Indiana State University (ISU) welcomed one of its most accomplished graduates back into a leadership role on Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with the appointment of Carolene Mays to its Board of Trustees.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun made the appointment, which became effective on MLK Day.
Mays, a seasoned leader whose career spans entrepreneurship, elected public service, media, utility regulation and corporate governance, is an ISU alumna. She currently serves as the CEO of Building Leaders + Legacies and Carolene Mays Inspiring Leadership, LLC.
Additionally, Mays hosts the public affairs program Community Link on WISH-TV.
“As a distinguished alumna, Carolene Mays brings an exceptional breadth of experience in leadership, governance and public service to our Board of Trustees,” Indiana State University President Mike Godard said. “Her perspective, vision, and dedication to impact will be invaluable as we continue to advance Indiana State University’s mission and strategic priorities. We are proud to welcome her home as a Distinguished Alumna and trustee.”
Mays’ portfolio of public service is comprehensive. Three Indiana governors have appointed a former Indiana State Representative, Mays, to key state agency roles, including serving as a utility regulator and as the executive director of the White River State Park development commission. Her national leadership includes serving as National Chair of Utility Critical Infrastructure, and she has been recognized as a Top 50 leader in cybersecurity policy.
In the private and civic sectors, Mays has left a significant imprint. She previously served as president and CEO of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and Indiana Minority Business Magazine, guiding both through periods of transformation.
Mays’ corporate board service includes OneAmerica Financial, and she chairs the IU Lilly School of Philanthropy’s Mays Family Institute. Notably, she has co-chaired major sporting events, including three NCAA Women’s Final Fours, and served on the boards for NBA and WNBA All-Star Games hosted in Indianapolis.
Her accolades are numerous, including being named one of Indiana’s Most Influential Business Leaders by the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ), induction into the Junior Achievement Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame and receiving the 2024 Champions of Diversity Martin Luther King Freedom Award.
Mays is also a two-time recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash, one of Indiana’s highest civilian honors. She studied at the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and holds an Executive Coaching Certification from the University of Kansas. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and The Links, Incorporated.
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral.
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