May 31, 2022
Stories of Gratitude Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor America’s service members who were killed while defending and protecting our Nation. Gratitude for those who died in service to our country can be shown every day of the year. I encourage everyone to keep America’s heroes, their families, and their sacrifices in our hearts and minds.
Accordingly, I would like to express my gratitude for those within our Ball State University community who serve in our United States Armed Forces, who are military veterans, reservists, or guardsmen, or who are part of military families. Americans enjoy security and our many freedoms because of the sacrifices made by those who have served—many of whom are Ball State students, graduates, faculty, and staff.
Ball State has been a destination for veterans since World War II. And since that time, we have proudly earned our distinction as a “Military Friendly” institution. We are privileged to serve the more than 400 veterans and military family members who have selected Ball State as their university of choice. Ball State’s Office of Veterans Affairs plays a key role in facilitating the educational process through financial aid support, referrals to campus resources, and collaboration with faculty, staff, and the wider Muncie community to help build an educational environment in which our military community can thrive.
I am grateful to those newly commissioned Ball State graduates for demonstrating a strong commitment to service and love of our country. I am also grateful to our faculty and staff who administer the ROTC program in our College of Health's Department of Military Science.
To all who have served, or are serving: thank you for your strength, your courage, and your sacrifice.
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Sincerely,
Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University
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Be Part of Day of Beneficence
Ball State's Day of Beneficence will be Saturday, June 11. Alumni and friends are encouraged to perform a service project in their communities. Register to participate in a project by tomorrow (June 1) to receive a Day of Beneficence T-shirt at your service site.
Rinard Orchid Greenhouse's Ribbon-Cutting Set for June 17
Community members from Ball State University and Muncie are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expansion of the Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse. The event will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, at the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, at 2500 W. University Ave. in Muncie (next to the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass).
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Our Call to Beneficence Podcast
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New Episode of Our Call to Beneficence Features Deborah and James Fallows
Esteemed writers Deborah and James Fallows appear together as guests on the next episode of the monthly podcast Our Call to Beneficence, which was scheduled for release on or shortly after May 26.
The podcast features conversations between host, Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns, and graduates and friends of Ball State who embody the spirit of Beneficence through their professional success and personal service.
Jointly and separately, the Fallows have a long list of lifetime accomplishments and have a commitment to storytelling. Together, the Fallows delivered the address at Ball State's main 2022 Spring Commencement ceremony on May 7. An honorary degree (doctorate of arts) was bestowed upon each of them at the main ceremony on the Quad.
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. Her writings have appeared in numerous publications, including The Atlantic, National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Dr. Fallows has written about language, culture, family and work, China and travel. Additionally, she has written three books. Other highlights of Dr. Fallows’ career includes being a senior research fellow at the Pew Research Center, the director of data architecture for Oxygen Media, and the assistant dean and assistant director of Admissions at Georgetown University.
James Fallows is a journalist and author. As longtime staff writer for The Atlantic magazine, Dr. Fallows has written hundreds of articles on various topics. His writing has appeared in numerous other national magazines and newspapers. Dr. Fallows worked as editor-in-chief of U.S. News & World Report. He has written 12 books and won the National Book Award, the National Magazine Award, and a documentary Emmy. He served as chief White House speechwriter during the first two years of the Jimmy Carter presidency.
The Fallows co-authored the 2018 New York Times bestseller, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America.
All episodes of the Our Call to Beneficence podcast are available online, as well as on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscriptions and reviews are also encouraged to help grow the audience for this podcast.
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Employees Can Find Legal Resources Through LifeWorks
LifeWorks supports Ball State University employees' social and financial wellbeing as part of Human Resources' Office of Engagement, Wellbeing and Culture. LifeWorks also offers these legal resources:
- Legal Consultation – receive a free 30-minute telephonic consultation in almost all areas of law
- Document Preparation – online tools are available to assist with drafting legal documents such as a will, or a power of attorney form
- Local Attorney Referral – assistance in finding a licensed attorney in your area
- Legal Library – numerous articles and FAQs on various topics including bankruptcy, divorce, estate planning, and more
- Free ID Breach Scan – access to a free email scan to see when and where your personal data may have been breached
Visit LifeWorks Online Legal Services to access these valuable resources. Sign into LifeWorks using your Ball State username and password. Follow the online instructions to create your separate account to take advantage of all features.
LEAD Academy Graduates 20 Participants this Spring
Twenty participants from across the Ball State campus graduated from the Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD) program this Spring, upon completion of the program on May 4:
Chandra Caldwell, Emily Catron, Curtis Clock, Kayla Coates, Jennifer Criss, Jackie Davis, Steve Fulton, Liz Haney, Lisa Jarrell, Missi Jones, Cheri Madewell, Amy McClure, Brian Meekin, Robert Ramey, Angie Rapp, Scott Reinke, Jerry Reynolds, Jamie Shelton, Chris Sherck, Melissa Sorrell
Designed for current, aspiring, and future leaders at Ball State, the LEAD program was launched in Spring 2021 to align with the University's Strategic Plan, and Ball State's Professional Development Enhancement program. To date, there have been 81 LEAD graduates. Questions about the LEAD program can be directed to Breanne Holloway, assistant director of Organizational Development and Learning, at bholloway1@bsu.edu.
HR Offers New Resource: the Inclusive Excellence Hiring Guide
Navigating the complex rules and laws of hiring can be overwhelming for hiring committees. To provide support to our campus colleagues, including search committees, a comprehensive hiring guide—the Inclusive Excellence Hiring Guide—is available for anyone involved in the hiring process.
The Inclusive Excellence Hiring Guide is a response to the University Strategic Plan’s Goal 5 regarding institutional effectiveness and inclusive excellence across all dimensions of our work. By utilizing the resources provided in the guide, hiring managers and search committees will realize the goal of greater diversity among the people and ideas throughout campus.
Like the Search Committee training, this guide has been developed collaboratively by Human Resources and the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and will serve as a source of reference during the required annual trainings. Find the Inclusive Excellence Hiring Guide on the Human Resources website under Guides.
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| Ball State's Response to COVID-19
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All employees are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccination and then attest to their full vaccination using our online form. For more COVID-19 information, plans, and resources for faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors, visit the Ball State Cardinals Care website.
On-Campus Vaccine Clinic Not Operating in June or July, Will Resume When Fall Semester Starts
The vaccination clinic in Ball State’s Interprofessional Community Clinics (ICC) will not be open in June or July. The clinic will resume operations when classes resume in August for the Fall 2022 semester. Details about the days and hours of operations in August will be listed in Together We Fly later this Summer.
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Stay current on latest Statehouse news
The Office of Governmental Relations 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.
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R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and PlanningCAP Students Awarded $50,000 through U.S. Department of Energy's International Competition
Six finalist teams from the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) presented their work to a jury of professionals at the U.S. Department of Energy's international Solar Decathlon Design Challenge and Solar Decathlon Build Challenge competitions in Golden Colorado in April. The Build Challenge is a multiyear design and build competition that tasks students with using the latest technologies to design and build the most sustainable buildings possible.
CAP's multidisciplinary team from both graduate and undergraduate professional programs was one of 16 teams from three countries awarded $50,000 from the Department of Energy. The CAP team’s monetary award will be applied toward the effort to build a net zero energy, two-family home in partnership with Englewood CDC. The home will be built in the St. Philip Neri neighborhood of Indianapolis, on the city’s Near Eastside. CAP’s team is led by faculty Pam Harwood, Dan Overbey, and Steven Grootaert, with contributions from several additional CAP faculty members.
The Design Challenge team of four Ball State undergraduate Bachelor of Architecture students (Tyler Renschen, Zeelyn Stutz, Dillon Redding, Charlie Davis) working with assistant professor Tom Collins, received second place in the Attached Housing Division.
In addition, Ball State was recognized as one of four pilot schools (with the Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Cincinnati, and Catholic University) for participation in the Department of Energy's Net-Zero curriculum program.
Miller College of BusinessApplications Accepted for Chic Innovate
The Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI) is holding a series of camps for grades 2-8 and 11-12 in June. Through its youth programming, the Institute prepares young adults to be changemakers and problem-solvers by providing opportunities for them to learn their strengths and talents while learning the importance of collaboration and teamwork. The camps are designed for students who like to think outside of the box while being challenged. All camps will be held at the ELI Launch Pad, located in the Oakwood Building.
- Entrepreneurial Leadership Camp for Grades 11 and 12—8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., June 6-8
- Story-telling Through Lego® Serious Play for Grades 2 and 3—8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., June 9; and Grades 4 and 5: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., June 10
- Problem Solving Through Innovation for Grades 6, 7, and 8—8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., June 13
A limited number of scholarships that reduced the cost of attending camp were available. Learn more about ELI Camps.
College of Communication, Information, and MediaCCIM Partner on Immersive Learning Collaborative Named '2022 Outstanding Community Partner'
8Twelve Coalition, a partner on Ball State University’s first immersive learning collaborative, was named the recipient of the University’s 2022 Outstanding Community Partner Award. Since Spring 2020, the College of Communication, Information, and Media and the 8twelve Coalition have worked together on cleanups, book drives, and community meal programs. This partnership is a model for ongoing community-focused scholarship built on lasting bonds and a co-educational mindset. An immersive learning collaborative is a two- to three-year, college-wide partnership with one community partner.
Fellowship Awarded for Project to Create Documentary on Muncie's LGBTQ+ Community
Dr. Ashley Donnelly, director of Digital Storytelling and professor of Media, along with Dr. Emily Johnson, assistant professor of History, and Silas Hansen, associate professor of English and Director of Creative Writing, were awarded a Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry Fellowship. The project will involve researching and creating a documentary about the LGBTQ+ community in Muncie, and efforts by community members to provide what Dr. Donnelly and her group are calling "queer/inclusive spaces" for tweens, teenagers, underage young adults, and those seeking sober spaces.
Documentary Directed by Ball State Graduate Airs on Ball State PBS
Vital Passage—A Holocaust Rescue Story, directed by Digital Storytelling alum Kyle Hufford, is a documentary that tells the story of a buried lockbox. The contents inside the box lead to an amazing unknown story of a Jewish midwestern store owner who takes great risks to provide a vital passage for Jews escaping the Holocaust. The documentary aired on Ball State PBS on May 28. Visit Ball State PBS to see if this documentary will be aired again.
CCIM's Media, Journalism Talent Recognized with 'Best of Indiana' Awards
College of Fine ArtsBall State Graduates, Faculty Member Among Nominees for 2022 Tony Awards
Two Ball State University graduates and a Ball State faculty member—who has already won two Tony Awards for her Broadway performances—are among the 2022 Tony nominees:
- Sutton Foster, (honorary degree received in 2012) a Ball State Theatre and Dance faculty member in the University’s College of Fine Arts, received a nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for The Music Man.
- Nicholas Hussong, ’07 (Bachelor of Science degree in Design Technology, concentration in Theatre), received a nomination for Best Scenic Design of a Play for Skeleton Crew.
- Megan Farley, ’12 (Bachelor of Science degree in Musical Theatre, concentration in Theatre), received nominations in numerous categories—Best New Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography of a Musical—for her work on Six: The Musical. Ms. Farley is the production’s associate director and choreographer. Read more about Ms. Farley in this Ball State blog.
- Brandon Jackson, ’12 (Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre, concentration in Directing/Stage Management), is part of the stage management team for The Music Man, which received six Tony Award nominations.
The Tony Awards is scheduled for June 12, and will air on CBS-TV and Paramount+.
CFA Accolades and AwardsCollege of HealthWebinars and Presentations
- College of Health alumni spoke about the future of telehealth during a webinar held this semester. The webinar has recently been made available for streaming anytime from the College of Health's blog.
- The College of Health's "Focus on Scholarship" presentation concluded on April 27, 2022 with the presentation by Dr. Kristin Trainor, assistant professor of Social Work. That presentation, titled “Improving Health Outcomes through Community Based Participatory Research”—along with the other presentations in this series—are available for viewing online. The College of Health will continue this webinar series in the Fall.
College of Sciences and HumanitiesBall State Applicants Awarded Notable Fellowships for STEM Fields
Two Ball State applicants—McKenna Kaczanowski, ’21, and Leslie Remache—were awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is the premier scholarship for graduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, including social sciences, awarding up to $138,000 to recipients and their graduate institutions over the course of three years. This was Ball State’s first year ever to have more than one Fellowship recipient. “Honorable Mention” was also awarded to two current students—Sam Turk and Kelsey Woodruff—as well as two recent graduates: Alex Quillin, ’20, and Ally Swank, ’20. Read more about this.
Associate Professor named Associate Editor of Notable Journal
Dr. Michael Tagler, associate professor of Psychological Sciences, has been officially invited, and has accepted the position, of associate editor for The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied.
National Awards Given to Two Bowen Center Programs
Two Bowen Center for Public Affairs programs, each dedicated to lasting election integrity, recently received national awards honoring best practices in election administration and training from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): the Certificate in Election Administration, Technology, and Security (CEATS) and Voting System Technical Oversight Program (VSTOP). Also, 11 individuals were celebrated for their graduation from the Third Cohort of the CEATS program through VSTOP on April 1. In addition, the team commemorated 15 years of service to the State of Indiana through a celebratory ribbon-cutting for our new space in the Oakwood Building at Ball State University. Read more about this in a Ball State press release.
Teachers CollegeAccolades and a Grant Award - U.S. News & World Report ranked the Indiana Academy (No. 2) and Burris (No.7) among the top high schools in Indiana in its "2022 Best U.S. High Schools" listing. Read more in this Ball State press release.
- Dr. Eva Zygmunt, professor of Early Childhood, Youth and Family Studies, is featured in Chronicle of Higher Education piece about overcoming disengagement in the classroom. Dr. Zygmunt asked her students: "What are the keys to re-engagement?" Read about their solutions.
- Dr. Eva Zygmunt, Dr. Regina Giraldo-Garcia, assistant professor of Research Methods, and Dr. Sheron Fraser-Burgess, professor of Social Foundations of Education and Multicultural Education have been awarded a 2022 Summer Assessment Grant by the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
Articles Published
If the links to the published articles in the Teachers College section do not work, please email ballstatetc@bsu.edu for assistance accessing these articles.
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