Ep. 11: Go Behind the Portraits: the Women of IU Portrait Collection with Sherry Rouse and Laurie Burns McRobbie
In this episode, Sherry and Laurie take us behind the scenes of the Women of IU Portrait Collection, a powerful campus initiative that honors the legacy and contributions of women connected to Indiana University. They share how the collection began, the research and storytelling process behind selecting honorees, and the importance of making historically overlooked contributions visible through art.
Together, we explore remarkable stories from the collection, including trailblazers who transformed residence life, broke racial barriers, and shaped the student experience in ways still felt today. Sherry and Laurie reflect on the emotional impact of portrait dedications, the role of artists, many of them women, in telling these stories, and how families, students, and alumni continue to connect with the collection in meaningful ways.
Beyond the portraits themselves, the conversation highlights broader themes of leadership, visibility, and legacy. Laurie discusses how the collection helped shape conversations during IU’s Bicentennial Campaign and contributed to long-term efforts to recognize women’s impact through endowments, portraits, and public art. Sherry emphasizes the power of curiosity, inviting listeners to slow down, look up, and notice the stories embedded in the spaces we move through every day.
The episode closes with reflections on inspiration, community, and the importance of preserving the relationships and stories that shape who we become, personally, professionally, and institutionally.
Sherry Rouse is Indiana University’s longtime curator of campus art, responsible for preserving and managing artwork across all eight IU campuses. Her career spans decades in arts leadership, including directing the Bloomington Area Arts Council and serving with the National Endowment for the Arts. Through her curatorial vision and deep institutional knowledge, Sherry has played a central role in shaping and sustaining the Women of IU Portrait Collection, ensuring that the stories of women who have shaped the university are preserved, honored, and made visible to the campus community.
Laurie Burns McRobbie is Indiana University’s eighteenth First Lady and a nationally recognized leader in women’s philanthropy, leadership, and technology. With more than 25 years of experience in higher education at the University of Michigan and Internet2, she helped found the Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council and the Center of Excellence for Women & Technology at IU. Laurie continues to serve on influential boards at the state and national level, advocating for women’s visibility, leadership, and access to opportunity across higher education and beyond.
About the Center of Excellence for Women & Tech
The Center of Excellence for Women & Tech is a welcoming community on Indiana University’s campus that strives to empower women students, faculty, and alumni to expand their leadership skills, build confidence with technology, and foster community and collaboration across all fields of study and industry.
Follow the Center on Instagram at @IUwomenandtech to stay up to date on events, programs, and future podcast episodes.
