(INDIANAPOLIS) —  Ivy Tech Community College administrator Mike Slocum is the new executive director of Indiana INTERNnet, the statewide resource for internship opportunities managed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Slocum is currently the executive director for career development, systems office, at Ivy Tech, where he provides oversight and guidance to the college’s 19 campus career development teams. His start date with Indiana INTERNnet is November 5.

For the last eight years, Slocum has held Ivy Tech positions focused on student successes and support services – in those roles often partnering with Indiana INTERNnet on initiatives surrounding experiential learning.

New Indiana INTERNnet Executive Director Mike Slocum

According to Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar, Slocum’s background – which includes other work in higher education as well as not-for-profit and fundraising experience – makes him a uniquely good fit.

“Mike has such a clear grasp of Indiana INTERNnet’s mission and why the internship process is so beneficial in achieving employment satisfaction for both students and employers.”

David McKinnis, president of the Indiana INTERNnet board of directors and longtime Purdue University administrator and advisor, says that Slocum will help the organization to advance student engagement in Indiana.

“With his passion for and approach to the program, I believe the benefits to schools, universities and employers will be considerable. We look forward to Mike helping us further build and strengthen all those relationships.”

Slocum completed his undergraduate degree at Ball State University and earned a master’s in education from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He is also a doctoral candidate at Ball State, set for his dissertation early next year.

Indiana INTERNnet was formed in 2001. The Indiana Chamber has managed the program since January 2006.The not-for-profit’s goal is to assist in retaining college graduates by providing them with easy access to job-related information and tools, as well as avenues to build business relationships through meaningful internships at both the college and high school levels – all increasing opportunities for successful employment in the state.

To date, approximately 83,000 college students, 6,100 high school students and 8,450 Hoosier employers have used Indiana INTERNnet as a resource for internships.

For the last five years, Indiana INTERNnet has exclusively partnered with the state to find employer-student matches for EARN Indiana, a workforce study program for college students with financial need. Through EARN, businesses can receive matching funds to supplement the cost of their interns’ salaries.

Interim Indiana INTERNnet Executive Director Mark Lawrance will retire from the Indiana Chamber at the end of December, after spending the majority of the last 18 years with that organization.

Businesses and students interested in more information about Indiana INTERNnet can visit www.indianaintern.net or call (317) 264-6852.

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The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”

Indiana INTERNnet, a program managed by the Indiana Chamber, is the catalyst for expanding the creation and use of experiential learning opportunities as a key strategy in retaining Indiana’s top talent.