Bloomington in Monroe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Melanie S. Walker
(1959-2021)
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 16, 2026
1. Melanie S. Walker Marker
"Be the woman who fixes another woman's crown without telling the world it was crooked." -Amy Morin, Author
Business executive and civic leader Melanie S. Walker served IU as an appointed trustee from 2016 until her unexpected passing in 2021. Anyone who knew Melanie would hear her reference this quote and she embodied it. She was a fierce advocate for women, children, her community, and Indiana University. Melanie served as chair of the Finance, Audit and Strategic Planning Committee and chair of the Presidential Search Committee. As chair of the search committee, she was essential in hiring IU's first female president in 2021.
In 1994, at age 34, Melanie broke the glass ceiling to become the first female president of a Japanese-owned manufacturing company in North America. In 2005, she was named GEO and president of the TASUS Corporation/Tsuchiya Group North America. During her 27 years as president, she established four Tsuchiya facilities throughout North America, including Tsuchiya Group North America here in Bloomington, Indiana.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education
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Location. 39° 10.221′ N, 86° 31.216′ W. Marker is in Bloomington, Indiana, in Monroe County. It can be reached from East 7th Street east of North Forrest Avenue, on the left when traveling east. This marker stands just outside the School of Public Health in between the Cox Arboretum and Woodlawn Field on the campus of Indiana University. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington IN 47405, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Original Memorial Stadium (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Integrating Basketball (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elinor Ostrom (approx. 0.2
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 16, 2026
2. Melanie S. Walker Marker in context
The marker is on the stone between the benches.
Also see . . . Indiana University mourns passing of trustee Melanie Walker. News at IU
Among her many professional and civic roles, Walker was an active member of the boards for the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the IU Credit Union, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Susies Place Child Advocacy Center. She was also president of the board of the Japan-America Society of Indiana, president of the American Heart Association Executive Leadership Team, member of the State of Indiana Workforce Innovation Council, speaker and member of the SelectUSA Investment Summit in the U.S. Department of Commerce and state of Indiana delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.(Submitted on July 13, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Last updated on July 17, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
