Dear Colleagues:

     Higher education plays an important role in Indiana’s future economic strength, growth, and prosperity. Ball State University contributes by adding skilled, well-trained graduates into the state’s workforce. Additionally, we provide our students with career development opportunities that allow them to explore Indiana as a great place to pursue a fulfilling career and meaningful life.

     I am grateful to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb for his commitment to this mission, as demonstrated by his request to increase the amount of state support for public higher education. I am also grateful to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education for supporting this request from Governor Holcomb and the Indiana General Assembly for considering it.

     With this additional funding, Ball State will continue to provide students with high-quality education and hands-on training—plus valuable real-world experiences through special opportunities such as immersive learning classes, student research, and other high-impact practices.

     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 Newest rankings recently released by U.S. News & World Report showcase Ball State University’s national standing as a top provider of affordable online degree programs in high-demand fields. Ball State earned 12 top-25 

rankings in U.S. News’ 2023 “Best Online Programs” list, an annual assessment of nearly 2,000 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered by institutions across the country.

Ball State degrees nationally recognized in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report “Best Online Programs” included:

Ball State’s national online rankings in specialty areas included:

Ball State also continues to rank highly among U.S. News & World Report’s best online programs for veterans, including:

For a full list of ranked programs, read more in this Ball State University press release.

Geoffrey S. Mearns, president of Ball State University, selected Jeff Mitchell as the Cardinals’ new director of athletics. Mr. Mitchell was formally introduced to Ball State faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends during a program at the Ball State Alumni Center on Feb. 6.

Mr. Mitchell joins Ball State after serving as deputy director of athletics at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., since 2018. He has more than two decades of experience in higher education and athletics administration.

As Ball State's director of athletics, Mr. Mitchell will oversee athletic programs competing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the NCAA. He will also continue to implement the imperatives set forth within “Onward,” the Ball State athletics department’s comprehensive strategic plan, as well as guide the department’s “Ball YOU” program, an easily accessible platform to empower student-athletes in their name, image, and likeness (NIL) exposure and opportunities.

Read more in this Ball State University press release.

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. on Ball State PBS, and 6:30 p.m. on Indiana Public Radio on Friday, Feb. 17. The show can also be viewed on the Ball State PBS YouTube channel.

On this episode: Learn more about how Ball State’s new Indiana Connection Lounge will help the University continue to add skilled, well-trained individuals to Indiana’s workforce. Unique to Ball State, the innovative lounge is an intimate space where the University hosts alumni, employers, and students—and helps facilitate one-on-one and small-group introductions.

President Mearns will discuss this and more with “Cardinal Compass” guest Jim McAtee, assistant vice president and executive director for career and professional development at Ball State. Also appearing as a guest on this episode is Amanda Mast, talent acquisition manager at Enterprise, the car and truck rental/sales corporation.

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

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has appointed Ball State University graduate Judge Dana J. Kenworthy as the newest judge on the state’s Court of Appeals—the second highest court in the state. Formerly serving on the Grant County Superior Court, Judge Kenworthy earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Ball State in 1998. Several scholarships allowed her to attend Ball State’s Honors College Program.

In an article published by Inside INdiana Business, Gov. Holcomb described Judge Kenworthy as “contagiously positive, endlessly energetic and dedicated to her work.”

Several students from Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance received noteworthy recognition at this year’s Kennedy Center American College Theatre Regional Festival, recently held in Flint, Mich. Among the recognition: senior Ball State Musical Theatre student Imani Brissett was named the Irene Ryan Award winner for Region III, which earned him a trip to the Kennedy Center National Festival in April and a $500 scholarship.

Mr. Brissett won this award after competing against approximately 250 students from across the region, which includes Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and parts of Ohio. He will join seven other students from across the country later this Spring in Washington, D.C., where he will compete to be the National Irene Ryan Winner. This is the 19th year a student within Ball State’s Department of Theatre and Dance has been selected as a regional winner and/or national qualifier. 

Read more in this Ball State University press release.

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