After 25 years of service to Indiana University, the nation, and the Bloomington campus, Stephen A Wolter (Steve) has announced his retirement from his current position as Director of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands effective June 30, 2024.
Dr. Derek Nord, Director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC) which oversees the Eppley Institute will conduct a search for his replacement. “Steve was committed to Eppley and the IIDC missions- his fervent commitment to enhancing the experience of people across the life span, in places and programs that made their lives more healthy, more enjoyable, and enhanced was obvious in his work and contributions. As an IU center director, Steve is known nationally, and in some cases, across the world, for his dedication to advancing knowledge in parks, recreation, accessibility and public lands management”. Nord will select the new Eppley Director in Spring 2024.
Wolter has spent the last 25 years plus working at Indiana University leading Eppley and all its many programs including the National Center on Accessibility, Great Lakes Park Training Institute, Playground Maintenance Technician training, World Parks Academy, and proValens online learning system. During his time at Eppley, the Institute was highly successful building important collaborations with various park and public land management agencies including the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), state and local park agencies, and non-profit organizations, as well as some international projects with the American Battle Monuments Commission, National Park and Recreation Association of Mexico, and World Urban Parks.