The head of Warsaw's Ivy Tech campus will be leaving the state institution soon and returning to his roots - Grace College.

Steve Grill, site director of Ivy Tech State College, Warsaw, has agreed to take the newly created position of dean of community education at Grace, said Grace President Dr. Ron Manahan.

Grill, a Grace graduate, taught at Grace for 17 years until he left for the Ivy Tech position 12 years ago.

"I'm thrilled that he's coming back," Manahan said. "He was an outstanding educator when he was here. ... His work with Ivy Tech has further developed his connections not only with the region but in some respects the state as well."

The office of dean of community education is a new position, Manahan said, but the "area for which he is responsible is not new."

Manahan said Grill will be responsible for what is usually thought of as nontraditional education, such as seminars and workshops for the community, distance education using technology, the prison education program and the use of Westminster Hall as a community resource.

"The new position is an offshoot of Dr. Manahan's desire and vision for Grace to be more of a community player," Grill said.

Grill said he plans to begin at Grace the first week of August, but will continue to work with Ivy Tech until a replacement is found for his position there.

"I'm going to go to work at Grace, but I'm going to make sure the fall semester gets started (at Ivy Tech), too," he said. "Ivy Tech's best days are in front of it."

Manahan said Grill will oversee an "eclectic collection of nontraditional education.

"We feel he's ideally suited for this position and we welcome him back with great enthusiasm," he said. [[In-content Ad]]