A successful international journey leads to a new global beginning

After 13 successful years, the Institute for International Business (IIB) recently underwent a name change and expanded its scope to cover all things global at the Kelley School of Business.

Kelley Global brings all of Kelley’s global efforts under one umbrella and will help track and maximize efforts, further develop a global mindset in programs and research, and build Kelley’s brand worldwide. Kelley Global is led by Executive Director Fred Perry. Fred is joined by Senior Director Christine Everett; Program Managers Ryan Craven, Teresa Crafton, and Trina Chandler; Contracts and Grant Specialist Britt Rust; and LatAm Recruiting and Partner Engagement Advisor Analilia Silva.  

IIB was founded in 2010 to serve as the focal point for international outreach at Kelley. The mission was “to transform lives, organizations and institutions through the development of programs and partnerships, big and small, which build business and entrepreneurial knowledge for action in emerging and developing markets globally.” 

Under the leadership and vision of Executive Director LaVonn Schlegel, IIB did just that. Focusing on entrepreneurship, business skill development, job creation, and higher education capacity-building projects, IIB was awarded 60 proposals worth nearly $20.5 million from 2010 through 2023. Larger projects in which numerous Kelley faculty participated included Barbados Jobs Initiative, with an investment of $1.3 million over three years; Advancement and Development through Entrepreneurship Programs and Training (ADEPT), equal to $1.4 million over four years; Entrepreneurship Excellence and Developing Economic Enterprises (BEEADEE), $1.4 million or four years; and the Global Business Institute, which received grants of $8 million from 2012-2018.  

As the development landscape began shifting over the last 7-10 years, funding for federal grants was reduced. The needs of the Kelley School had also been changing as global opportunities and partnerships were expanding. To support these changes, the decision was made to evolve IIB into a more integral part of the school. Kelley Global will partner with Kelley’s Office of Development and Engagement to expand the school’s global engagement and fundraising efforts and will advise the deans in developing and implementing its global strategy.

The team has jumped into multiple data-collection projects for Kelley’s international partnerships, which includes building a database to capture the wide array of international activities within the school. Since Kelley Global’s inception in January 2024, we have made significant strides with academic partners in Mexico, Thailand, the UK, and in Indonesia. In addition, Kelley Global also coordinated and hosted six students from partner Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE) in early March.  

Two ongoing IIB projects will remain at Kelley Global: a six-year $800,000 grant with Saints Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM) in North Macedonia to launch a new online degree and support their AACSB accreditation, and a four-year, $1.4 million Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) grant through the US Department of Education.

For up-to-date news, be sure to follow LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. 

To support Kelley’s global strategy, you can become a monthly “Kelley Global Pillar” or a one-time donor here.