Ruth Person joined IU Kokomo in 1999 and served until 2008, as the sixth leader and only the fourth to hold the title of chancellor. She served on the president's senior management team and has represented the IU regional campuses on the IU Foundation Board, the IU Integrated Image Committee and the IU Master Plan Committee.

During her term as chancellor, Person led the campus through a strong period of growth. During that time, IU Kokomo moved toward becoming a full baccalaureate institution by adding new bachelor's and master's programs and eliminating most associate degree programs. Significant campus improvements took place including the renovation of numerous classrooms, construction of new lecture halls and the addition of classroom technology. Chancellor Person also oversaw the construction of Hunt Hall, the campus' award-winning science facility.

She earned her bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and a master's degree from the University of Michigan. She also holds an M.S. degree in administration from George Washington University School of Business and Public Management and a PhD from the University of Michigan. She is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Beta Phi Mu, Pi Lambda Theta, Psi Chi, Kappa Delta Pi and Beta Gamma Sigma and is listed in a number of Who's Who publications. Person attended the Harvard University Institute of Educational Management in 1989.