INDIANAPOLIS — Alice Susemichel will serve as the director of workforce development for Saint Joseph’s College of Marian University – Indianapolis (Saint Joe Indy).
In her new role, Susemichel will be responsible for leading development efforts that further assist Saint Joe Indy’s faculty, staff and students by securing employer partners. She will foster relations with those partners so that industry experience and curriculum may complement one another and offer support to students under the “earn and learn” program. Susemichel, along with career service staff at Marian University’s Exchange, will work to produce more professional development opportunities and programs for Saint Joe Indy students. She will report to Jeff Jourdan, executive director, Saint Joe Indy.
“Saint Joe Indy’s ‘earn and learn’ model is an innovative approach that will increase access to higher education for a population that has been historically underserved,” Susemichel said. “Until now, many students had to make a choice after high school graduation between higher education and entering the workforce. At Saint Joe Indy, we make it possible through employer partnerships and flexible class schedules for students to work meaningful jobs while pursuing a college degree. To be responsible for securing those employer partnerships and matching students with those jobs will be, I imagine, quite rewarding.”
Saint Joe Indy is Marian University’s new two-year college, located on Marian’s campus. It is a collaboration with Saint Joseph’s College, which suspended operations at its Rensselaer, Ind. campus in 2017. Saint Joe Indy welcomed its first cohort last month. Students can pursue associate degrees in business or liberal arts, and receive direct admission to Marian University after completing their associate degree.
Susemichel earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hanover College. She has previously served in a variety of positions with Eli Lilly and Company, including lab scientist, clinical project manager, operations manager, and director. Susemichel also previously taught biology at Roncalli High School and University of Indianapolis.
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.
