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Michael “Mike” Culver joined Ivy Tech in June 2010 and served our students as an outstanding employee until his untimely death on May 18, 2020.
During his nearly 10 years at the College, Mike worked in many capacities at four different instructional sites/campuses. His roles included serving as an adult basic education instructor at the Miami Correctional Facility, assistant director of Admissions at the Peru Campus, associate director of Student Support and Development and student advisor at the Wabash Campus, and academic advisor at the Kokomo Campus.
Mike’s impact on students was great and the loss will be felt deeply as noted by friend and former supervisor Pam Guthrie, retired site director of the Wabash Campus:
“Mike's greatest legacy at Ivy Tech is the way he touched so many students through his role as an academic advisor. Over the years, many students expressed to me the high regard they held for Mike. He treated every student with kindness and respect and did everything he could to ensure their success. Mike was a wonderful coworker, too. He pitched in on every project to help raise scholarship funds for our students. Everyone who worked with him trusted and respected him and was inspired to be a better person by the example he set.”
Mike was also known as a wonderful colleague. Theresa Murphy, vice chancellor for Student Success and Mike’s most recent supervisor, wrote:
“I cannot say enough about how much Mike meant to the Ivy Tech Kokomo family. He always had a kind, funny, or uplifting word and he worked tirelessly to support our students. He was not only a great colleague but also a great friend. He will be missed by so many.”
Summing up his reputation, Mike was known at Ivy Tech as a wonderful, loving, family man; a friend and advisor to his students; and a friend to his co-workers. Beth Chaney, ASAP coordinator, offered this tribute on social media:
“I loved sharing an office with him. He always offered good advice, but not in a way that was "lectury." He never complained when I'd crank up the thermostat anytime he'd sneak out to a meeting. He LOVED his family - his boys and their girls. He loved those girls like they were his own daughters, and the kids they brought into the Culver family as much as those born into the Culver family. I hope he knew how special he was to me, and I think he did. My heart breaks for all who loved him, and while I know he is with Jesus and those who went before him, I selfishly wish he could be here with his family and friends still. He will be missed big.”
To honor Mike’s love for Ivy Tech students, Mike’s family has asked for contributions to be directed to the Michael Culver Memorial Scholarship to benefit Ivy Tech students.
Please join us in celebrating his life and honoring Mike by making a memorial contribution to the Michael Culver Memorial Scholarship.
