Since his inauguration as the 16^th president of Tri-State University in June 2000, Dr. Earl D. Brooks II has brought both a strong academic background and substantial fund raising experience to Tri-State. He is currently the youngest college president in the state of Indiana, and the second youngest to serve as president of Tri-State. Within the last four years, Dr. Brooks has,

 • Initiated a complete revitalization of the admissions/enrollment management process;

• Established a Middle College Program for local high school students;

•  Implemented the first Master of Science Program in Engineering Technology;

• Reorganized academic departments into four schools:  the Allen School of Engineering and Technology, the Ketner School of Business, the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education;

• Developed synergistic community partnerships with organizations including the Small Business Development and the Northeastern Indiana Innovation Center, both housed on campus;

• Proactively driven fund raising for completion of several facility renovations including a new coffee shop, expansion of the enrollment Center, upgrades to Best Hall including a new heating and cooling system, creation of new student apartment style housing, Ketner Sports Center addition to Hershey Hall and the transformation of Sniff Hall into the new C.W. Sponsel Administrative Center;

• Expanded the Board of Trustees from 25 to 30 members, while instituting a new governance structure and establishing term limits.

Under his tenure, the University has enhanced the University’s 18-hole Zollner  golf course, significantly improved existing residence halls, led campus beautification efforts and upgraded parking facilities.

Dr. Brooks also initiated the transition of Tri-State from the NAIA to NCAA Division III athletic status; “Thunder” are now NCAA Division III provisional members and full members of the Michigan  Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).

Since 2001 alone, strategic, transformational markers under Dr. Brooks’ assertive, visionary leadership include:

• Enrollment:  Applications have nearly doubled, from 1,250 to 2,130; inquiries have increased from 5,000 to 12,000;

• Tuition discounting has dropped from 47% to 34%;

• Voluntary support (Annual Fund) has more than tripled, from $865,000 to $3,000,000;

• A $70 million capital campaign has surpassed the previous campaign total of $22 million in the quiet phase;

• Academic offerings have been expanded to include new graduate programs.

• Significant physical plant upgrades/enhancements

Career Summary

• June 1, 2000 – Inaugurated Tri-State’s 16^th president

• August 1997-May 2000- Executive Vice President, Wesley College, Dover, DE

• 1992-1997- Senior Vice President, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN

• Prior to 1992, diverse administrative and faculty positions at Lincoln Memorial

• 1977-earns baccalaureate degree from the University of Tennessee, where he also earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees

Memberships

• Board of Directors, Indiana Technology Partnership (ITP

• Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)

• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)

• Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

• National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)

• President’s Council and Board of Control, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

• Board of Directors, Independent Colleges of Indiana

Personal

• Native of Claiborne County, TN

• Married to the former Melanie Noah; 1 daughter, Megan, 13.

Dr. Brooks welcomes questions and inquiries at brookse@tristate.edu.