Contact the Dean of Students Karen Candlish ’12, JD Dean of Students Clare Hall, Room 122(317) 955-6190 | Office kcandlish@marian.edu

INDIANAPOLIS — Karen Candlish will serve as the next dean of students at Marian University. Candlish has most recently served as Marian’s assistant dean of students, director of housing and residence life, and deputy Title IX coordinator. She succeeds Ruth Rodgers, who will continue serving at Marian as vice president of student success and engagement. 

In her new role, Candlish will be responsible for leading the student life team in creating a vibrant and welcoming campus community within the framework of the university’s Catholic Franciscan mission. Candlish will advise Rodgers in matters concerning student welfare, student life, campus vibrancy, and student services. Candlish will directly supervise staff members in Housing and Residence Life, Student Activities, International Student Services, and Dining Services as well as oversee student conduct. She will serve as an advocate for students and will work with Rodgers to support and guide the Unity Center. She will collaborate with faculty and staff across campus to promote student wellness, student engagement, and retention. 

“Karen’s promotion to dean of students is well earned,” Rodgers said. “She has shown tremendous initiative, work ethic, and commitment to students in her years at Marian, and has excelled in multiple roles with a variety of responsibilities. I am confident in her ability to coordinate our efforts in developing a dynamic campus environment that supports, challenges, and transforms students into leaders for service to the world.”

“I am blessed to be able to give back to the university that has given me so much,” Candlish said. “I am truly thankful for the experiences I have had at Marian, and I am energized by the thought of continuing my career here. I look forward to being an advocate for students and to continue serving a community that I hold so dearly.”

Candlish is an alumna of Marian University, graduating in 2012 with a B.A. in English. She furthered her education at Indiana University, earning a M.S. in Education with a concentration in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Candlish has served in alumni relations at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, orientation at Ivy Tech, and student leadership development at the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. She started her professional journey at Marian University in February 2014 as the assistant director of alumni relations and then as the assistant director of housing and residence life. She is currently pursuing a J.D. at Indiana University’s McKinney School of Law, with an expected completion date of December 2020.

Karen Candlish ’12, JD
Dean of Students
Clare Hall, Room 122
(317) 955-6190 | Office
kcandlish@marian.edu

About Marian University Indianapolis

Founded in 1937, Marian University is the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana. In 2019, Marian is serving more than 2,400 undergraduate and 1,160 graduate students earning degrees in the arts, business, education, engineering, math, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. The university’s high-impact, experiential curriculum is designed to provide hands-on, collaborative learning opportunities for students from 45 states and 23 nations. Marian climbed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Midwestern rankings to be named #10 Most Innovative Regional University, #24 Best Value University, and #38 Best Regional University. Marian University opened its College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, making it the first new school of medicine in the state of Indiana in 110 years. Marian’s national champion varsity athletic programs include the 2012 and 2015 NAIA Football National Championship, the 2016 and 2017 NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship, and more than 40 USA Cycling national championships.