Before Paul Daily came to Ivy Tech Bloomington in 2010, students at the community college had little opportunity to learn about theatre. With an education and professional experience in theatre, Daily was the right person to build a program at Ivy Tech. Because of his efforts, students and the community have another avenue to enjoy live theatre.
Through this program, Ivy Tech students have the opportunity to participate in a theatre production, learning about acting, lighting, set design, and more. Being part of a show allows them to build a stronger connection to the school and enhances their collegiate experience. “In terms of how this affects Ivy Tech, it’s a large step in helping with retention and in creating the college experience for the students,” Daily told the Herald Times in a 2012 article leading up to the school's first production.
In addition to developing a theatre program, Daily also took the helm of the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center. The historic venue hosts the theatre productions as well as art galleries and courses. Then in 2014, Daily became the founding dean of Ivy Tech's School of Fine Arts. With his leadership, the school has added a variety of art classes to their credited courselist. He has bringing the arts to the students, with many benefits to them, the college, and the community.
Paul Daily received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University.