Commencement Speakers

Graduate Alumni Speaker | Dr. Todd Bess

Dr. Bess is the Executive Director of the Indiana Association of School Principals. He has served previously as a math teacher, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Dr. Bess earned his Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University and his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Purdue University. He then attended Indiana State University, earning both his superintendent's License and his Ph.D. Dr. Bess serves as adjunct faculty for Ball State University, supervising graduate students earning their principal License, and as affiliate faculty for Indiana State University, where he instructs in the Ph.D. program. Todd and his wife, Tonya, who teaches 8th grade Language Arts, enjoy traveling and attending events for their four children.

Graduate Student Speaker | Ms. Regan Zerwig

A native of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, Regan Zerwig moved to Terre Haute in 2017 to pursue her undergraduate degree at Indiana State University as a transfer student from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri. In 2020, she received her Bachelor of Arts in studio art with minors in interior architecture design and entrepreneurship.

In the fall of 2020, she started her Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture at ISU. Because of the pandemic, specific materials for sculpture-making, like wood and metal, were too costly, so Zerwig began her graduate studies exploring, manipulating, and folding paper. As the pandemic settled, Zerwig used various mediums like wood, concrete, metal, and acrylic to create three-dimensional sculptures and installations. Zerwig connects her family’s history to her personal experiences in artmaking—focusing on color, geometry, and repetition stems from an interest in architecture, interior design, science, mathematics, and art.

Zerwig hopes to continue creating environments that exude wonder, beauty, and change while promoting personal meditation, reflection, and transformation. She received grant support for her thesis work from the graduate student research fund from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Several pieces of her art have won awards from the Department of Art and Design and have been displayed in exhibitions and small businesses throughout the Wabash Valley.

With the completion of her master's degree, she plans to start her professional career at Marian University as an art and design department faculty member while also continuing to fulfill commissions for sculptures and mural paintings as an artist. In her current and future professional work, she hopes to create a legacy of improving student experiences in art, supporting young artists' successes, and inspiring others to make art.

Undergraduate Alumni Speaker | Ms. Anita Klopfenstein

Anita Klopfenstein is the Chief Information Officer of Little Caesars, overseeing the strategic direction, development, and maintenance of technology. Previously, she held the role of Vice President, of eCommerce and Consumer Systems at Panera Bread, managing product development and systems integration for marketing and commerce. With over 25 years of experience, she’s recognized for her software product development and leadership in technology, enterprise, and manufacturing.

Klopfenstein holds a B.S. in Radio, TV, and Film from Indiana State University, along with an M.B.A. from Liberty University. She’s received numerous awards, including Top Innovator at the Women in Foodservice Technology Awards (2017) and the Michigan Global CIO of the Year from Inspire CIO (2021). In 2022, she was named CIO of the Year by Inspire CIO in the Enterprise Category, and in 2023, she received the CIO of the Year award from HMG Strategy in the Large Cap division. She’s actively involved in community organizations, serving on the advisory board of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT), with a mission to empower women in technology.

Anita teaches leadership and mentors high school and college students. Additionally, she’s on the Michigan advisory board for Npower, which offers free education and certifications in cybersecurity, network engineering, and programming to veterans and underserved young adults. Klopfenstein also contributes to Wayne State University as a part of the Technology, Information Systems, and Analytics Advisory Board, providing industry insights to better prepare students for the business world.

Outside of her professional life, Klopfenstein and her husband Lynn are foster parents to 12 children, receiving recognition as foster parents of the year multiple times in Illinois. She has a passion for playing the clarinet, and martial arts, and has completed over 30 marathons.

Undergraduate Student Speaker | Ms. Megan Shrader

Megan Shrader’s journey began in Columbus, Indiana where she was raised by Jack and Heather Shrader, alongside her little brother Evan. She graduated from Columbus North High School in 2013. After high school, Shrader embarked on her academic journey at Ball State University to study Telecommunications.

However, she faced her share of setbacks, as she encountered the challenges of college life. Not once, but twice, she found herself leaving Ball State. In the aftermath of the Pandemic of 2020, Shrader began to reevaluate her direction and decided to once and for all return to school to finally finish her bachelor’s degree. In 2021, she graduated from Ivy Tech Community College with an associate of General Studies diploma. Determined to follow her passion for communication, Shrader transferred to Indiana State University where she studied Communication with a concentration in Digital and Interactive Media.

During her academic pursuits, Shrader also took the first steps towards her future career. Joining WTHI-TV, she began as a Production Assistant, where she learned the intricate nature of live television. Her dedication and talent did not go unnoticed, she was quickly promoted to Photojournalist. In this position, she was inspired by the stories of the people she met in the Wabash Valley. After graduating, Shrader plans to establish herself in the television and film industry. Her goals include being the owner of a production company that will empower and elevate the voices of women and minorities. Her company will be a platform that breaks boundaries and tells stories about people from all walks of life. Shrader looks to the future with hope and determination. She plans to use her skills and abilities to improve the film and television industry. She is proud to call herself a Sycamore and will look back with a warm heart on her time here at Indiana State University.