Dear Colleagues:

     Ball State University is fortunate to have an outstanding Department of Theatre and Dance within our College of Fine Arts. Ball State’s gifted theatre faculty are at the heart of this department. Their talent and knowledge greatly add to the educational experience of our students. Among our educators in this department are Michael Rafter, associate professor of Musical Theatre, and Sutton Foster, instructor of Theatre—both of whom are award winners on Broadway and proud Ball State Cardinals. 

     Mr. Rafter is a celebrated musical director, conductor, performer, and arranger. In 1994, he won an Emmy for Music Direction of "Gypsy," the 1993 TV movie. Mr. Rafter has also served as music director, arranger, conductor, and supervisor for numerous concerts and Broadway productions. For almost a year, Mr. Rafter has been serving as music director/supervisor for the Broadway revival of the musical, “Funny Girl.” Jennifer and I saw “Funny Girl” during my trip to New York City earlier this month, and the show was terrific.

     Ms. Foster is a two-time Tony award-winning actress, singer, and dancer with an extensive career that includes work on Broadway and in the London theater. She won a Tony in the Best Actress in a Musical category for her performance in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” in 2002, and another Tony in that category for her performance in the musical “Anything Goes” in 2011. Also, she starred in the TV Land comedy-drama “Younger.” It was great to see Ms. Foster at a private event I attended during my recent visit to New York City. And I am delighted that she will be returning to Ball State this Spring to teach again.

     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

Margaret Lo joined Ball State University as chief sustainability officer on March 6. In this newly created position, Ms. Lo is responsible for implementing a University-wide centralized sustainability organizational structure—focusing on educating, nurturing, and promoting sustained collaboration across all academic and operational units.

Ms. Lo has over 15 years of sustainability experience in the private, non-profit, and academic sectors. She was most recently the Director of Business Engagement at the Institute for Market Transformation. Her higher education experience includes positions as the Sustainability Director at George Mason University (Mason) and the sustainability lead at the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Read more in this Ball State University press release.

Ball State University Teachers College has joined the Federal Academic Alliance to offer online graduate-level degrees, certificates, licenses, and courses at a reduced cost to 2.1 million Federal Government employees, their spouses, and dependents.

The alliance offers Ball State's in-state tuition rates—up to a 30-percent tuition reduction—for all out-of-state (non-Indiana) residents who qualify under the Federal Academic Alliance agreement. Ball State Teachers College is also extending this scholarship to Federal Government retirees. 

Read more in this Ball State University press release.

This year’s One Ball State Day (OBSD)—Ball State’s annual award-winning 24-hour online fundraising event—will take place April 5. Gifts can be made between midnight and 11:59 pm EST that day at oneballstate.bsu.edu.

Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and supporters of Ball State are welcome to make gifts in support of a specific school, college, department, or area of choice. OBSD gifts are tax-deductible. Additionally, gifts made on this special day could also earn matching donation funds. Those who give are asked to share their OBSD gifting experiences. One way is to post about it on social media with #OneBallState and encourage friends to give as well.

While Ball State celebrates all its donors year-round, OBSD is a special day for giving and highlighting the University’s impact on people and communities throughout the world.

Learn more about One Ball State Day 2023 and how to give.

After a successful first year, the Ball State University Foundation recently revealed the recipients of the University’s newest “Top 100 Student Awards.” 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. The complete list of Ball State’s 2023 Top 100 Students can be found on the Foundation’s website.

Read more in this Ball State University press release.

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