September 28, 2023

     Dr. Rashida Willard, associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence, delivered our inaugural State of Inclusive Excellence address on Sept. 19. Among the accomplishments she shared with the University community include:

     Dr. Willard also recognized several faculty and staff members for their commitment to inclusive excellence. Dr. Willard also shared some of our institutional areas of focus for the current academic year. If you missed the State of Inclusive Excellence address, it is available on Ball State’s YouTube channel.

     I am grateful to Dr. Willard, who speaks with great passion about inclusion and diversity on our campus. Her work reflects our University's dedication to the practice of respecting and embracing equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.

     Additionally, I appreciate the many others on campus who contribute to this important work. Together, we don’t just talk about the value of inclusive excellence; we live it.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

Winner of the Indianapolis Prize To Give Lecture at Ball State Oct. 3

Dr. Pablo Borboroglu, the 2023 winner of the Indianapolis Prize, will be a guest lecturer at Ball State at 11 a.m. on Oct. 3 at Sursa Hall. Dr. Borboroglu was recognized for his work to protect ocean and coastal habitats of penguins in numerous countries. He is the co-founder and leader of the Global Penguin Society—an international conservation coalition for the world's penguin species—and founder and co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Penguin Specialist Group. This lecture is free and open to the public. Tickets, which are required for entry to the event, can be reserved online.

The Indianapolis Prize—part of an initiative of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.—awards $250,000 to an animal conservationist who has successfully advanced the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. This award is widely viewed as the Nobel Prize for animal conservation.

Higher Learning Commission to Conduct Site Visit at Ball State Oct. 23-24

Ball State is preparing for the Higher Learning Commission’s upcoming site visit. Five peer reviewers will be on campus Oct. 23 and 24 to meet with numerous stakeholders: faculty, staff, students, Board of Trustees members, and others. Discussion in each session will focus on Ball State’s adherence to the accreditation criteria. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in the open sessions addressing each criterion. More information about the accreditation process is available on the Institutional Accreditation website. 

Stay Current on the Latest Statehouse News

The Office of Governmental Relations & Industry Engagement invites you to subscribe to its weekly newsletter, Statehouse Update. The newsletter provides updates on key legislation being followed by the University and insights into the legislative process. Sign up or view past editions of the newsletter.

Next Episode of Our Call to Beneficence Features Muncie Community School’s Director of Public Education and CEO, Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski

Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, director of public education and chief executive officer at Muncie Community Schools (MCS), is the guest on the next episode of the monthly podcast Our Call to Beneficence, hosted by Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. This episode is available now.

An Indiana native, Dr. Kwiatkowski stepped into the director and CEO roles at MCS in July 2019 after a Muncie Community Schools Board of Trustees vote—just over a year after the Indiana General Assembly passed unprecedented legislation granting Ball State oversight of MCS. When she came aboard, Ball State and MCS had just embarked on a partnership to transform Muncie’s public school system into a national model for innovative, holistic approaches to education. That partnership has been successful on many levels.

Dr. Kwiatkowski has more than 35 years of experience in a variety of roles within Indiana public education—including 18 years as a teacher. She has also served as senior education advisor for Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.   

All episodes of the Our Call to Beneficence podcast are available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

This Month’s Episode of ‘Cardinal Compass’ Explores How Ball State Supports and Serves Students With Disabilities

Find out what is happening at Ball State with President Geoffrey S. Mearns and his guests on “Cardinal Compass.” The next episode airs at 6 p.m. Ball State PBS, and 6:30 p.m. on Indiana Public Radio, on Friday, Sept. 22. The show can also be viewed on the Ball State PBS YouTube channel.

On this episode: Learn more about how Ball State supports students with disabilities, and helps them excel on campus and as graduates in pursuit of fulfilling careers. President Mearns will discuss this and more with guests Courtney Jarrett, director of the Office of Disability Services; and Larry Markle, director of The Gregory S. Fehribach Center at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis.

 “Cardinal Compass” is produced by Ball State students in the University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media.

ECAP Fall Lecture Series Features Creative Professionals, Educators

Join the R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) for its Fall guest lecture series, which features creative professionals and educators. All lectures are free and open to the public and will be held in Room 100 of the Architecture Building (AB).

Catie Newell, *Alibi Studio, and the University of Michigan 4 p.m., Oct. 23

Catie Newell is the founding principal of the art and architecture practice *Alibi Studio, and director of the MS in Digital and Material Technologies program at the University of Michigan.  

Jeffrey Johnson, AIA (Member of the American Institute of Architecture) 4 p.m., Oct. 30

Jeffrey Johnson is the director of the School of Architecture and Lewis Honors Faculty at the University of Kentucky, and recipient of the 2021 ECAP Outstanding Alumni Award. 

Nate Cormier, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP (numerous professional industry designations) 4 p.m., Nov. 13

Nate Cormier is the managing studio director of landscape architecture at RIOS. His current research interest centers around the culture of comfort in places that experience extreme heat. 

Dialogue Days Set for Oct. 17-19

Miller College will host Dialogue Days—an annual professional development and networking event for students and alumni—Oct. 17-19. This 35-year tradition will bring more than 100 alumni from across the nation back to campus during Ball State’s Homecoming Week to participate in more than 60 panel discussions and workshops. Most of the discussions and workshops will be held in the Whitinger Business Building (WB), with some in the Applied Technology Building (AT). The Dialogue Days schedule of panel discussions can be found online approximately two weeks before the event. The campus community is encouraged to attend.

The days are organized into hour-long sessions and panels about a variety of topics, from career and professional development to industry-specific discussions, such as:

Guest Speaker to Give ‘Frankenstein and Adam Smith’ Lecture

The Institute for the Study of Political Economy will host Dr. Carolyn Brashears of Saint Lawrence University at 5 p.m. on Oct. 18 in Room 144 of the Whitinger Business Building (WB). Dr. Brashears will present the “Frankenstein and Adam Smith” lecture as part of the Menard Political Economy Speaker Series.

CCIM Kicks Off Semester With Events That Encourage Student Involvement

From SuperParty to networking events, the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM) has had an event-packed start to the 2023 Fall semester:

Research Article Published in Youth Theatre Journal

The research article, “Uncovering LGBTQ+ Theater for Youth: A Survey of Published Plays”— co-authored by Andy Waldron, assistant professor of Theatre Education—was recently published in the Youth Theatre Journal, a leading journal in the field of Theatre Education and Youth Theatre. Prof. Waldron’s co-authors on this article are first- and second-year Theatre & Dance students Matthew Cooper, Felix Goetschius-Adams, Grace Guthrie, and Mason Sharon. The initial research findings in this article were made possible through Ball State’s Teacher-Scholar program.

Graphic Designs by Art Professor Recognized in Major Competition

Three design projects by Shantanu Suman, associate professor of Art (Graphic Design), were recognized by the Graphis Design 2024 competition. The Chote Miya Restaurant signage and mural design and the Facing Social Justice In Sports book cover design each received the Silver Award, and the Tania Said Consulting identity design earned an honorable mention. Prof. Suman’s work will be included in the upcoming Graphis Design 2023 Awards book.

DOMA Hosts Exhibition of Works by Debbie Ma

The David Owsley Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition Rising to the Surface: Paintings by Debbie Ma from Sept. 28 until Dec. 21, 2023. The terms geometry, order, balance, and texture only begin to describe Debbie Ma’s paintings. Informed by her successful career as a graphic designer and inspired by an array of modern masters, Debbie Ma’s non-objective abstractions defy simple categorization. As part of the College of Fine Arts’ Arts Alive! series, the New York-based contemporary artist will join the college on Oct. 12 for an artist talk.

Next Lecture COH Speaker Series Set for Oct. 25

The October installment of the College of Health’s Speaker Series will feature the research of Dr. Jonel Thaller, and a presentation titled, “Trauma and Professional Quality of Life for Human Services Practitioners in Delaware County and Beyond.” The lecture is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Room 136 of the Whitinger Business Building (WB).

HLC Offers Free Classes, Other Services

The Healthy Lifestyle Center now includes the popular Cardinal Wellness classes as part of its services to Muncie and Delaware County communities. These free classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays. The program returned on Sept. 7 to Harvest Christian Church at 1010 E Centennial Ave. in Muncie. Food and childcare will be provided at no charge. Zumba class starts at 6 p.m., and the Strength and Conditioning class starts at 7 p.m. To learn more about other services offered by the Healthy Lifestyle Center—or to schedule an appointment for services, such as personal wellness assessments, dietician consultations, and more—call (765) 285-1293 or email hlc765@bsu.edu.

Interprofessional Community Clinics Offers Numerous Health, Counseling, Services

Take advantage of the many services offered at Ball State’s Interprofessional Community Clinics (ICC), such as counseling support from the Counseling Practicum Clinic, speech therapy from the Speech Pathology Clinic, hearing and dizziness evaluations from the Audiology Clinic, and personal wellness assessments—health history, BMI, BP, glucose, and cholesterol checks—from the Healthy Lifestyle Center. Learn more.

Ball State Games Knowledge Group Hosts 5th Symposium on Games

The Symposium on Games returns to the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, from 1-5 p.m. on Nov. 9. Created and hosted by an interdisciplinary affiliation of faculty and staff dedicated to studying and promoting games in higher education, the symposium features presentations and demonstrations on any aspect of games. The event brings together faculty, staff, students, and community members to discuss the research, design, development, and application of games within higher education. This year’s event will feature an invited keynote game developer entrepreneur, academic paper presentations, and a demo hall of student and regional game projects.

The Nature Lab, Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, and Christy Woods Host Annual Pollinator Party Celebrates Bees, Bats, Butterflies

Ball State’s Field Station and Environmental Education Center hosted the Pollinator Party on Sept. 9 at the Nature Lab, the Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, and Christy Woods. Students, families, and community members who attended the party learned about pollination from experts and saw examples. Learn more about the Field Station and Environmental Education Center’s upcoming events.

Grants Received, New Symposium Held, and a Guest Speaking Appearance

New Class of Whitinger Scholars 

The Honors College welcomed eight new Whitinger Scholars to Ball State in August. These engaged leaders are pursuing a variety of majors—Biology, English, Chemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Exploratory Studies, Psychological Science, and Public History—and bring with them a diverse range of experiences and interests. Learn more about the Whitinger Scholars Program.

Honors College Welcomes New Ball Brothers Foundation Honors College Faculty Fellow

Dr. Gabriel Tait, associate professor of Journalism and Strategic Communication, began his two-year fellowship with the Honors College in August. In this Ball Brothers Foundation Honors College Faculty Fellow role, Dr. Tait will teach courses focused on Black World Studies, Visual Black Empowerment through Public Art, and African American Studies. 

‘How To Use the Ball State Libraries’ Canvas Module Now Available

University Libraries has developed a Canvas module available in Canvas Commons for faculty to import into their courses. The module teaches students how to use the library, identify the best information sources for different assignments, search for information, evaluate information sources, and use information ethically—such as avoiding plagiarism and citing sources. Learn more.

University Libraries to Hold Series of Workshops

University Libraries is offering a workshop series to advance the campus community’s awareness, knowledge, and expertise in digital scholarship. Register to attend the sessions. Other workshops include how to do a literature review, legal research, research tools for applied behavior analysis, resources for online students, and diversity resources for music performance and study. Learn more.

Register Soon for the Free Event, “Eerie Muncie: Even More Tales from the Dark Side of Local History”

“Eerie Muncie, Even More Tales from the Dark Side of Local History,” an annual October tradition, is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Ball State Alumni Center. The event will feature a panel discussion about some scary happenings and hauntings alleged to have occurred in Muncie and Delaware County. Refreshments will be served after the program.

Registration—which is required to attend this free event—can be done through the event’s calendar entry on Ball State’s website. On the calendar entry, click the “No Charge-Reservations Required” link and then click on the “history, science, and health” category. Then, click on “Eerie Muncie” and add it to your cart.

This program is hosted by E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center in collaboration with the Delaware County Historical Society, Muncie Public Library, and the Ball State University Libraries Archives and Special Collections.

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