Jennifer Conner

Jennifer Conner Zachoki, age 52, of Indianapolis Indiana, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2021. She was born in Elmhurst, IL on July 29, 1967, to Bill and Joan Connor.

She is survived by husband Paul, son Matthew, mother Joan, sister Cassie, cousins Amy, Mark, Matt, Ted and Tom, nephew and niece Stephen and Ellen Corya, and great-nephew and great-niece Daniel and Avigayle Raab.

Jenny was tireless in her dedication to her passions, the most important of which was her beloved son Matt.

She earned multiple degrees from Indiana University Bloomington, including her PhD in Language Education, M.A.T., Spanish, and B.A., Spanish.

She was also an avid traveler and fitness enthusiast, balancing these activities with an incredibly demanding job as Associate Professor of Language Education and Head of the Division of Education at Indiana University - Purdue University Columbus. One colleague described her as a “visionary”, who brought “a sense of purpose and energy, and as a result, our team became more like a family than co-workers”.

Her passion and dedication were frequently recognized. She received multiple awards, including IUPUI's Women's Leadership Award, IUPUC's Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Indiana University's Trustee's Teaching Award, and IUPUC's Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was also selected for IUPUI's Next Generation 2.0 Leadership Initiative, and was a member of the Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching.

As Jenny said in a 2017 interview, “…the most effective teachers are those who are willing to foster, through democratic education, the critical tenets of a free society, which include social justice, equality, inclusion, and community. This philosophy makes teaching one of the most impactful professions there is.”

The tributes that poured in from students, friends and colleagues speak to the impact – and the spirit, humanity and love - she brought to everyone she encountered. A very small sample:

“She was such a sweet, kind, UNDERSTANDING professor!”

“She was incredibly kind and genuinely wanted her students to succeed. Her wisdom of the teaching profession was limitless.”

She was always so kind and positive. Always looking for the best in everyone. She truly cared about everyone she encountered.”

“She was a wonderful teacher who challenged me to look at the world in a different way. She was always kind and personable and I always admired her.”

“She touched so many lives in a positive way.”

“She was so kind and sweet and if you needed anything she was there to help!”

“She was super helpful and kind.”

“Was an absolute inspiration to me as an educator and a person. One of the kindest individuals I’ve ever met in school or out.”

“She pushed our thinking in ways that made us creative, empathetic, and always understanding the ‘why’ in all the things we do.”

“Her kindness and love helped me immensely… she will be remembered in my heart forever.”

A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 20, 2021 between 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Indiana Funeral Care, 8151 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46250, (317) 636-6464.

The IUPUC Division of Education Minority Scholarship will be renamed in Jenny’s honor. To donate to the Jenny Conner Minority Scholarship Fund, please visit https://www.iupuc.edu/giving/ and select the red box that says “Education;” select “Division of Education Minority Scholarship” (not the endowment) press “Next,” click “Make gifts in honor or memory of”, and indicate the donation is in memory of Jenny Conner.

Donations can also be made to The National Association on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Donation made this month will be matched.
https://donate.nami.org