Dear Colleagues:

     Forbes recently released a list of “America’s Best Midsize Employers” — a ranking of the top 500 companies and institutions with between 1,000 and 5,000 U.S.-based employees. I am pleased to report that Ball State University was ranked as the fourth-best employer in Indiana — and the only college or university in the state to make the list. To learn more about how well our University fared, please read our press release.

     I am grateful for this recognition of our University's commitment to the fulfilling careers and meaningful lives of our dedicated employees. Every week, someone stops me on campus or sends me an email to express their appreciation for the impact of Ball State on their lives or on their community. I attribute our University’s positive impact to the hard work of our faculty and staff.

     Below are a few more stories that I hope you will enjoy and then share. Let your friends and colleagues know how “We Fly” at Ball State.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

Ball State University is welcoming special guest—Ball State graduate David Letterman, ’69—to campus on May 1 for the premiere of the original documentary “Clear Reception,” at 7 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required.

“Clear Reception” is the result of an interdisciplinary partnership between Ball State’s College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM)—specifically, CCIM’s Department of Media, and the David Letterman Learning Experience (DLLE) within the Center for Emerging Media Design & Development (EMDD)—plus the University’s College of Fine Arts. The 25-minute documentary shares the story of Mr. Letterman’s interest in Ball State’s glass art program and his request for a commissioned unique sculpture created by students studying and working at the University’s Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass.

Before the screening of “Clear Reception,” the evening will begin with remarks from Mr. Letterman discussing his motivation for commissioning the artwork. Afterward, he will participate in a conversation with two of the DLLE students who served as producer and director of the film. Learn more.

Two new academic deans will join Ball State University this Summer. Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns has appointed Dr. Cathy L. Z. DuBois as the next Bryan Dean of the Miller College of Business (MCOB), and Dr. James Buss as dean of Honors College (HC).

When Dr. DuBois’ appointment begins July 1, 2023, she will succeed Dr. Stephen Ferris. Once Dr. Buss becomes HC dean June 19, 2023, he will succeed Dr. John Emert, who is retiring from the University on May 31.

Dr. DuBois will join Ball State after a distinguished career at Kent State University’s Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship in Kent, Ohio, where she most recently served as associate dean for graduate and online programs. Additionally, Dr. DuBois enjoyed 20 years as a faculty member at Kent State.

Dr. Buss is currently the dean of the Honors College at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Ky., where he also serves as interim associate provost. He has more than 15 years of professional experience in higher education, including the last seven years as a founding dean of two new honors college programs at Salisbury University and Northern Kentucky, respectively.

President Mearns also expressed his gratitude to Dr. Ferris and Dr. Emert for their service and dedication.

Read more about incoming HC dean, Dr. Buss, in this Ball State University press release.

Read more about incoming MCOB dean, Dr. DuBois, in this Ball State University press release.

Ball State University has unveiled plans for its new County Ambassador Program—a student-to-student engagement initiative that provides all 92 Indiana counties the opportunity to attract Ball State graduates upon the completion of their degrees.

Scheduled to begin in the Fall 2023 semester, the program is yet another way for Ball State to engage Indiana employers and regions to help the Hoosier state flourish. County Ambassadors will bring greater awareness to other current University engagement initiatives, including skill infusion, faculty externships, business and executive programs, and the Indiana Connection Lounge. Each of these initiatives add value to the Indiana economy by better-preparing individuals with the skills needed in today’s workforce.

For more information on the County Ambassador Program and other Office of Governmental Relations and Industry Engagement initiatives, visit bsu.edu/industry/engage. Also, read more in this Ball State University press release.

The Ball State Discovery Women’s Philanthropic Leadership Group, which has funded 62 projects totaling over $1.3 million to date, is celebrating its 20-year anniversary.

Looking ahead to its next 20 years—and in keeping with the enduring values of Ball State’s Beneficence Pledge—the Ball State Discovery Women’s Philanthropic Leadership Group announced its new name, Women of Beneficence, at Ball State University. The announcement was made at the organization’s 2023 annual meeting. Also at the meeting, members awarded three new grants to Ball State’s Dysphagia Clinic, Virtual Reality Courtrooms, and Muncie’s First Freedom School.

Learn more about the grants, the Women of Beneficence, and its membership, by visiting the Women of Beneficence site.

The Ball State University Foundation has revealed the University’s Top 10 students from its second annual “Top 100 Student Awards” program.

This annual award recognizes 100 outstanding junior and senior undergraduates who represent the spirit of Beneficence, Ball State’s institutional statue and icon that symbolizes the generosity of the five Ball brothers whose land donation to the State of Indiana allowed the University to flourish.

Read more in this Ball State University press release.

Ball State University’s student media organizations have once again been recognized among the best in the nation. Recently, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) awarded The Ball State Daily News with its highest annual honor, a Gold Crown Award, at its College Media Convention in New York. The Daily News was one of just five student newspaper publications nationwide to earn Gold Crown status in the “Hybrid News” category.

Meanwhile, Ball Bearings, Ball State’s student-run magazine, and Byte, a student-run multimedia entertainment and pop culture publication, each earned Silver Crown awards from the CSPA. Ball Bearings was one of just four publications to earn Silver recognition in the Hybrid Magazine category, while Byte was one of just three publications nationally to earn Silver recognition in the Digital Magazine category.

In addition, The Daily News recently placed sixth nationally among weekly news publications in the “Best in Show” competition at the Associated Collegiate Press’ Spring National College Media Conference in San Francisco.

Read more in this Ball State press release.

Multi-talented actor and producer David Arquette visited Ball State University as the latest featured speaker in the University’s David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series. The lecture, held at Pruis Hall on April 10, was free and open to the public. Also during his visit to campus, Mr. Arquette interacted with Ball State students through workshop activities.

The David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series was established in 2008 through a generous gift from Mr. Letterman, a 1969 Ball State graduate. The series brings major business, media, and academic figures to campus to engage students in discussions about the latest issues in communications, emerging media, and cultural forces shaping our society.

Read about this lecture in this Ball State University press release.

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