NEW ALBANY — Education Matters Southern Indiana hired Bridgett Strickler as its first executive director.
Strickler comes to EMSI from her role as director for Greater Louisville Inc.’s Degrees At Work which is part of the Louisville metropolitan area’s 55,000 Degrees education attainment initiative.
The Education Matters Southern Indiana initiative was organized by the community foundations that serve Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington to strengthen workforce and improve the economic advantages of the region by increasing the educational attainment of those adults with some form of post-secondary education, but no degree or certification.
“I’m very excited to jump in and get to work,” Strickler said in a news release. “Research shows that in this five-county region, over 40,000 people have earned some college credits. If we can reach those people and help them develop a plan to earn a college degree or quality certification, we can increase their quality of life while enhancing the economic development opportunities in our communities.”
Strickler earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations from Bucknell University in 1988 where she was also a Division I student athlete. In 1993, she earned a master’s degree from University of Louisville and began her teaching and coaching careers. She is pursuing her MBA as part of the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville’s joint executive MBA program.
“We are very excited to have Bridgett on board and leading this important initiative,” said Linda Speed, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana in the release. “The four community foundations that began this initiative realized that we’ve reached a point where we need someone with her experience guiding our mission and working with people in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties to achieve their goals.”