principle rather than political expediency or administrative convenience.
Ensure that light and truth guide every aspect of university governance, even when it would be easier to operate in darkness.
Help shape IU's future by voting in the June 2025 Board of Trustees election.
Together, we can build a more transparent, inclusive, and principled Indiana University.