Erica Shonkwiler, M.B.A., CMP, is a senior lecturer in the Department of Tourism, Event, and Sport Management. She is the lead instructor of the event management track of courses within the undergraduate program.
Coupled with a B.S. in tourism, conventions, and event management from Indiana University and an M.B.A. from Butler University, Shonkwiler is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
Shonkwiler’s work experience spans a 20-year career with executive team leadership, strategy development, marketing, market research, nonprofit management, venue management, and event management. She frequently presents at local, national, and international conferences on topics like event design/management, event marketing, and sustainable event design.
She stays deeply connected and committed to industry by serving on boards and committees for a diverse group of organizations every year. She is a past president of the Meeting Professionals International Indiana chapter and has served on the organization’s communications committee.
Shonkwiler is the faculty advisor to three campus student organizations, each affiliated with industry professional organizations—Professional Convention Management Association student chapter, Meeting Professionals International student chapter, and the International Live Events Association student chapter
Every year, Shonkwiler manages the IU Indianapolis event social media team, which brings 20-plus students out into the community to work on dozens of the city’s most celebrated events: Indy 500, 500 Festival Parade, Indy Mini Marathon, Jazz Fest, and many others. The students get invaluable resume experience, while the group provides community organizations with social media management, customer service, website architecture/content evaluation, and data analysis for event and organizational improvement.
