Ken Iwama arrived on the campus of Indiana University Northwest in 2020 as an unknown Northeasterner as the COVID-19 virus ravaged the country.
Despite the necessity of face masks during most of 2020, Iwama soon became a familiar presence on the Gary campus, quickly winning over faculty and students with his upbeat personality, humor and approachable style, calling himself the “Zoom” chancellor.
It wasn’t surprising Iwama’s farewell party Monday drew about 200 attendees even though the campus has few students during the summer.
Iwama moved up the IU chain Monday, assuming duties as vice president for regional campuses and online education. A search is underway for his successor. Meanwhile, Vicki Roman-Lagunas, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, is serving as interim chancellor.
Iwama, wife Joanne and their children Marcus, Patrick and Midori mingled with guests for about two hours at the Moraine Student Center at a festive event his colleagues called “Iwamapalooza.”
They feted him with T-shirts and a video tribune.
The pandemic didn’t always bring out the best in people. For Iwama, it represented his IUN game changer.
“When the country was torn apart, we came together. That’s what I’m most proud of – the engagement of the community,” he said. “My advice is, have faith in the people around you.”
Iwama said he hopes his leadership style at IUN can translate to all of IUN’s five regional campuses. In his new role, he said he’ll shape policy for those campuses and be a voice for them during legislative sessions.
Iwama, who’s also an attorney, arrived at IUN from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island, where he oversaw economic development as a campus vice president.
During his tenure, IUN’s post-pandemic enrollment decline reversed itself. In 2023, IUN saw an increase in first-year undergrad students and its highest number of applications and admitted students in more than a decade.
“He advanced the university’s mission and touched lives for unprecedented growth and transformation,” said IUN advisory board member Vanessa Allen-McCloud, who spoke for its chairman Lake Ridge Superintendent Sharon Johnson-Shirley, who was unable to attend.
“He’s masterful at keeping all of us engaged,” said Roman-Lagunas. “He embraced us and increased our capacity in a challenging time.”
State Rep. Vernon Smith, who’s also an IUN education professor, said he was impressed from the beginning, calling Iwama “personable and genuinely warm.”
Iwama said he arrived at IUN for his first visit in January 2020, while his wife Joanne was vacationing in Florida where she hoped they would land. “I went to the Dunes and saw Lake Michigan, even though there was an ice shelf. I told her this is our new Florida.” The couple settled in Ogden Dunes.
He said a university isn’t bricks and mortar, it’s the people. “The reason I’ve been asked to take on this role is because of all of you.”
Declaring he’ll be a Red Hawk forever, Iwama said his time at IUN changed his life.
“There is a feeling of higher purpose. What we do is critical to our democracy.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
