Awards

Bicentennial Medal - 2020

About John Summerlot

John Summerlot first came to IU Bloomington in 2004. He has worked and taught in multiple offices and departments including Residential Programs & Services, Public Safety & Institutional Assurance, Division of Student Affairs, School of Education, School of Public Health, and University Student Systems and Services. He has been a residence manager, student conduct officer, an adjunct lecturer, veteran services officer, emergency preparedness trainer, and a member of IU’s Incident Management Team.

Summerlot has lead projects resulting in three national best practice awards, two FEMA honorable mentions, and served three years on the Governing Board of the American College Personnel Association. He has numerous publications and presentation on a range of topics including risk management in student organizations, missing students, campus climate towards veterans, veteran success, and IU history.

He is particularly interested in IU history related to the military, student life, and underrepresented populations and considers history to be his vocation. Summerlot is the chair of the IU Golden Book Project. He has presented around the state on IU military history including a series on IU in the Civil War during IU’s Bicentennial in 2020. He has produced over fifty short YouTube videos on IU history that he continues to add to as time allows.

Summerlot served four years in the US Marine Corps and six years in the Army National Guard during which he earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and history and his master’s degree in counseling, both from Mississippi State University. He has served in the Indiana Guard Reserve since 2012.

In 2020, Summerlot was presented the Bicentennial Medal for his distinguished service to Indiana University.

He was appointed University Assistant Director of Emergency Management & Continuity and University Coordinator of Military & Veteran Services in 2021.