University of Indianapolis announces new Board of Trustees members
The University of Indianapolis has announced the appointment of four new trustees—Gail Farnsley, Andy Hammond, Pat Watkins and Jeff Whorley—who were elected during the June board meeting.
“We are delighted to welcome these four distinguished individuals to our board of trustees,” said Board Chair Deborah Daniels. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and I’m confident that they will make meaningful contributions to UIndy’s continued growth and success. Their shared commitment to our mission will be invaluable as we look to the future.”
“The Board of Trustees are key leaders in implementing our new strategic plan, an important work for both our University and community as we enrich our students’ lives through relevant and impactful education: ‘Anywhere. Anytime. For Life.’” said President Tanuja Singh. “As first-generation students, as parents of current students, as post-traditional learners and as alumni, I believe each of these new trustees bring a unique perspective that will help guide the University of Indianapolis as we continue to innovate and expand opportunities for our students. I’m grateful for their willingness to serve and excited to work alongside them as we shape the future of UIndy together.”
Gail Farnsley is a retired IT executive with more than 30 years in the information technology field including as Vice President and Executive Partner at Gartner and Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Cummins. She is passionate about supporting and mentoring women in leadership, particularly in the STEM disciplines. She serves on several nonprofit boards including TechPoint Foundation for Youth where she is the board president.
“As a first-generation college student myself, I really appreciate UIndy’s vision which puts a high value on being welcoming to all,” said Farnsley. “I am humbled and honored to be appointed to the Board so that I can help support the next generation of leaders—especially women and students who have traditionally not envisioned themselves in a STEM career.”
Andy Hammond ’06 is Partner and Private Wealth Advisor at Truss Wealth Advisors in Indianapolis. He played varsity baseball while at UIndy and is the son of Jim Hammond ’72, an inductee in the Athletics Hall of Fame as an assistant baseball coach. He was a member of the Alumni Board from 2010 to 2016 and serves as a mentor to the Finance Club. Hammond and his business partner, Chad Reynolds ’00, began the Truss Wealth Advisors Legacy Fund that provides the Dean of the School of Business with discretionary support to fund bold ideas and forward-thinking initiatives to enhance the student experience.
“I am incredibly honored to be selected for this distinguished position,” said Hammond. “The University of Indianapolis has held a special place in my heart since I first set foot on campus nearly 23 years ago. Becoming a trustee was the very first professional goal I set for myself during my senior year. To see that dream realized is a mountaintop accomplishment, and I look forward to serving the UIndy community in whatever ways I am called.”
Pat Watkins ’99 comes from a long line of UIndy alums and is also the parent of two Greyhound students, a son who is a senior on the golf team and a daughter who is an incoming freshman. He is the co-owner and Managing Broker of Mike Watkins Real Estate Group in Greenwood. By joining the board he follows in the footsteps of his father, Mike Watkins, who served as a UIndy Trustee from 1991 through 2024.
“I am truly honored to join the Board of Trustees and continue the Watkins family legacy and connection to the University of Indianapolis,” said Watkins. “With both of my parents, my wife, my sister-in-law, and now my own children attending UIndy, it is difficult to overstate the impact that this University has had on our lives. I look forward to bringing fresh ideas to the Board while honoring the strong foundation and traditions that make being a Greyhound so special.”
Jeff Whorley ’01 has served as an Executive Vice President at three Fortune 500 companies, including at Fiserv where he has worked since 2019, along with Sallie Mae and First Data Corporation. He was appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb to the Ports of Indiana Commission in 2022, a bipartisan board of directors tasked with approving major projects. Whorley created the Dr. Gerald Speth Business Knowledge Award in 2022 to honor the leadership of Speth, the founder of the executive MBA program at UIndy. The award recognizes faculty who are committed to communicating critical information and insights to business students.
“I am extremely grateful to the University of Indianapolis for this opportunity to serve and give back to a place that has had a lasting impact on my life and career path,” said Whorley. “With its emphasis on lifelong learning and experiential education, UIndy is preparing students to lead in a rapidly changing world and I’m excited to support that mission as a member of the Board of Trustees.”
Each of the four new members will officially join the Board of Trustees when they are sworn in as part of the September board meeting. For more information about the University of Indianapolis Board of Trustees including a list of current members, visit the Board of Trustees page.