University of Indianapolis President Beverly Pitts announced Monday morning that she will retire at the end of the academic year, ending seven years leading the private college on the city’s south side.

Pitts, 69, the university’s eighth president, informed its Board of Trustees of her decision on Saturday.
 

Pitts

Her retirement follows the end of a six-year strategic plan that expanded programs and facilities for students. The university enlarged Schwitzer Student Center, erected an athletics and recreation facility and opened a new residence hall. It plans to break ground this fall on a seventh residence hall.

The university also is partnering with the Indianapolis 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee to provide a pregame practice site for the champions of the National Football Conference.

A national search for her replacement will begin immediately, the university said.

UIndy has about 5,200 students in Indianapolis and 600 students in international programs.

Before joining UIndy, Pitts was provost and vice president for academic affairs at Ball State University and acting president of that school for one year. She served as a professor of journalism, director of the journalism graduate program and associate provost.

Pitts serves on the boards of the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning, Professional Athletes Foundation, United Way of Central Indiana, The Mind Trust, Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, and Indiana Humanities Council. She is former president of the National Association for General and Liberal Studies. She also served on the NCAA Division II Presidents Council.

She earned her doctorate in higher education and a master’s degree in journalism from Ball State and a bachelor’s degree in English from Anderson University.