VU Jasper dean to step down, search begins for successor

Vincennes University Jasper will turn to a familiar campus leader as it searches for a permanent dean, a move that could shape enrollment, employer ties and career training across Dubois County heading into fall. Adam Watkins will step down June 26 as assistant vice president and dean for personal and family reasons, and Alli Tempel, the campus assistant dean of academic and student services, will serve as interim dean while the university conducts a national search. VU said it wants the position filled by early in the Fall 2026 semester.

For students, families and employers that rely on VU Jasper, the immediate question is whether the campus keeps its current direction. University leaders are presenting the transition as a seamless handoff rather than a break in operations, a message that matters in Jasper, where the campus is closely tied to local degree pathways, continuing education and the workforce pipeline that feeds employers in Dubois County and surrounding counties.

Tempel already has deep ties to the campus. Her VU biography says she has served in roles across Student Activities, Student Services and Academic Support Services at Jasper Campus, and she coordinates the Jasper Campus STEM Academy. She is also a Dubois County Leadership Academy graduate and serves on the Coalition for Adolescent Resilience and Empowerment board and the Dubois County Community Foundation Grants Committee. That mix of campus experience and local civic involvement gives the interim appointment a built-in sense of continuity at a time when students are weighing course options, transfers and job preparation for the coming academic year.

The leadership change also fits a pattern at VU Jasper. In June 2024, when then-Dean Christian Blome left for a new professional opportunity at Regional Opportunity Initiatives, the university named Stephanie Stemle interim dean and highlighted her 14 years of service, along with her status as a Dubois County native and resident. That earlier move showed VU’s preference for interim leaders who already know the campus, the community and the partnerships that keep programs moving. The university is now making the same bet with Tempel.

VU’s broader messaging has emphasized that Jasper is not just an administrative office but part of the university’s work to align education with local labor needs. In an August 2024 update, officials pointed to the Jasper Campus role in high school partnerships through the Patoka Valley Career and Technical Cooperative, which serves Dubois and surrounding counties. President Chuck Johnson said Watkins helped strengthen relationships across the Jasper Campus and the region, while Watkins said the campus is in a strong position because of collective commitment from faculty, staff, students and community partners. The search now puts those partnerships at the center of the next leadership decision.