Commencement Speakers

Graduate Ceremony

Dr. Katie Jenner

As Indiana's first Secretary of Education and the state’s top education official, Dr. Katie Jenner is responsible for establishing a unified, student-centered vision across the full spectrum of education, from K-12 to college.

As one of eight secretaries in Governor Mike Braun’s cabinet, Dr. Jenner oversees eight state agencies and boards which comprise approximately 60% of the state budget, or approximately $26 billion over the biennium. This includes leading the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, chairing the State Board of Education (SBOE), and overseeing the Charter School Board, Education Employee Relations Board, Indiana School for the Deaf, Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Indiana State Library.

Under Secretary Jenner’s leadership, the state of Indiana and local schools have celebrated a number of successes in K-12 education, including:

• Literacy rates increasing for four consecutive years, including the largest-ever single-year increase in 2025;
• Chronic absenteeism rates improving for three consecutive years;
• The unanimous adoption of new high school diploma requirements that allow increased flexibility for students to personalize their journey;
• The highest Indiana high school graduation rate on record;
• Creating a comprehensive teacher supply and demand marketplace, matching educators with open positions and recruiting new teachers to the profession; and
• Transparently measuring school and student outcomes that matter most for parents, families, and educators with the Indiana GPS Dashboard.

A former teacher, district leader, and higher education vice president, Dr. Jenner earned her MBA in Educational Leadership in Summer 2017. She lives in Madison, Indiana, with her husband and twin daughters.

Undergraduate Ceremony

Lydia Ann Cope

Lydia Cope, from Greenwood, Indiana, is graduating from Indiana State University with degrees in Aviation Management and Cybercriminology and Security Studies with a concentration in Cybercrime. A proud third-generation Sycamore, she has been a dedicated leader and advocate throughout her time at Indiana State University.

Cope served as a peer coach with the Student Success Center, an events assistant at Cunningham Memorial Library, and an Orientation and Blue Team Leader for New Student Orientation. She founded and led the Crochet Club and was a four-year member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, holding leadership roles including Ritual and Housing Chair and Education Director. She was Professionally, Cope gained experience as a student OUR Intelligence Unit, analyzing digital threat patterns and supporting cybercrime prevention. She also studied abroad at Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom, where she explored international cyber policy and made lasting memories with friends. Cope’s achievements have been recognized through the Myrl O. Wilkinson Scholarship, the Thelma F. Mills Award, and the Hildegard Pang Library Scholarship.

After graduation, Cope will begin her career as a research analyst for the Indiana State Department and plans to attend the Indiana University McKinney School of Law. She is grateful for the support of her parents, her friends, the Indiana State University faculty and staff, and the Lord’s guidance throughout her journey.