- Pronouns:
- she/her
- Email:
- ymclaren@iu.edu
- Department:
- Academic and Career Development
- Campus:
- IU Indianapolis
Education:
- B.S. Elementary Education - Interdisciplinary Studies
- M.Ed. Learning and Technology, Western Governors University
Professional experience:
- Tenure with the Office of Academic and Career Development: I began working as a career consultant in June 2025.
- Favorite part about the work you do:
- I find it gratifying to play a small part in a person’s success story. I enjoy helping people get from where they are in their lives to where they would like to be.
- Past jobs and experience:
- I've worked in education for 20 years, the past few years in career technical education at MSD Wayne Township for four years and as an academic advisor at Ivy Tech for two years.
Advice to students: Don’t give up. Sometimes the success you are seeking is just around the corner.
If you could be any major in your cluster, what would it be? Why?
Engineer. I wanted to be an engineer like my dad when I was young. I think I have the logical and analytical thinking style that would have given me success in this field.
Biography: I was born in Jamaica but grew up in Pennsylvania. I moved to Michigan for my high school years, so Michigan always feels like home to me. I have, however, had the opportunity live in 13 states and 3 countries. I am the mom to seven amazing children (mostly adults at this point). I enjoy being outdoors, whether it’s walking my weekly 20 miles, going on a hike or something more adventurous like whitewater rafting. I've worked in education all of my career because while I might not be able to change the whole world, I can help change the worlds of the students I meet.