Biography
With a career built on journalism, marketing and education, Vernon uses his experiences to help tell the story of how IUPUI engages with the community, while also building upon the collaborations the campus has built with the community.
Community engagement is a part of who Vernon is, and he sees no other way to live, especially when he gets the gratification of seeing people’s situation improve.
Starting as a young student in Gary, Vernon has consistently found ways to get involved to help his community, from starting clubs in high school that focused on service projects to tutoring freshman at risk of dropping out of college to joining and eventually helping lead the local chapter for the Indiana Black Expo. He is also involved with his church, Mount Zion Apostolic Church.
Vernon draws on the many connections he has made and continues to make in the community, ranging from local and campus officials to residents who live nearby, to find ways IUPUI can help address concerns and become involved in local issues.