February 27, 2025

     Inspired by beneficence—an enduring value at Ball State University—our students dedicate themselves to serving their communities in meaningful ways. Their efforts, supported by our dedicated faculty and staff, make a lasting impact throughout the year.

     This month alone, our University participated in two signature annual events: the Ball State University Dance Marathon on Feb. 8 and Walk a Mile in My Shoes on Feb. 15.

     The Dance Marathon and its related fundraising efforts raised approximately $239,000 to benefit Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. These funds will support Riley’s palliative care team, which provides specialized care for children with long-term or life-threatening conditions, and the Magic Castle Cart program, which has brought comfort and joy to young patients for decades.

     Walk a Mile in My Shoes raised nearly $180,000 for Muncie Mission Ministries, which serves individuals facing homelessness, food insecurity, addiction, and other challenges. Through this event, our students, faculty, and staff came together to support vital resources for our community. 

     I am grateful for the dedication of our students to serving others—and for the faculty and staff who guide and support them. Their collective contributions embody the enduring values that define our University and reinforce our commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

Latest Episode of ‘Our Call to Beneficence’ Features Dr. Jeff Bird, President of IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Dr. Jeff Bird, president of IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, is the guest on the February 2025 episode of the monthly podcast “Our Call to Beneficence,” hosted by Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. This episode is available now. All episodes of the “Our Call to Beneficence” podcast are available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

A Muncie native who remains rooted in his hometown, Dr. Bird has a long, illustrious, and fulfilling career in medicine and hospital management. His work began as a private practice family physician, followed by roles that include director of the hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Center, vice president of operations, chief medical officer, and chief operating officer. He has been an active member of the Muncie community.

Dr. Bird attended DePauw University. He earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Lifetime Learning Expands Training Options for K-12 Educators
Lifetime Learning by Ball State's training options are designed to empower learners with practical skills and strategies that enhance their effectiveness in the workplace. To serve the diverse needs of K-12 teachers, Lifetime Learning is adding new online, self-paced fundamentals courses to help foster a dynamic learning environment and support educators in meeting the needs of all their students.

These new micro-credentials introduce proven classroom behavior management and instructional strategies and provide individualized teaching support for all learners, including adults and neurodiverse students with ADHD or ASD, and gifted students. Courses include Teaching Adult Learners, Teaching Students with ADHD, Growth Mindset in the Gifted Classroom, Solving Classroom Discipline Problems, and more.

These fundamental courses join an existing teacher professional development portfolio of programs, such as AI for K-12 Educators, edTPA Micro-credentials, Mentoring New and Aspiring Teachers, Music Arts Education for ASD, and more. By enrolling in continued professional development, teachers gain confidence and the tools necessary to engage and empower all students to reach their fullest potential. Explore all teacher professional development options online.

Explore Enhanced Teaching Methods at the Free 2025 Teaching and Technology Summit 
Registration is open for the 2025 Teaching and Technology Summit, a free, two-day virtual event held March 20-21 via Zoom. 

Hosted by the Division of Online and Strategic Learning, the summit will showcase innovative work in teaching and its intersection with technology. It offers an opportunity for faculty across the University to collaborate on creative ways to use technology to enhance teaching and learning. 

This year’s keynote speaker is Jon Ippolito, an artist, writer, and curator who teaches New Media and Digital Curation at the University of Maine. His address is titled “Thinking or Shrinking? AI and Post-Citation Scholarship.”

To learn more and register, visit the 2025 Teaching and Technology Summit’s landing page. 

Solutions for your Work, Health, and Life
TELUS Health EAP provides you and your family with immediate and confidential assistance at no cost to you. 

 Use TELUS Health to:

Access TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program 24/7 by phone, web, or mobile app:

Celebrating a Decade of Ideas: 10th Annual Neighborhood IDEA Conference Slated for March 8
The 10th annual Neighborhood IDEA Conference is scheduled for March 8, 2025, on the second floor of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Neighborhood leaders will revisit some of their favorite sessions over the past 10 years and engage in new, exciting sessions designed to strengthen their connections with their neighborhoods and communities.

The Intentional Development and Education for Association (IDEA) conference brings together leaders representing Muncie’s neighborhoods annually to develop and strengthen community-building skills. IDEA presenters will provide leadership training, share best practices for engaging residents, and connect neighborhoods with community resources. Everyone is invited to attend. To learn more and to register, visit this Muncie Neighborhoods online site.

Volunteer Opportunities Available at Recovery Café Muncie
Make a difference by volunteering at Recovery Café Muncie (RCM), a peer-based healing community of people in recovery. Duties for volunteers vary, and can include sorting clothing donations and pantry items, serving lunch to members, and becoming a Café Companion. RCM volunteers must be 18 years old or older. Volunteer orientations are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at RCM, 201 E. Charles St. For more information, email connect@recoverycafemuncie.org.

New Faculty Professional Development Webinars: Facul-TEA 15-Minute Learning
The Facul-TEA (Timely, Engaging, Abbreviated skills-based training) series offers 15-minute webinars designed for busy faculty. These webinars are a perfect, quick pick-me-up to energize teaching, research, creative endeavors, and professional activities in the amount of time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Facul-TEA sessions offer training for faculty with similar roles and/or experiences. Register online.

HIPs Curriculum Mapping Teams Make High-Impact Courses More Accessible
Nine departments received team grants in 2024 to add high-impact experiences into required courses to ensure that all students get the opportunity to participate. Participating departments include:

New departmental mapping teams will start in May 2025.

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Recognized by National Organizations
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life has earned several awards and recognitions this semester:

Ahead in Cardinals Sports
Watch the Cardinals at home at several upcoming events. Visit ballstatesports.com for tickets and additional schedule information. 

Witness history with Women’s Basketball
It’s been a season of record-breaking performances by the women’s basketball team. There are two more chances to see them at home. Buy tickets.

Men’s Basketball Senior Day
The Cardinals wrap up the 2024-25 home campaign at 7 p.m. on March 4, when they host Central Michigan for senior night. Buy tickets.

Gymnastics Senior Day
The gymnastics team hosts its senior day on March 2 against Northern Illinois. Buy tickets.

Men’s Volleyball hosts Ohio State
Ball State’s nationally ranked men’s volleyball team hosts Ohio State on Feb. 27 at Worthen Arena. Buy tickets.

Baseball First Pitch on March 7
Ball State’s baseball team starts its home schedule on March 7 with a series against Western Michigan.

Softball First Pitch March 11
Ball State’s softball team opens up its home schedule on March 11.

Men’s Tennis #MACtion
Conference play begins on March 7 against Toledo.

Women’s Tennis in Action
The Cardinals continue their season against Butler on March 2. 

2025 Football Tickets on Sale
Ball State faculty & staff get discounts on season tickets.

Upcoming Lectures

The Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) Guest Lecture Series
The following ECAP Guest Lecture Series events will be held at 4 p.m. in the Architecture Building, Room 100. They are free and open to the public.

CERES: Innovation for Sustainable Communities Lecture
The next Center for Energy Research/Education/Service (CERES) lecture will be held at 1 p.m. on March 26 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public. The featured speaker will be social and business entrepreneur Jens Molbak—the founder and former CEO of COINSTAR; and the founder and CEO of the nonprofit, New Impact. Mr. Molbak will discuss new innovative tools and business models supporting sustainable development. The Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning and Miller College of Business are co-sponsors of this event. This lecture is supported by a grant from the Bracken Environmental Fund.

Learn more online about ECAP’s upcoming events.

Menard Speaker Series Lecture Planned for April 1
The Institute for the Study of Political Economy presents a Menard Speaker Series lecture: “How to Economist in Public: Advice on Applying Your Skills for Politicians, Journalists, Lobbyists, and Other People Paid to Hate You.” The speaker is Justin Ross, professor of economics and public finance at Indiana University’s Paul H. O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs. This lecture is scheduled for 5 p.m. on April 1 at the Whitinger Building, Room 144.

This talk explores the unique challenges of communicating economic analysis in the public policy arena. Special emphasis will be placed on the communication methods most commonly used by new graduates, including public presentations and concise “one-page memos.”

Speech and Debate Teams Continue to Earn Recognition, Top Awards
At the beginning of February, Ball State’s Speech Team competed in the Eastern Michigan University Wild West Tower Tournament and brought home multiple awards across the numerous categories. At the third Yaatly Online Debate League tournament of the season, Ball State students earned first- through seventh-place in the Top Novice Speakers category, and first- through third-place in Top Novice Teams, two spots in the Top Eight Overall, and two spots in the Novice Semifinals.

Registration Open for CCIM’s Middle School, High School Spring and Summer Events
On Feb. 1, the contest submission and registration period opened for the College of Communication, Information, and Media’s (CCIM) upcoming middle- and high-school outreach activities. Submissions will be accepted throughout March and beyond.

Registration to attend the college’s 70th annual JDAY+/CCIM+ conference will close on April 14. On the day of the conference, winners of the 2025 Student Media Contests will also be announced. Submissions for these student media contents will be accepted until March 12. Registration for any of the other Summer workshops CCIM offers will remain open until June 3.

Exhibition, Accolades, and Other News

Cardinal Wellness Offers New Class
Cardinal Wellness is offering Chair Stretching, a new free class that meets at 5 p.m. on Mondays at Harvest Christian Church, 1010 E. Centennial Ave. in Muncie. To learn more, contact Dr. Shannon Powers at smpowers@bsu.edu. 

Donation to Fund Construction of Asian Peace Pole
The Center for Peace and Conflict Studies received a generous donation of $50,000 from the Jackson Family for the construction of the Asia Peace Pole in the Peace Plaza. This pole will honor William T. Jackson and Lynn Jackson’s lifetime commitment to achieving a more peaceful world and their long-standing interest in Asia, and its people and culture. The Jackson Family also donated $25,000 to support the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies initiatives. 

Upcoming Lectures

Political Science Department Hosted ‘Appeals on Wheels …’
Ball State’s Department of Political Science hosted Appeals on Wheels: Traveling Oral Arguments on Feb. 10 in Emens Auditorium. The Indiana Court of Appeals heard the actual case, T.W. v. State of Indiana, giving the viewing public a chance to experience a live court session. This program helps Hoosiers learn about the judicial process and the Court of Appeals’ role in Indiana government.

Time to Smell the Wildflowers
Visit the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse for Wildflower Wonder at 10 a.m. on March 8. At that time, visitors can learn about early Spring wildflowers and create paper flowers to take home.

World’s Largest ‘Game Jam’ Held at Ball State
The Department of Computer Science hosted more than 40 participants on Jan. 24-26 for the Global Game Jam, where teams created eight original games in 48 hours. The event was part of the world’s largest game jam. This marked the ninth consecutive year Ball State has hosted the event. 

Fellowship, Grant, and an Award

Recent Publications

Milestone Mentoring Program Launched
In January 2025, the Honors College launched the Milestone Mentoring program, which pairs alumni with small groups of student mentees. Through this program, students build their professional networks while identifying the ways in which the Honors College experience prepares them for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. Currently, 45 alumni mentors and 132 student mentees are reaching these milestones together.

Ball State University Appoints Dr. Nancy Abashian as New Dean of University Libraries
Dr. Nancy Abashian will join Ball State University as dean of University Libraries, effective April 14, 2025. Dr. Abashian brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in academic libraries, including her current role as senior director for public services and the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at Binghamton University Libraries in New York. Read more in this Ball State press release.

Check Out the Book Marbling Exhibition at Bracken Library
Discover the captivating world of book marbling at the Ball State University Libraries Archives and Special Collections. This exhibition features a stunning array of books showcasing the intricate beauty of this unique decorative technique. The exhibit can be viewed from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, in Bracken Library, Room 210. Email questions to the Archives and Special Collections staff at libarchives@bsu.edu or call the staff at 765-285-5078. Learn more about the book marbling exhibition in this University Libraries’ blog.

Reel Inclusion Series Holds Public Screening, Discussion of Film, Periodical
The Reel Inclusion film series continues with a screening and a discussion of Periodical at 5:30 p.m. on March 26 at the Vivian V. Conley and Hurley C. Goodall Jr. Multicultural Center’s Multipurpose Room. This film is about the human body and the menstrual cycle. Learn more about this event and the film online.

The Reel Inclusion series is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Provost, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, the Multicultural Center, University Libraries, and the Friends of the Alexander M. Bracken Library. 

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