Lowery, Reilly Named New Co-Chairs of Workforce Development Collaborative

Indiana Philanthropy Alliance recently announced that Chris Lowery, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education, and Megan Reilly, executive director for The Clowes Fund, will be the new co-chairs for its Workforce Development Collaborative.

“Workforce development is a crucial need for Indiana, and we’re pleased to have Chris and Megan lead this group ,” Claudia Cummings, IPA president and CEO, said. “They bring years of experience to this area and will ensure our member funders can work in unison to help revitalize the state’s workforce.”

Lowery and Reilly replace Sue Ellspermann, former Indiana Lt. Gov. and current president of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, as the group’s chair. IPA’s Workforce Development Collaborative provides an opportunity for its members to share ideas and collaborate with outside stakeholders on issues important to Indiana’s economic growth. It convenes funders with public officials, businesses, researchers, and others interested in addressing workforce issues in communities across the state.

“Higher education can be the connective tissue between the economic and education space,” said Lowery. “I am honored to serve as co-chair for the Workforce Development Collaborative. I look forward to further developing the connection between supply and demand with education beyond high school, ensuring employers have access to talented Hoosiers today and tomorrow.”

Lowery and Reilly will chair their first meeting on Nov. 3. The featured speaker is Jason Kloth, president and CEO of Ascend Indiana. He will discuss the continuum of post-secondary credentialing and will outline employment demand and compensation in various industries. Kloth will talk about changing attitudes toward credentials that do not require 4 years or more to complete.

Lowery was appointed this year to serve as commissioner for the state’s coordinating agency, charged with ensuring Indiana’s postsecondary education system is aligned to meet the needs of students and the state. Prior to that, he was senior vice president of workforce, careers, and adult strategy at Ivy Tech Community College.

Reilly joined The Clowes Fund in 2015 as an accomplished grantmaker and has worked with a number of family and community goals to achieve their philanthropic goals. She’s been active in funder collaboratives in both Indiana and New England and her experience spans the felds of workforce development, immigrant services, and education.