From the Desk: We are the Champions
What a start to the new year for IU and IU Finance! Coming off the heels of a National Championship for IU football, there is much to celebrate of IU’s success. I hope all of you had the chance to cheer on the Hoosiers as they made their way through two bowl games and a great win in Miami! IU Finance also had some exciting wins since we last visited and I am excited for the great work our teams are tackling.
It is budget time once again, and the University Budget Office is tackling the big task of building the fiscal year 2027 budget for all of IU. Brett Dunn and his team are working with campus leaders and Vice Presidents to prepare for the upcoming start of a new budget, and the planning around creating a balanced budget that focuses on the major initiatives of IU and creating a strong financial position for IU to be successful. It is a heavy lift and with new budgeting software coming on board over the next year, there is much to be done!
Project Horizon is kicking off, and we are excited to bring in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as an outside expert to help IU Finance modernize its financial operations. Hormaz Dubash is working closely with financial leaders across IU to communicate the project across the institution and kickstart some important analysis to allow us to better understand how we operate!
We want to welcome Brittany Curry, the new Bursar for IU, back to Hoosier Country! It is great to have Brittany back on the team and bringing not only her past experience at IU back, but also her time with Nelnet! Welcome Brittany!
Baris Kiyar and his team have finalized a great review of procurement services, with the support of Huron, allowing the team to find new and innovative ways to provide high quality services to our IU partners, but also within challenging and sensitive regulations. There is still more work to be done, but this step allows Baris and his team to adjust support and be mindful of the workload our teams experience.
The changes in the Accountable Plan were a heavy lift, but I want to thank Anna Jensen, Baris Kiyar, and Sarah Chavez for the work they and their teams provided to help get us aligned with IRS regulation and communicate out to the IU community these changes. Great news is that there has been a considerable drop in the number of outstanding travel items, but we still have a little more work to do to get everyone aware of the changes.
As you can see, we have a lot going on and are already seeing success in the work you are doing every day to keep IU in a strong financial position. There is still more to do, but please take a moment to know the impact you are making right now on IU is being seen and heard by leadership and the Board!
Go Hoosiers!
Jason
Meet Your Leaders
"Meet Your Leaders" is a feature that helps IU Finance staff get to know senior management. Each individual is asked the same 8 questions. This issue, we're getting to know Brittany Curry.
What is your job title and how long have you worked at IU?
I serve as the University Bursar. I recently returned to IU on February 9 after spending two years with Nelnet, a software and payment processing company. Before that, I worked at IU from 2001 to 2022, primarily at IU Southeast, where I spent four years in the bursar’s office and nearly nine years as Director of Financial Aid. I became the University Bursar in 2014 and assumed additional responsibilities as Associate Treasurer in 2019.
Where are you from originally and what brought you to IU?
I’m originally from New Albany, Indiana across the river from Louisville, Kentucky. I moved to Bloomington in 2014 when I became the University Bursar.
What departments are a part of your unit?
The University Bursar is part of the Treasury organization. We oversee all bursar functions for the Bloomington campus and provide shared bursar services for all IU campuses.
What does a day in the life of your position consist of?
Since I’m only in my second week back, much of my time so far has been spent regaining access to systems and getting reacclimated. Once fully up and running, a typical day involves a mix of meetings, reviewing financial and operational data, and working with campus partners to support bursar operations and improve processes.
What is your favorite thing about your position?
My favorite part of this role is working for a university. I find it incredibly fulfilling to know that my daily work supports our students and positively impacts our campuses and communities. I also genuinely enjoy the people with whom I work. They do great work and have fun doing it.
What upcoming initiatives or projects are you most excited about?
I’m most excited about refining our communications and strengthening our systems to make the bursar experience as smooth and intuitive as possible for students and their families, while also supporting more on-time payments. No student comes to college eager to navigate billing or interact with the bursar’s office, but it is an essential part of the university experience. I’m looking forward to improving how we deliver information so students and families receive what they need, when they need it, in a clear and easily understandable way.
What shows or podcasts are you streaming when you’re “off the clock?”
My favorite podcasts are Pivot and In Our Time. Pivot is a business and tech podcast hosted by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, and In Our Time covers a wide range of topics from literature to science to philosophy. It is also great listening if you want to be lulled to sleep by soothing British voices. As for shows, I’m currently waiting for Shrinking and The Pitt to release all their episodes for the new season before I start watching.
What’s one fact about you that would surprise everyone?
I have a very wide range of music tastes, enjoying everything from Willie Nelson to Wu Tang and Louis Prima to Led Zeppelin, with plenty of funk mixed in too.
Thank you, Brittany, for sharing a bit about yourself with the division!
HR Corner
New resources and other updates from IU Human Resources.
New HR Support
Last month Steve Miller, HR Director, took on new responsibilities managing Human Resources for the Kokomo campus. Steve will continue to serve on the IU Finance Senior Leadership Team. Jennifer McCloud, HR Business Partner (HRBP), will now provide day-to-day support for HR functions for IU Finance.
Jennifer has been an HRBP with IU since March 2020 and has worked with several University Admininistration (UA) divisions in that time, including Alumni Relations, Human Resources, and the Office of the President. Prior to working at IU, she was an HR consultant for a public accounting firm, and has years of experience in banking, including retirement plan administration and Treasury Management services.
Healthy IU
Join the Creative Self-Care Challenge and take your mind on a mini vacation creativity journey! Creative experiences in art, music, and writing are tools to promote self-care and well-being.
During the 3-week challenge, you’ll receive weekly emails based on the themes of art, music, and writing with a variety of activity options provided. You will choose your activity, participate, and track your progress. Breathe and let your creative side take over.
Check out more Healthy IU programs
Performance at IU Reminders
Supervisors should schedule and complete both Annual Performance Review and Expectations Conversations with employees. Supervisors are responsible for completing online attestations for each of their direct reports by May 15, 2026.
New for this year - when applicable, discuss if there are any specific expectations around working remotely. Reminder: Every IU employee working a hybrid or remote schedule needs to complete a new Remote Work Arrangement form between now and May 15, 2026.
Read more about Performance at IU
New Employee Spotlight
Several new staff have joined IU Finance since our last issue! Get to know them by checking out their profiles.
Name: Emily Ashby
Start date: December 22, 2025
Department and job title: Office of the University Controller, Tax Specialist
Get to know Emily: I earned my master's in accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2015. Since then, I have worked in a variety of finance roles including manufacturing, banking, and a parks department. I live in Evansville, IN with my husband DJ, and our two cats, Sid and Ingrid.
Any hobbies or special interests you’d like to share? Outside of work, I love to be outdoors riding my bike or camping. I also enjoy reading, playing D&D, and catching up with family and friends over a good cup of coffee.
Name: Monica Taylor
Start date: February 2, 2026
Department and job title: Office of the University Controller, Business Analyst with Financial Systems Administration
Get to know Monica: I have worked at IU for almost 15 years in various capacities. I have a bachelors degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and a MBA from University of Southern Indiana. I am married with two kids (ages 11 and 8), one dog, and too many fish to count.
Any hobbies or special interests you’d like to share? In my free time I enjoy roller skating and playing board games. I also love watching my kids play sports. We just wrapped up wrestling season and are gearing up for soccer and baseball.
Name: Melissa Clark
Start date: February 9, 2026
Department and job title: Office of the University Controller, Lease Accountant
Get to know Melissa: My family has been part of the Bloomington community for generations, and I’m proud to have called Bloomington home my entire life. I graduated from the IU Kelley School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. I have worked in accounting for 35 years, spending the past 30 years with a longtime local business leader. During that time, I gained extensive experience in the hospitality and real estate industries. I am truly happy to be back at IU – now as a staff member – and to contribute to the university in a new way.
Any hobbies or special interests you’d like to share? Outside of work, I prioritize time with my family and my fur babies, as those moments bring me the greatest joy. I like volunteering in the community and finding meaningful ways to give back. I also have a passion for baking and love creating elevated, fine-dining-inspired meals at home.
Name: Nathanael Lashbrook
Start date: February 16, 2026
Department and job title: Finance Shared Services, Financial Coordinator
Get to know Nathanael: I got recently married this past year and have worked for the YMCA of Morgan County for the past 8 years holding roles like Youth Program Director. In my past role I created and managed programs that serves over 500 kids throughout the year between camp and the school year.
Any hobbies or special interests you’d like to share? My wife and I love to go hiking and exploring. We also love to travel and explore new places. Our favorite thing to do is to explore small towns all around.
Department News & Updates
Get up to speed on what's been happening in IU Finance.
Financial Enterprise Engagement (FEE)
Following the introduction of Project Horizon, the initiative has transitioned from initial planning to active discovery. The goal remains to modernize IU’s financial operations and build a culture of fiscal responsibility across the university.
After a competitive RFP process, the consultancy contract was awarded to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The next phase centers on building a comprehensive, data-informed understanding of IU’s current financial operations. Gathering data will be key to making informed decisions in the future. Two key surveys will support this work:
- A voice of the customer survey sent by PwC that will help gather feedback on how the finance function is viewed across IU from leaders in the University.
- An activity analysis survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers. This university-wide assessment will look at how financial work is carried out across all IU campuses and academic units.
Please take the time to complete survey. The surveys are not used to assess individual performance, but rather gain a detailed understanding of the finance/procurement work being performed holistically across the university.
Upon closure of the surveys, PwC will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current state of finance activity at IU based on the data collected and recommend options that enhance efficiency and ensure compliance as a public research institution. IU will use these recommendations to determine the next steps associated with project.
Finally, the Project Horizon site launched! These pages are the best place to go to stay up to date on the timeline associated with the initiative, check out answers to frequently asked questions, and learn who’s involved in the process.
Financial Training & Communications
Angus Burke and Juliet Roberts represented the training team at the IU Bloomington Staff Resource Fair on December 2. The fair, hosted by the IU Bloomington Chancellor’s Office, is an effort to help connect staff with university resources. Angus and Juliet engaged with staff from across the Bloomington campus, spreading the word about IU Finance training and the new resources they’ve worked on, like Juliet’s new reimbursement guides for Taxis/Shuttles and Angus’s Out of Pocket reimbursement guide. Huge thanks to IU Purchasing for contacting our contracted suppliers to get us the swag for our table, which flew off the shelves. One attendee referred to the training table as “clearly the place to be.” The team will attend the next Staff Resource Fair on April 20.
At the end of March, Sarah Chavez and Angus Burke will facilitate several Fiscal Office (FO) focus group sessions. During these meetings, the training team will solicit feedback from FOs across the university on key Office of the University Controller (UCO) resources. The feedback they collect will inform future UCO and training resources to help FOs navigate finance policy and procedure at IU.
Office of the Treasurer
Starting March 4, University Bursar is partnering with University Communications and Marketing (UCM) to make it easier for students to find cost and funding information for IU education opportunities. The goal is to streamline web content across all campuses to ensure that no matter where a student looks, the details on tuition and financial aid are clear, consistent, and easy to find.
Office of the University Controller (UCO)
Many of us think of spring as tax season, but the work begins in late November! Before the winter break, University Tax Services staff began analyzing data to ensure things were ready to go when business resumed in January. At that point, Bryce Adair, Amber Hanners, Dulce Ruiz, Emily Ashby, Tonya Sego, and Lisa Keough got to work generating a multitude of IRS-required forms. The table below shares a breakdown of all the forms published by the team.
| Form number | Number of forms generated |
| 1098-T | 114,309 |
| W-2 | 53,530 |
| 1099-NEC | 3,529 |
| 1099-Misc | 1,977 |
| 1042-S | 1,528 |
| 1099-K | 69 |
| Grand total: | 174,942 |
Once these forms are out the door, the questions start rolling in from students, employees, and suppliers. UCO Customer Service team members Andy Bruce, Lora Monix, Michelle Parks, Josh Browning, and Lisa Goch continue to do a fantastic job answering customer questions and escalating them to the appropriate expert.
Last but not least, the Cassie Rosenburgh and Meredith Coots from University Payroll sent helpful reminders to department payroll processors about tax form availability, answers to common questions, and who to direct employees to for additional help. Cassie and Meredith were also integral to ensuring the accuracy of W-2 data!
A huge thank you and congrats to all these amazing staff for successfully navigating another tax season.
Procurement Services
Last month, Travel Management Services made the travel contract process more transparent by migrating all requests into BUY.IU. Previously, staff relied on the Travel Support Form and manual email follow-ups to get contracts reviewed and signed. Now, the entire lifecycle—from the initial request to the final signature—happens within a single platform. Staff can check for status updates and retrieve signed documents without searching through their inboxes. Thank you to Priscilla Vincent for her leadership during the implementation of this process change!
This change also serves a larger purpose for IU’s procurement strategy. Moving all contract activity into one central location allows the university to better understand its spending patterns. This visibility allows Procurement Services to identify the suppliers IU works with most frequently, providing the data needed to strengthen and formalize business relationships and provide more value to the university.
The transition to eShipGlobal is steadily progressing as the initial configuration and setup phases wrap up. To ensure the new platform meets the university's rigorous safety standards, teams from the Research Security Office (RSO) and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) have begun directly collaborating with eShip. Together, they are building the compliance rules for export control and the handling of hazardous materials, ensuring every shipment stays in line with external requirements.
Once these safety configurations move into IU’s test environment, pilot testing can begin. The implementation team has a group of 50 users who have volunteered to be the first to navigate the new system. This pilot testing is a vital step in the rollout; it allows us to identify and smooth out any major system or process issues in a controlled setting. By addressing these pain points now, we can create a better experience for everyone when the tool eventually launches university-wide.
University Budget Office & Finance Shared Services (UBO and FNSS)
Last issue, we shared that UBO was pursuing a new budget & financial planning software tool. We’re excited to announce that IU has invested in Anaplan, an industry-leading financial planning and analysis platform. Throughout 2026, UBO will work with campuses to identify the critical needs for the new tool and learn how IU’s current processes can be improved. IU’s instance of Anaplan will be configured and tested this summer and fall to implement for FY28 budget construction (in spring 2027). The legacy KFS Budget Construction module will be used for FY27 budget construction, and it’s about to kick into high gear. Budget planning materials will be distributed to campuses and UA units on March 11. After that, departments can begin building their plans and enter the information into KFS starting March 25.
Kudos, Service Milestones & Celebrations
Take a moment to celebrate your colleagues' professional and personal accomplishments!
Kudos
Cody Hines, Finance Shared Services
Cody always goes above and beyond in his role as Fiscal Officer with UA-FNSS supporting IU Research. However, with the departure of another staff member, he took on most of their duties in an interim fashion for several months without complaint or missing a beat. His creativity and can-do attitude are an asset to the units he supports as well as the university.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Amanda Coats and Alan Haupert, Purchasing
As administrators supporting the BUY.IU application, Alan Haupert and Amanda Coats have begun certification courses through Jaggaer University to deepen their knowledge of the application’s modules. Recently, Alan completed the Jaggaer Foundations course, and Amanda completed the Site Administration course, both earning their first certification badges demonstrating a strong understanding of those product areas.
Congratulations to both Alan and Amanda as they begin their Administrator training certifications.
Submitted by: Dawn Bodle
Dawn Cordray, Kylee Pendley, Jada Driver, Gwen Indrutz, and Barb Doster, the University Bursar Account Resolution Team (ART)
The ART team took on significant additional work during the Fall semester making outreach to help our current students pay their bursar bills, in addition to their ongoing work with former students and payments. Their work had a direct impact on enrollment for the Spring semester. They always work with such professionalism and a focus on helping the customer.
Submitted by: Don Lukes
Deb Doub, University Payroll
A special thank you to Deb! Handling overpayments is a busy job on a normal day, but during year-end and the start of the new year, it is a massive undertaking. Thank you for all of your hard work to keep things moving smoothly for departments and employees.
Submitted by: Anonymous
Valerie Brenes and Michelle Harper, Travel Management Services
Valerie and Michelle represented Travel Management Services at the Staff Resource Fair on December 2. Thanks, Michelle and Valerie, for representing Travel and sharing helpful resources to IU staff at this event!
Submitted by: Anonymous
Ben Jones, University Budget Office
I would like to recognize Ben Jones from the University Budget Office (UBO) for his outstanding work over the past year supporting FNSS. Ben took the time to learn the new Fire Forms process and created the forms now used for FNSS financial transaction submissions from other UA departments. His attention to detail and follow-through have helped ensure our processes run smoothly and efficiently.
Ben also built the FNSS webpages and has been instrumental in maintaining and enhancing both the webpages and the Fire Forms. Over the past year, he has made numerous updates and tweaks as needs evolved. No matter the request, Ben is responsive, dependable, and consistently willing to make adjustments to support changing priorities.
His reliability, professionalism, and steady support are truly appreciated. Ben’s contributions have made a meaningful difference for FNSS, and we are grateful for his continued partnership.
Submitted by: Naomi Cohenour
Service Milestones
Congratulations to the IU Finance staff who celebrated a service milestone last quarter! Be sure to congratulate them the next time you see them 😄
| Staff Member | Department | Anniversary Month | Years of Service at IU |
| Padric Adams | University Budget Office | January | 5 |
| Andy Bruce | Office of the Controller | January | 10 |
| Brooke Pashley | Treasury | January | 10 |
| Jennifer George | Office of the Controller | January | 30 |
| Rodney Johnson | Insurance, Loss Control & Claims | March | 10 |
| John Fox | Office of the Controller | March | 20 |
Celebrations
If you need a reason to pause and say "aww," these photos have you covered!
Job Openings
Are you or a friend looking for a new gig? Just curious what openings are available in IU Finance? Look no further! The table below contains links to open job postings as of March 4, 2026.
| Job description | Department | Link to Job Posting |
| Procurement Systems Leader | Procurement Services | Learn more |
Upcoming Events
All times are listed in Eastern Time.
De-Stress, Move, & Bowl! (IU Bloomington)
- Friday, March 6, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- If you have never bowled before or just need some extra tips to improve your game, this FREE program is for you. This fun and interactive program teaches the rules and 4-step approach of bowling.
IU Finance Town Hall
- Tuesday, March 10, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Online via Zoom
- Join us for the next division town hall to hear updates from IU Finance senior leadership. Please contact Karen Easter if you did not receive the Outlook calendar invite with the meeting information.
Care Talks by Care.com - Navigating disabilities: Guiding your child with disabilities into adulthood
- Tuesday, March 10, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- The transition to adulthood can be complex for those with disabilities. Build a confident and empowered future for your child with practical tools for education, employment, and independent living.
Lean Leadership
- Wednesday, March 11, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- This inspiring session dives into methods that turn managers into coaching leaders and improves teams and team dynamics.
Performance at IU: Put It All Together – Annual Conversations with Impact
- Thursday, March 12, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Lead annual reviews that celebrate progress, spark motivation, and set the stage for future success.
Road to Retirement: Understanding the PERF Retirement Plan
- Friday, March 13, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- We’ll explain how PERF works, how your pension is calculated, what service credit means, and the options available at different ages and years of service. This includes non-exempt staff (formerly known as support and service staff) and part-time with retirement employees hired prior to July 1, 2013.
Spring Break
- March 15 - March 22
Expectation Conversations Done Right (Performance at IU Skill Series)
- Tuesday, March 17, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Learn how to lead Expectation Conversations that create clarity, shared understanding, and accountability from the start.
Care Talks by Care.com - Succeed at work: Overcoming Procrastination
- Thursday, March 19, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Explore why people procrastinate, understand how it affects your life, and discover practical strategies and tips to overcome it.
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Suicide Prevention Training - Spring 2026
- Tuesday, April 7, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is an evidenced-based skills training program to reduce suicide.
Care Talks by Care.com - Financial wellness: Overcoming debt
- Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Understand the difference between good debt and bad debt, the impact of interest charges, how to manage spending habits, and how to build good saving habits.
Get to Know Your Campus: Grunwald Gallery of Art
- Thursday, April 9, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Join Staff Council for a visit to the Grunwald Gallery of Art.
Road to Financial Wellness: Get Started and Save for the Future You
- Thursday, April 9, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Learn about the power of saving and the different types of accounts (including your workplace savings plan) that you can take advantage of to save for your future.
Navigating Neuro-Affirming Disclosures
- Tuesday, April 14, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- A practical, people-centered, supportive session exploring the realities of the disclosure dilemma for neurodivergent employees, from both sides of the conversation.
Lean and AI
- Wednesday, April 15, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- This engaging webinar highlights how Lean principles align with AI capabilities and how AI‑enhanced Lean approaches can streamline processes.
Road to Financial Wellness: Retirement Basics (Saving for the Future You)
- Tuesday April 21, 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
- Learn about the power of saving and the different types of accounts (including your workplace savings plan) that you can take advantage of to save for your future.
Care Talks by Care.com - Child care & parenting: Parenting in the age of AI
- Wednesday, April 22, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Gain insights on using technology mindfully to support your child’s learning, safety, and emotional development in today’s digital world.
IU Bloomington Spring Commencement
- Friday, May 8
Road to Retirement: Medicare Basics - Part A & B
- Wednesday, May 13, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Whether Medicare is right around the corner or part of your long-term planning, this webinar will help you make confident, informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.
Road to Retirement: Medicare Basics - Part D Prescription Coverage
- Thursday, May 14, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Join Ben Hudson, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Training Director, for an overview of prescription coverage under Medicare, known as Part D. You’ll learn why it’s important to enroll, what the plan options are, and how to compare them.
Road to Financial Wellness: Managing My Money
- Friday, May 15, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- This workshop will provide manageable strategies, tools, and tips that can help you take control of your spending, saving, and debt.
IU Indianapolis Spring Commencement
- Saturday, May 16
Road to Retirement: IU Retiree Status, Benefits, & Perks
- Tuesday, May 19, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- We’ll discuss the eligibility requirements, coverage options, and how/when to enroll, with a special focus on IU’s retiree medical plans.
Get to Know Your Campus: Lilly Library
- Wednesday, May 20, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Join Staff Council for a guided tour of the Lilly Library, principal rare books, manuscripts, and special collections library of Indiana University.
Road to Retirement: HSA Rules You Can’t Afford to Miss at Age 65
- Wednesday, May 20, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Many people don’t realize that IRS rules limit HSA contributions once your Medicare coverage begins, so enrolling too soon can result in tax penalties. Learn what you need to know now to avoid costly mistakes later.
Road to Retirement: Fundamentals of Retirement Income Planning
- Thursday, May 21, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Learn how the building blocks of an income plan can offset the key risks in retirement, and how to use Fidelity’s resources to feel more confident as you prepare to move from saving to spending.
Memorial Day
- Monday, May 25
Don't forget to visit the Financial Training & Communications team events calendar for Office Hours and Info Sessions!
That's it for this issue! Looking for more? Check out The Socket archives.