Pam & Jack Burks Professorship
(est. 1999) When Pam Bowen and Jack Burks dated and parted at IU in the 1970's, they had no idea that twenty years later they would find each other again. While apart, Jack completed an MBA at the Kelley School and worked in Pittsburgh before moving to New York City as a partner with Offitbank, a money management firm specializing in high net worth clients and arts organizations. During those years, Pam worked in Indianapolis at IBM and GTE, and then established her company, Pam Speaks!, to provide professional speaking and training for associations and corporations in communication and interpersonal relationships.
After reconnecting and marrying in 1996, Pam and Jack returned to Indiana in June of 2000 to be closer to family. Pam moved back to Indianapolis and Jack retired from his position at Offitbank. Jack has now enrolled in the Masters of Theological Studies at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis with completion of his degree scheduled for 2006.
During her time at IU, Pam was a second alto in the Singing Hoosiers. She stayed involved with the organization after graduation; first joining the Singing Hoosiers Alumni Council and then becoming its President in 2000. Shortly before moving back to Indiana, the Burks gave a very special gift to the School of Music, endowing a Professorship to support the Singing Hoosiers director as well as special projects. At the 55th anniversary of the Singing Hoosiers this spring, Jack will be honored as the recipient of the 2005 Honorary Singing Hoosiers Award. Since returning to the state, both Jack and Pam have become active in the School of Music family as members of The Dean's Circle and members of the School of Music Dean's National Advisory Board.
Added to all that, their first grandchild, Leo, son of their daughter Gina and her husband Ray, receives a lot of their time as they travel to North Carolina to visit and baby-sit.
The School of Music is grateful for friends like Jack and Pam. Their devotion to making the Singing Hoosiers and the Jacobs School of Music the best they can be makes an important difference. Today, the Pam & Jack Burks Professorship is held by director of Singing Hoosiers and Assistant Professor of Music, Chris Albanese.