Burnette
INDIANAPOLIS — Newfields has named Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette as the institution’s new president and chief executive officer effective Aug. 1.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Burnette’s career spans engineering, information technology, public service, and more than two decades in education.
Serving as president of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, she launched new academic programs and new partnerships with companies ranging from Apple, Indeed, Texas Parks & Wildlife and Merck. She was named the 2021 Austinite of the Year by the city’s Chamber of Commerce for her commitment to education and her work as co-chair for the Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities. Her other active board memberships include Leadership Austin, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, and the Austin Community Foundation.
“I’ve seen the nurturing and transformative power of cherished institutions like Newfields. I am thrilled to become part of a team driven to meet Newfields’ mission of enriching lives purposefully and intentionally through exceptional experiences with art and nature,” said Burnette. “I believe strongly in service, and I am excited to lead Newfields at this unique moment to make it a place every person in Indianapolis and beyond is excited to visit, and every team member is proud to work.”
Burnette’s selection is the culmination of a national search that considered more than 230 applicants.
