My earliest memory of IUPUI is the mid-1960s, waiting in the car for my dad to finish class at the 38th Street campus. He was always smiling when he reached the car — he liked college.
Later we moved, and I would wait for Dad to arrive home from classes at IU Kokomo, and he would be smiling about class. Dad and Mom were emphatic: regardless the path we chose, all of their children would attend college.
My siblings graduated from college. I began my college career at IU Kokomo followed by stints at Purdue University West Lafayette and IU Bloomington. Eventually, I left the state for greener pastures.
Years later, while raising my family, I returned to Indiana. Ironically, my interest in higher education brought me to IUPUI. No one — not I, my parents, nor my siblings — envisioned I would return to my home state, let alone work at another university.
As an IUPUI employee, I knew the better way to nurture my children was to finish my degree. My time had come. It was my children’s turn to wait for their parent to return home from class. After two degrees and 20+ years of employment, I am happy to say IUPUI has been my greener pasture.
Story courtesy of:
Debra Barker
IUPUI Graduate Office Staff, Class of 2000 and 2010
