Visiting lecturer Tammy Voigt has returned to teaching the Fundamentals of Communications at IU Southeast after many years in the public relations field.
Voigt, a visiting lecturer of speech communication in advertising and public relations, was hired at IU Southeast in August.
Before coming to campus, Voigt worked as an adjunct lecturer at Ivy Tech Community College of Southern Indiana.
She said when she heard about the job opening at IU Southeast, she was eager to apply.
“I was extremely excited because of the strength of the communication department,” Voigt said.
Not only does Voigt teach about the field of communication, she also maintains a freelance communication and creative service at her home office. She offers services such as public relations, media planning, communication strategies, copy writing and market research services to select clients.
Before Voigt considered teaching communications, she graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1990 with a degree in public relations.
Her first job was a program coordinator in Evansville, Ind. for a group called Operation City Beautiful, a nonprofit group that organized campaigns to beautify the community through projects like community landscaping and recycling projects.
She then returned to New Albany, where she is originally from, to work at Clark Memorial Hospital as a public relations specialist.
After four years at the hospital she joined a small agency called Group 9, in December 1995. Not long after her hire, the first owner, Jeff Clingaman, was diagnosed with ALS. He died six months after the diagnosis.
“It was a crossroads for the company and the remaining people decided to not let the company go,” Voigt said. “We had too many high-brow clients.”
In 1999 Voigt became part owner of Group 9.
“I was thrown into wearing the creative hat and the agency management hat,” she said. “We stuck together and did not lose a single client.”
Around this time Voigt was expecting her fourth child.
“It became apparent that I would not be able to effectively parent four children and maintain an agency,” Voigt said.
After a lot of soul searching and support from her husband, Todd Voigt, she said she decided she missed academia, and wanted to get back to the basics.
“I wanted to get back to the fundamentals of communication that lead me to the field in the first place,” she said.
Voigt went back to Western Kentucky University to finish her master’s degree and to teach, driving two hours from Sellersburg to Bowling Green, Ky. while pregnant. In spring 2005
Voigt received her degree and began working at Ivy Tech soon after.
Leigh Ann Meyer, director of the Writing Center and instructor of English, said Voigt has a passion for teaching.
“She’s spent so many hours preparing and grading that she doesn’t look overwhelmed,” Meyer said.
Voigt said she wishes to teach her students one thing.
“Don’t settle for average. Anybody can be average. Push yourself a little bit and the next thing you know you’ll be exceptional,” she said.
As a mother of four who works, Voigt stays busy.
“When I’m not here and not working at home, I’m focused on my children and supporting them,” she said.
Voigt’s oldest son, Zach, 15, a freshman in high school and plays basketball. Her step daughter, Cydney, 14, and is a gymnast at the Southern Indiana Gymnastics School. Meghan, 8, and Merideth, 4, are both into cheerleading.
Meyer said it is easy to see that Voigt cares about the accomplishments of her children as well.
“She seems like a good mom and cares about their success,” Meyer said.
By MARY LYONS
Staff Writer
marlyons@ius.edu