Under the leadership of Dr. Ross, Mentoring Services and Leadership Development (MSLD) helps students navigate the scale of IU Bloomington through genuine connection and professional growth. This video highlights how Executive Director, Dr. Patrick Smith, and his team bridge the gap between campus resources and student success in MSLD. By pairing students with experienced peer mentors and hosting workshops on essential skills like business etiquette, MSLD ensures that mentorship translates into practical leadership for life after graduation.
At the FASE Fall Training, Dr. Ross led a discussion on how mental health and community support are foundational to student success. Focusing on the power of connection, he highlighted university resources like Counseling and Psychological Services and shared strategies for building a resilient, supportive campus culture. By engaging directly with Peer Mentors, Dr. Ross emphasized the importance of destigmatizing mental health and empowering first-year students to thrive throughout their journey at IU.
As Founding Director of the Center for First-Year Experience and Student Success and Director of the Terry Center for Campus Connections at UIndy, Dr. Ross led initiatives that supported all students, with a specific focus on first-year and vulnerable populations. He and his team implemented high-impact study strategies designed to build the academic confidence necessary for students to thrive. While these foundational methods are effective for any learner, they were intentionally crafted to help students navigate their transition and succeed both in the classroom and beyond.
In this presentation, "More than Numbers: A Closer Look at Mattering & Belonging," Dr. Ross explores the essential distinction between simple inclusion and a true sense of belonging. Drawing on the work of scholars like Terrell Strayhorn and Beverly Daniel Tatum, the session defines belonging as a fundamental human need where students feel they "matter" to their community and see their identities reflected in the curriculum, faculty, and campus environment. To move beyond surface-level metrics, Dr. Ross outlines actionable frameworks for institutional change, including Tatum’s ABC approach, affirming identity, building community, and cultivating leadership, while advocating for "brave spaces" and a decolonized campus. Ultimately, this work provides a strategy to bridge the gap between institutional goals and the actual student experience by auditing the "hidden curriculum" and implementing data-informed equity practices.
In this WISH-TV segment, Dr. Ross discusses how Ivy Tech’s dual credit and dual enrollment programs provide high school students with a strategic head start on their college careers. As Executive Director of K-14 Initiatives, he explains how these programs save families thousands in tuition while helping students adjust to college-level rigor before graduation. Beyond the academics, Dr. Ross highlights the importance of dedicated advisors and campus resources that help students explore career paths and build the confidence to pursue higher education.
During his tenure as Executive Director for Secondary Initiatives at Ivy Tech, Dr. Ross oversaw four key departments: Dual Credit, Dual Enrollment, ASAP, and TRiO Upward Bound to expand college access and student success. In this address, he emphasizes that true leadership is rooted in daily service and advocacy, particularly for first-generation and underrepresented students. By drawing on his extensive experience leading diverse programs, Dr. Ross illustrates how being a voice for others and creating tangible opportunities are the most effective ways to ensure every student has the resources to thrive.
This presentation will highlight how Indiana high school students can gain a competitive advantage and jump-start on earning college credit while also fulfilling their high school diploma requirements. Earning college credit while in high school improves the likelihood that a high school graduate will persist in college after high school graduation. Although several Hoosiers are taking advantage of this amazing opportunity, many are being left behind. We will examine the dual credit and dual enrollment equity gaps. Educators will receive guidance on how they might play an integral role in working to close the achievement gap so that all students have an opportunity to benefit.