Julia Whitehead ’09 (MA in International Relations) has always been someone who sees a need and steps up to fill it.
Whether serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, teaching English abroad, or helping global teams navigate regulatory systems at Eli Lilly, she was driven by a desire to connect across cultures and build meaningful relationships. Her international experiences, spanning countries like Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand, sparked a deeper curiosity about global affairs and human connection. That curiosity ultimately led her to the University of Indianapolis, where she pursued a master’s degree in international relations.
“A small private school like UIndy was exactly the environment that I felt would be both educationally appealing, but also emotionally appealing for me,” Whitehead explained. “My time overseas was wonderful, but I was also coping with understanding some things about people in the world. So, I was looking for a school where I could have meaningful conversations with students and professors to try to understand things like global conflict resolution.”
And that’s exactly what she found at UIndy. Whitehead quickly connected with other passionate students who were interested in global affairs and learned from professors who brought a wealth of real-world experiences to their classrooms.
“What really stood out to me at UIndy was the opportunity to truly get to know fellow students and to learn from incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate professors like Dr. Thakar, Dr. Ayers, Dr. Saksena, Dr. Woodwell, and Dr. Martin,” she said. “The knowledge they imparted absolutely shifted the course of my life and gave me greater confidence in my own experiences.”
The UIndy Department of International Relations also connected Whitehead to exciting new opportunities, such as attending a United Nations event in the summer of 2006. There, Whitehead earned a certification in global diplomacy, networked with students from around the world, and immersed herself in what she describes today as an “eye-opening experience.”
Those who knew her well knew that she liked to stay busy and would have a new project in the works after earning her master’s, so they began to ask her, “What’s next?” She had an answer.
The idea of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library had been taking shape since 2008. As graduation day approached, Whitehead spent her free time developing her plan for a community hub commemorating the life, work, and advocacy of Vonnegut. She also received encouragement from Eli Lilly to pursue the project. Her final month as a student was also the month that the Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library (KVML) received 501(c)3 status. The organization was then an official public-benefit charity. Following graduation, she and the KVML board of directors she had gathered spent the next year solidifying a plan and building a network. She resigned from Eli Lilly and opened the doors of the KVML to the public in January 2011.
“If I did not have my master’s degree from UIndy, I’m not sure if I would have had the knowledge, confidence, or network to lead a national museum and library,” said Whitehead. “I was not somebody who had a lot of money or a huge network. I just worked hard and knew people who really cared about the mission of the Vonnegut Museum and Library, and so, it was able to develop very quickly because there was such a need for it.”
The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library commemorates the legacy of the Hoosier author and advocate. The museum houses artifacts – including Vonnegut’s typewriter, Purple Heart, and other personal items loaned by his family – art, books, and more related to Vonnegut and his work. But KVML is more than a collection of memorabilia. It also serves as a one-of-a-kind cultural and educational resource, organizing impactful community programs such as writing workshops for children, veterans, and educators.
One such program is in partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools. Four IPS high schools now house Kurt Vonnegut Writing Centers, where students receive personal support and feedback on classroom assignments, college applications, creative writing, and more.
“I dare say that we have the most successful youth writing program in the country, right here in Indianapolis,” said Whitehead. “I could not have built this program without key people, such as a young man named Chris Speckman, but many, many others help run this successful program, and it really should be replicated in every school district in this country.”
Additionally, Whitehead is a member of the inaugural cohort of the Women’s Executive Leadership Institute (WELI) at UIndy. Dedicated to empowering women leaders, WELI brings together aspiring professionals from across the state to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence, and connections needed to advance into senior leadership roles. Though only halfway through the program, Whitehead is already building valuable personal and professional relationships.
“Every one of those sessions leaves me feeling energized and empowered to lead my community and support other women leaders,” Whitehead said. “Because it is very challenging to be a woman in leadership.”
What began as a one-woman passion project is now a national force for creativity, literacy, and civic engagement.
“We’re not just a museum—we’re a movement,” said Whitehead. “And we’re grateful. None of this would be possible without our local, national, and global community.”
You can learn more about the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library at https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/.