Connecting the dots

Martha Warner’s impactful journey as alumni board president

By Danielle Rush

Communications Specialist, Indiana University Kokomo

Martha Warner is all about connections. Throughout her life, she has built connections as an Indiana University Kokomo student and alumna, a business owner, a wife and mother of four, a friend, and a teacher.

As she prepared to complete her term as president of the IU Alumni Association Kokomo Region board of directors in June, she encouraged all IU alumni, from all campuses, to become involved and to forge relationships with one another.

Being engaged in the alumni association has helped her build a network of friends and connections, and she encourages other alumni to find a way to get involved.

"I think it’s important for us to find the thing we care about and do that," she said. "There are a variety of things to do. There are basketball games, volleyball games, art events, business after-hours events. Those are a lot of fun. There are a lot of opportunities to get involved and make connections."

Warner has enjoyed going to the NMAT alumni reception at the Art Gallery, theater events, the undergraduate research symposium, and volleyball games as part of her alumni involvement. As board president, she has also enjoyed participating in commencement, handing the scroll with names of the graduates to a member of the class as part of the welcome to the alumni association.

"We have similar experiences, and our lives have taken us down different paths, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have connections. It’s important to have those connections," she said. "As alumni, we have opportunities to connect with students and help them on their path and journey."

Warner, AA ’04, BA ’06, MA ’12, first became involved with the IU Alumni Association Kokomo Region through a connection with Benjamin Liechty, an IU Kokomo classmate, when he became director of alumni relations in 2016.

"In the beginning, I just volunteered and showed up and brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm," said Warner, adding that when she commits to something, "I’m either 100 percent in, or not at all."

Before long, she was on the board of directors and served terms as secretary, vice president, interim president, and president. She served as secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and was responsible for taking the board’s print and paper materials and getting them online so the work could continue while they had to meet remotely.

"With experience in teaching and ADHD and dyslexia, I have a lot of impairment issues," she said. "I wanted to make everything accessible. I worked diligently to make all our documents accessible and to create a portal for us to work."

She applied her skills in writing, editing, and organization to streamline documents, making sure the alumni board has templates for everything, and leading the creation of chapter policies and procedures and branded materials.

"It’s really good stuff. I’m really proud of that," she said. "We are the role model for other chapters and regional campuses, and that’s a pretty great feeling. My goal was to make sure there is a legacy that has been left, there are documents and things that have been left in place, and that it’s a warm and welcoming environment."

Warner noted she never missed a board meeting, even after moving to rural Kentucky, about four and a half hours away, during her term.

"When I sign up for something, I’m dedicated to it," she said. "The board is a great group of people, and Ben has been a really great leader."

Now she looks toward her next role as an IU alumna, as a member of the Executive Council, which is the advisory body of the IU Alumni Association. She’s proud of the difference she’s made on the regional board of directors and looks forward to seeing the progress made by future boards.

"My vision for the future of the IUAA Kokomo Region would be to foster pride in our alma mater and a desire to support the university, our campus, and our communities; to create opportunities to connect, engage, and support each other and our extended IU family; to share in our passion for education and lifelong learning and in our stories and shared experiences; and to cultivate a sense of belonging and community where we feel seen, heard, and supported," she said.

Liechty said her tenure as a member of the IUAA Kokomo Region Board of Directors has had many highlights.

"Martha joined the board in 2017 and saw opportunities for the board to grow and flourish," he said. "Her legacy as president of the alumni board will be seen for many years to come. Creating policies and procedures, connecting countless alumni back to campus, advocating for alumni and students are just a taste of the incredible impact Martha has made to the Kokomo Region. As she transitions off the board, I am excited to see her use her impeccable leadership skills on the IU Alumni Association's Executive Council and beyond."

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.