Jill Maurer Burnett won the open IU Board of Trustees alumni-elected position, according to an IU press release. She will begin her three-year term Monday.
Burnett received 3,830 votes, which represented 19.05% of the 20,101 total votes from IU alumni. The election ran from June 1 to June 28.
“I’m thrilled to be elected as a trustee for my beloved alma mater, which has played a pivotal role not just in my life but much of my family’s,” Burnett said in the release. “I’m looking forward to working with fellow trustees to ensure Indiana University continues to help students grow, learn and better our world.”
Burnett emerged victorious over 11 candidates. John McGlothlin III, a Texas financial planner endorsed by the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition, finished second with 2,992 votes, which accounted for 14.88% of the total vote.
Incumbent Jeremy Morris, who has served in the position since 2021, finished third with 2,303 votes, which represented 11.46% of the total vote.
“I want to thank Trustee Morris, whose experience and commitment to service have made him an incredible asset to the Board of Trustees and Indiana University,” W. Quinn Buckner, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in the release. “I extend my congratulations to Jill Maurer Burnett and look forward to working together to advance the mission of our extraordinary university.”
Burnett’s campaign focused on her family’s legacy and connection to the university. She wrote in her candidate statement her vision for IU is a welcoming environment with education, research opportunities, arts and athletics centered on a culture of excellence.
She also wrote she wants students to feel protected, seen and heard by their administration and wants IU to attract well-rounded and capable students.
“I extend my warmest congratulations to Jill Maurer Burnett on her election to the Board of Trustees,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in the release. “Jill will play a pivotal role in propelling Indiana University forward by fortifying our commitment to student success, fostering groundbreaking innovation and discovery, and enhancing IU’s contribution to the vitality of our state and the global community.”
Burnett graduated from IU with a Bachelor of Science degree in business in 1997 and is the daughter of Michael Maurer, the namesake of IU Maurer School of Law. She is the president of the Maurer Family Foundation and the president of Women for Riley.
She also serves as a board member for Discovering Broadway, Cancer Support Community, Indianapolis Zoo and Hooverwood Living.
Burnett also runs Mickey’s Camp, a summer camp for adults, which donates its net profits to a charity selected by attendees. This year’s camp will include appearances from Indiana governor Eric Holcomb; IU men’s basketball coach Mike Woodson; Indiana Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer Karrah Herring; and Pacers Sports and Entertainment President and COO Mel Raines, who has previously worked for former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and Republican former U.S. representative for Indiana Susan Brooks.
Past speakers include former Indiana governor Mitch Daniels and former IU president Michael McRobbie.
Burnett donated a total of $500 to Republican Richard Lugar in 2011. Lugar served as a U.S. Senator from Indiana until 2013. She also donated $500 to Democrat Destiny Wells during her campaign for Indiana Secretary of State in 2022.
Prior to the election, the IDS reached out to each candidate about their stances on the ongoing pro-Palestine encampment and arrests in Dunn Meadow April 25 and 27, the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition strike and calls for Whitten and Shrivastav to resign. Burnett did not comment.
The IU Board of Trustees is the nine-member governing body of the university, according to its website. Six members are appointed by Indiana’s governor, including one student member, while three are elected by alumni.
Editor’s Note: The IDS looked at publicly available donor information from Federal Election Commission campaign finance data and government transparency nonprofit OpenSecrets. To confirm identities, the IDS cross-checked records with the listed occupation and location of the donor.
