With Herbert’s departure, government relations VP plans to retire on July 31

After two years serving as vice president for government relations, Tom Healy is retiring. Healy was appointed to the position in April 2004 by outgoing IU President Adam Herbert. Now that Herbert is leaving, Healy has decided the time has come for him to leave as well. “With a transition to a new president, I just thought it was time to leave,” said Healy, who will leave his appointment July 31. \nAfter working with Herbert at the University of North Florida, Healy made a three-year commitment to come to IU to work under Herbert in the IU Office of Government Relations. IU Media Relations Director Larry MacIntyre said when Healy took the position, the government relations office wasn’t as active as it could be. \n“He came in with experience ... and reorganized the government relations structure,” MacIntyre said. \nIU Government Relations has three functions, Healy explained. State relations involves working to maintain ties between IU and the Indiana state government. A second section, federal relations, works with the federal government to encourage discussion about issues that affect IU. Lastly, through Hoosiers for Higher Education, members are encouraged to request funding and implementation of policies that keep IU a top-notch university. \nHealy said he is most proud of the structuring of the new government relations office. He was able to create the office by hiring new people, who he said have done “an outstanding job.” One of the most vital people Healy brought in, MacIntyre said, was Executive Director of State Relations J.T. Forbes. \n“Forbes has really been effective,” MacIntyre said. “Healy kicked us up a notch or two.” \nAlthough Healy and Charlie Nelms, vice president for institutional development and student affairs, will be leaving empty seats this fall, MacIntyre said incoming IU President Michael McRobbie will have to replace relatively few people. \n“McRobbie is coming into office with people he chose or helped choose,” MacIntyre said. “If we had someone from outside IU coming in, he would have had more positions to fill.” \nAfter retiring, Healy plans to move with his wife to Jacksonville, Fla., where they lived previously for 27 years. Healy said he wants to spend time with his wife as well as his grandchildren. While he noted that he has enjoyed his time at IU and will visit in the future, he is ready to go. \n“We’re ready to do some things we haven’t had time to do,” he said.