Governor Holcomb announced his appointments for two new positions Thursday. He’s picked his senior education advisor, Dr. Katie Jenner, to serve as Indiana’s first secretary of education. She replaces State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick, after the elected office was changed to an appointed position.
Jenner previously served as Ivy Tech’s vice president of K-12 Initiatives and Statewide Partnerships, after working as an administrator at Madison Consolidated Schools. The Governor’s Office announced five focus areas for Jenner as she begins her new role: support schools through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, provide all students personalized pathways to prepare them for lifelong success, champion the educator profession, and cultivate a future-ready education system.
Meanwhile, the governor is appointing Karrah A. Herring as chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer. She’s a Valparaiso University Law School graduate currently serving as the director of public affairs for the University of Notre Dame. Governor Holcomb announced the creation of that position back in August, as a way to address barriers within state government.
Jenner will start her new position on January 11, while Herring starts on February 1.
