Vincennes University Jasper seeks leader for technology, innovation center

Vincennes University Jasper is looking for a new leader for its Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing, a post that sits at the center of Dubois County’s training pipeline for advanced manufacturing and technology jobs. The opening, posted June 2, matters far beyond campus because CTIM helps connect local employers, students and retraining efforts in Jasper.

The vacancy comes at a campus that serves about 500 students in more than 25 programs of study. VU Jasper says its Career Advancement Partnership bridges industry and education through hands-on classroom training and a paid internship or apprenticeship, with 16 partner companies involved. The university says CAP students earn at least $19 an hour while interning, and graduates typically earn $23 to $30 an hour, or about $60,000 a year.

That makes the CTIM director’s job more than an administrative title. The position helps shape how Vincennes University responds to demand from Dubois County manufacturers, where employers rely on a steady stream of workers trained for practical, technical jobs. It also affects students deciding whether to stay local, move into a skilled trade or continue into higher-level technical training.

CTIM has already been a centerpiece of that effort. In October 2021, Vincennes University unveiled a collaborative robotics lab inside the center with 11 collaborative robots installed as part of an $8 million Lilly Endowment-funded initiative called Developing a Workforce Ecosystem for Industry 4.0 in Indiana. The university said at the time the lab was meant to support manufacturing employers in Dubois County and help build a talent pipeline in advanced automation and cobots.

The center has also remained visible as a community recruitment tool. More than 120 high school students from across Southern Indiana took part in VU Jasper’s fifth annual CTIM STEM Challenge, and another campus event drew nearly 600 local high school freshmen for a Tour of Opportunity. Those events show how CTIM reaches beyond current students and into the county’s broader education system, where early exposure can steer teenagers toward local technical careers.

Jacob Berg is listed by Vincennes University as CTIM director on the CAP program page, indicating the search is for a replacement. For Jasper, the decision will help determine how well one of the county’s most important workforce hubs can keep pace with manufacturing, automation and innovation needs in the years ahead.