You don’t have to converse at length with IUPUI Athletic Director Dr. Roderick Perry to notice the commitment in his voice as he discusses the athletic program he took over in October of 2015. Just ask him what is special about the institution he represents or what he likes about his position, and he’ll quickly give you a catalog of things to consider.
“IUPUI is clearly a hidden gem and has such great potential,” said the soft-spoken, yet enthusiastic Perry, who took time to speak to me recently by telephone. Whether it be the highest collective grade point average for student athletes in the history of IUPUI, or the continual growth in terms of collaborative partnerships with corporations in Indianapolis and beyond, there are a number of things happening simultaneously that have kept Perry busy since he accepted the position following a distinguished tenure at Wright State University. The men’s basketball program is something that everyone in this community looks at with great interest, and he quickly pointed out what an asset the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum is to the Jaguars, both from a recruiting perspective and the various sponsorship opportunities it provides for those who support the program. “We’re very fortunate to have a great facility to play in, and the partnership has been great for everyone involved to date,” added Perry, who feels Head Coach Jason Gardner has the team on the right track in terms of both athletic accomplishment and personal growth.
Perry was also quick to point out the success in other sports such as volleyball, soccer and softball, citing the tremendous amount of support those programs receive as well from the faculty, staff and, most importantly, the students. While his professional focus continues to be the mission of the institution and who they are, he also stressed the importance of not only looking at what they do best, but also how to improve it . While a great portion of his time is spent with fundraising and developing corporate sponsorship, Perry has enjoyed adapting to the Indianapolis community, especially the downtown area.
“It’s a vibrant setting, and I look forward to even more development of housing on campus, including sororities and fraternities, as well,” Perry said, as he concluded our call and prepared to volunteer at a not-for-profit organization that morning. “I’ve been embraced at IUPUI both personally and professionally, and I feel excited about where we are at and certainly where we are going.”
Danny Bridges, who feels IUPUI is indeed fortunate to have an athletic administrator like Dr. Perry at the helm, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
