DeCleene comes from an IU family, with five of the eight siblings graduating from Indiana University.
“We went through Bloomington on our way home [from Florida] to attend my older brother’s graduation from the Optometry School,” he remembered. “During the ceremony I leaned over to my mom and said, I’m coming to IU.’”
DeCleene loved traveling extensively with his parents, so when he learned about IU’s new bachelor’s degree in recreation – tourism management, following that course of study made perfect sense. He interned at Visit Bloomington, was offered a full-time job, and stayed in Bloomington for 16 years.
He moved back to South Bend in 2010 to serve as executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka and became executive vice president of the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce. He earned a certificate in Executive Management from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame in 2012.
A native of South Bend, and proud graduate of Adams High School, DeCleene considers his work here as vice chancellor a perfect coming together of his love for IU and South Bend.
As vice chancellor for administration and finance, Andy Williams, BS ’99, MBA ’08, is the newest cabinet member; he began his role in August. He will help steer IU South Bend toward a more sustainable financial future and more reliable physical infrastructure.
A self-described numbers guy, Williams says growing up in South Bend he wasn’t sure what course of study or career he wanted to pursue.
“My dad, who is an entrepreneur, told me that a business degree would be applicable for many careers,” he remembered.
He graduated from Indiana University with a BS in finance from the Kelley School of Business in Bloomington. After a two-year stint working for Northern Trust Bank in Chicago, he decided to move back home to South Bend. He went on to work at Ivy Tech Community College for 21 years, serving in various leadership positions in finance, human resources, and facilities management.
Early on, Williams realized his career advancement would be limited without a graduate degree. While working full-time he completed his MBA at the Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics at IU South Bend.
He remembers his capstone project and the tough instructor who pushed him and his group to ensure they turned in a strong project. The decision to earn a master’s degree worked out well.
“I got a promotion because of [my MBA], which gave me exposure to higher level administrators and a higher salary,” he said.
At IU South Bend, Williams’ role is on the business side of the university, and the budget is a huge part of that. He focuses on finding operational efficiencies and works with the Indiana University Administration to shape tuition and fees, and campus and university initiatives.
