Faith & Action Fall Event 2025

Raj Chetty’s areas of research are inspired by the issues affecting everyday people, challenges that arise in dinner table conversations and those that make newspaper headlines. His work on topics ranging from tax policy and unemployment insurance to education and affordable housing has been widely cited in academia, media outlets, and Congressional testimony. His most recent paper shook up the college admissions conversation with the revelation of a type of “affirmative action” for children of the 1% at elite universities and that these 12 schools, dubbed the “Ivy-plus,” are responsible for an incredibly significant portion of America’s leadership. With the research came a call for schools to diversify their admissions to enable a broader spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds in American leadership—our politicians, CEOs, Supreme Court justices—and prevent further concentration of power into the hands of the elite. Prior studies included how zip code, social capital, race, and even one’s kindergarten teacher affects chances of upward economic mobility.

Raj Chetty received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2003 and is one of the youngest tenured professors in Harvard’s history. Before joining the faculty at Harvard, he was a professor at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Chetty has received numerous awards for his research, including the John von Neumann Award, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and the John Bates Clark medal, given to the economist under 40 whose work is judged to have made the most significant contribution to the field.

Chetty’s areas of research are inspired by the issues affecting everyday people, challenges that arise in dinner table conversations and those that make newspaper headlines. His work on topics ranging from tax policy and unemployment insurance to education and affordable housing has been widely cited in academia, media outlets, and Congressional testimony. His most recent paper shook up the college admissions conversation with the revelation of a type of “affirmative action” for children of the 1% at elite universities and that these 12 schools, dubbed the “Ivy-plus,” are responsible for an incredibly significant portion of America’s leadership. With the research came a call for schools to diversify their admissions to enable a broader spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds in American leadership—our politicians, CEOs, Supreme Court justices—and prevent further concentration of power into the hands of the elite. Prior studies included how zip code, social capital, race, and even one’s kindergarten teacher affects chances of upward economic mobility.

Raj Chetty received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2003 and is one of the youngest tenured professors in Harvard’s history. Before joining the faculty at Harvard, he was a professor at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Chetty has received numerous awards for his research, including the John von Neumann Award, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and the John Bates Clark medal, given to the economist under 40 whose work is judged to have made the most significant contribution to the field.

Carolene Mays, Doctor of Humane Letters (Hon.) boasts a diverse and accomplished career background in entrepreneurship, elected office, television, public speaking, utility regulation, state agency leadership, cyber security policy, print media, leadership training, small and corporate business, and corporate board governance.

She is a well-respected and highly regarded public servant who has led – and continues to lead – on many boards of directors and major events. She was inducted into the JA Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame in 2023.

Carolene is Founder and CEO of Building Leaders + Legacies (BLL), a non-profit, offering high level leadership training, connections, and board seat opportunities for female and minority professional leaders; and Carolene Mays Inspiring Leadership, LLC (CMIL) which provides organizational consulting, executive coaching, public speaking and emceeing services. She created and hosts “Community Link” on WISH-TV, Indianapolis, morning news.

Carolene served 3 terms in the Indiana House of Representatives. Then was appointed to lead State agencies by 3 Governors. As a Commissioner for Indiana Utility Regulation, she led the Mid-Atlantic Conference for regulators, and was appointed nationally as Chairperson of Critical Infrastructure where she was recognized as a top 50 nationwide leader in cybersecurity policy. Carolene later led White River State Park Development Commission, where she hosted major events, and had the state-of-the-art amphitheater built in downtown Indianapolis.

Prior, she was President and CEO of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, Indianapolis Recorder Charities, and Indiana Minority Business Magazine, transforming and rebuilding the organizations. Early in her career she worked in leadership for Mays Chemical Company, and for Occidental Chemical Co., Inc.

Of note: Carolene received a HUD appointment from President Barack Obama, but withdrew before being informed of the appointment, to take the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner position.

Carolene has been very involved in the community. She currently serves on boards of directors for: OneAmerica Financial, Heartland Church, Converge Worldwide, Free Press Indiana / Mirror Indy, TC Burton Enterprises, and the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. She is chair of the IU Lilly School of Philanthropy – Mays Institute for Diverse Philanthropy and a lifetime board member of Indiana Sports Corporation.

She notably served as the first Black female moderator for the 42nd Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership series. She was also president of the Indianapolis Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. In sports: She served on the boards of the 2024 NBA All-Star Basketball Game and the 2023 National College Football Playoffs, where she co-chaired event and game operations. She was Chairperson for all 3 NCAA® Women’s Final Four games in Indianapolis, and was the 2012 NFL Super Bowl Chairperson of Administration which included Human Resources, leading staff hiring.

Carolene received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Martin University in 2024. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including: 2024 Character in Action Award, 2024 Champions of Diversity MLK Freedom Award, 2023 NAACP Outstanding Achiever Award, Martin Luther King Living Legacy Award, CLD Madame CJ Walker Woman of the Year Award, Indiana Commission Torchbearer Award, and many more. She is an inaugural fellow of The Highland Project, selected as one of 15 powerful Black women, from across the United States.
Carolene was named a Woman of Influence and one of Indy’s Most Powerful by IBJ, and as one of Indiana’s Most Influential. Two Indiana Governors honored her with the Sagamore of the Wabash from 2 Indiana Governors, the highest honor given.

Carolene is a Distinguished Alumni from Indiana State University where she received a B.S. in Business Management. She studied at Indiana University McKinney School of Law for a Master of Jurisprudence. She received her Executive Coaching Certification from University of Kansas and Center for Executive Coaching. She is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy, United Way Ardeth Burkhart Board Leadership Program, and Aspen Institute’s Bohway Leadership Academy.

Carolene has one daughter, three bonus sons, and a foster dog. She is a winemaker, and she loves to entertain and travel. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Northeasterners, and Indianapolis Chapter of the Links.

With a focus on faith and perseverance her passion is inspirational speaking which initially began after surviving a violent marriage in the early 1990s, and especially now since surviving a life-threatening ruptured brain aneurysm in 2016. Carolene is deemed a medical miracle.