Martinsville woman, 77, is oldest 2024 graduate of Indiana University, earning a doctorate

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the candid photo of Channa Beth Butcher tells you a lot about this recent graduate of Indiana University.

You see her holding both the evidence of her latest academic achievement — a doctoral degree — and the cap she wore in the graduation parade, inscribed atop with her age, 77.

You might expect the oldest person to receive a graduate-school diploma from IU in 2024 to kick back, relax and enjoy the congrats and best wishes from friends and acquaintances.

But that’s not Channa Beth’s style. So, it’s no surprise that this resident of a woodsy home on the west side of Martinsville is preparing to return to what amounts to a second home for her and her husband, “Butch” Butcher — in Kenya, East Central Africa.

Kenya is the setting of Channa Beth’s doctoral dissertation, which she translates, in plain terms: “I’m learning the Colonial Narrative of the African girl through the ‘Herstories’ of one Kenyan girl.

“I didn’t know which way I wanted to go with my dissertation, but I was so impressed with all the Kenyan women I met,” she said.

“I interviewed my girl through 75 hours of conversation and told about her life experiences and how all those experiences showed that she hasn’t been waiting around for some Western savior. She’s autonomous and resilient and smart.”

Images of IU graduation: Indiana University's undergraduate graduation ceremony at Memorial Stadium

Channa Beth and Butch — he’s retired from an executive position with Indianapolis Power & Light — will be in Kenya this time as widely acquainted returnees. A few years ago, they formed a travel company, Beyond Your Dreams Safaris, specializing in Kenya.

“Last October we went over with 16 people,” Channa Beth said.

She’s a native Hoosier from the Bloomfield area, received an undergraduate degree at Butler University and taught Spanish during a long career at Martinsville High School. Her retirement from MHS in 2000 renewed a longtime interest in Africa.

“I decided I couldn’t go to Africa without speaking the language — in Kenya, Swahili is the national language.”

“So, I hooked up with the international community in Bloomington and found a tutor — a young lady from Kenya. We became very close — she graduated with me.”

But about the decisions concerning her doctoral dissertation, Channa Beth noted one very practical matter for a woman who’s very much on the move:

“It’s one of the few programs I could do all online!”

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Woman, 77, receives doctorate degree at Indiana University in 2024