Gayle earned a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership with a concentration in Academic Affairs Administration from Nova Southeastern University. She also earned a bachelor degree in Human Resource Management and a master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, both from Ball State University. She was named a Nova Southeastern University Programs for Higher Education Scholar, only one of two in the country. Gayle’s research interests focused on gifted and honors-level higher education students, discrimination of females in education, and women in non-traditional academic career fields. 

Gayle Hartleroad previously served as the Director of Student Services in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University for 18 years. Drawn primarily to pre-professional programs, her prior positions include Associate Director of Graduate Business Programs (Ball State University), Senior Assistant Director for the Arts and Sciences Placement Office – Career Development Center (Indiana University) and Honors Program Assistant Director & Academic Advisor in the Department of Freshman Engineering (Purdue University).

At Ball State Gayle was a co-founder and administrator of the Miller Business Honors Program and Miller Scholarship. This program received national and regional recognition for outstanding academic advising by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and for its innovative nature and academic-student affairs collaboration by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

For the past ten years in her personal time she has made clients’ vacation dreams come true as a travel professional, specializing in Disney Destinations. Her favorite travels have been to Kauai, London, and extended cruises.

Originally from Royal Center, Indiana, Alexa earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing from DePauw University. She is currently completing a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Data Analytics at the University of Indianapolis. Most recently, she worked at the University of Indianapolis on two Department of Education–funded initiatives focused on supporting Indiana educators in attaining dual credit credentials. 

Together with her partner, Nicholas, the pair enjoys puzzles, video games, cooking, exploring the trails at Eagle Creek Park, and discovering new restaurants throughout Indianapolis. They reside on the South Campus with their two cats, Rolly and Sylvie. On weekends, they can often be found visiting local estate sales, shopping at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market, attending Indy Fuel games, or spending time with family in Lebanon cheering on their nephews’ various sporting events.