FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2025
BLOOMINGTON, IN—With less than 24 hours remaining before the nomination deadline, Justin A. Vasel is making a final push to secure the required signatures to appear on the Indiana University Board of Trustees election ballot.
Following Trustee Vivian Winston’s announcement that she will not seek reelection, Vasel, who earned his Ph.D. in Physics from IU in 2021 and has called Bloomington home for the past 12 years, hopes to continue Winston’s legacy as an independent, principled voice on the board.
“The Board of Trustees needs members who will ask tough questions and prioritize transparency,” Vasel said. “I pledge to provide clear, public explanations for every vote I cast, ensuring the IU community understands not just my decisions, but the reasoning behind them.”
Vasel brings extensive experience in university governance, having served as Vice President of the Graduate and Professional Student Government and as the graduate representative on the Bloomington Faculty Council. During his time at IU, he helped establish a campus food pantry, improved student academic appointee pay schedules, and led constitutional reforms that transformed graduate student governance.
His platform centers on three core principles: transparency in decision-making, authentic shared governance, and principled leadership that upholds academic values even when facing external pressures.
“In light of recent board decisions on expressive activity policies and leadership contracts, IU needs trustees who will thoughtfully evaluate proposals and stand firm on protecting academic freedom,” Vasel stated. “My scientific training has taught me to follow evidence rather than assumptions and to ask incisive questions—skills essential for effective trusteeship.”
Vasel needs to collect 200 alumni signatures by tomorrow, April 1, to secure his place on the ballot. “The response has been encouraging, but we still need more signatures to ensure we meet the threshold,” Vasel explained. “With Trustee Winston stepping down, it’s more important than ever that alumni have strong, independent choices on the ballot.” IU degree holders wishing to support his nomination can visit his website immediately for information on how to sign electronically.
The trustee election will take place from June 1-30, with online and mail-in voting available to all IU degree holders. The winner will begin their three-year term on July 1, replacing outgoing Trustee Winston.
For more information about Vasel’s campaign platform and to sign his nomination petition before the April 1 deadline, visit www.VaselForIU.com.
About Justin A. Vasel: Justin earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Indiana University in 2021. He has served in multiple university governance roles and was recognized with the Yolanda Treviño Service Award for his contributions to student life. He currently works as an analyst in the national security sector, applying analytical skills developed at IU to address complex challenges.
Contact: Justin A. Vasel
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.VaselForIU.com
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