October 30, 2025

     The 2025 Ball State University United Way Employee Campaign—now underway through November 21—offers a meaningful opportunity for our employees and retirees to strengthen the communities we are privileged to serve. Through our partnership with the Heart of Indiana United Way, we can make a lasting impact by improving the health, education, and financial stability of our neighbors in Muncie and across East Central Indiana. Together, we live out our enduring values and demonstrate the spirit of Beneficence that defines our University.

     I am grateful to our colleagues who are leading this year’s campaign, especially during such a busy part of the semester. Your dedication exemplifies Ball State’s commitment to our community.

    Giving our time and resources to this worthy cause is one of the most tangible ways we can fulfill that commitment. This year’s campaign runs through November 21 and provides each of us the opportunity to support an organization that has served our region with compassion and integrity for 100 years. To make a gift, you may contact your designated United Way team captain, text the Phrase “BSU4United” to 91999, or access E-Pledge online. One-time gifts and payroll deductions are both available. Additional details are available on Ball State’s United Way Campaign webpage and in one of the stories below.

     As members of the Ball State community, we have a shared responsibility to serve and uplift others. When we give through the United Way Employee Campaign, we continue that proud tradition—and help our neighbors thrive.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

Since launching Destination 2040: Our Flight Path in 2019, our University has made significant progress toward five long-term institutional goals. After a year-long, consultative process involving thousands of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members, we have updated and extended this plan through 2030. This next iteration—Strategic Plan 2025-2030—reaffirms our core goals while introducing new imperatives that reflect evolving priorities, such as purpose exploration, relationship-rich learning, and the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence.

Since August, Together We Fly has put the spotlight on one goal in each issue. This month, we highlight Goal 3: Community Engagement and Impact. As a community-engaged institution, Ball State mobilizes and leads partnerships that revitalize and sustain our city and our region.

By 2030, our faculty, staff, and students will continue partnering with Muncie Community Schools and collaborating with other organizations to improve academic outcomes for local students while enhancing the learning experiences of our own. We will work with regional partners to promote talent attraction and retention, foster economic growth, improve population health and wellbeing, and expand access to arts, culture, and athletics across East Central Indiana.

The updated plan also strengthens how we engage with our communities: through collaborative initiatives in education, health, the economy, and the arts. These efforts are grounded in our belief that Ball State’s success is deeply connected to the vitality of the region we serve—and that by working together, we can create opportunities that are transformative for our students, our partners, and our neighbors.

Latest Episode of ‘Our Call to Beneficence’ Features Ball State University Foundation Board Officer and Ball State Graduate Jill S. Lacy

Jill S. Lacy, ’92, is the guest on the October 2025 episode of the monthly podcast “Our Call to Beneficence,” hosted by Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. This episode is available online now. All episodes of the “Our Call to Beneficence” podcast are available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

Ms. Lacy serves as secretary of the Ball State University Foundation Board of Directors. She also serves on the Women of Beneficence Leadership Council and the University’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Additionally, Ms. Lacy is president of the Lacy Foundation—a private charitable organization established in memory of her husband’s late uncle, Stanley K. Lacy. The Lacy Foundation’s philanthropy focuses on education, leadership, and quality of life issues. She also serves on several other organizations’ boards, including Leadership Indianapolis, the Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, and the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation Board of Trustees.

Ms. Lacy double majored in exercise science and political science, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1992. She earned her master’s in education from Indiana University in 1994.

Graduates of Ball State Can Develop Non-Credit Courses through Lifetime Learning

Ball State University alumni have an opportunity to inspire and educate others by developing a non-credit course through Ball State Lifetime Learning. This opportunity allows alumni to share their professional knowledge, creative talents, and life experiences with learners of all ages in an engaging, flexible format.

Whether conducting a leadership workshop, teaching a skill in the arts, exploring technology trends, or offering insights from years of experience, alumni can make lasting impacts on the community while strengthening their connection to Ball State. Courses can be offered in person at the University’s off-campus centers or online, and can be designed to fit individual schedules and teaching styles. Submit course ideas online.

Software to Help Track Student Attendance Available for Faculty

Ball State faculty can access an easy-to-use and customizable virtual attendance tracking software: aPlus+ Attendance.

Some of aPlus+ Attendance’s key features include:

These resources will explain how to use the software:

High Impact Practices (HIPs) Ambassadors for 2025 Announced

The Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs recognizes faculty members as High Impact Practices (HIPs) Ambassadors for their exceptional contributions. They will serve as leaders and mentors for high-impact practices at Ball State University.

This year’s High Impact Practices (HIPs) Ambassadors are:

Rinker Center Celebrates International Education Week Nov. 17-21 with Free Events

To celebrate International Education Week, which runs Nov. 17-21, the Rinker Center for Global Affairs is hosting several free events that showcase how international education promotes a vibrant community and creates opportunities to pursue a life of meaning and purpose. Among the Rinker Center events:

To learn about additional events, visit the Rinker Center's Calendar. 

The Rinker Center’s events are co-sponsored by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the American International Educators Association, and The Forum on Education Abroad.

Students Compete to Reimagine Key Village Redevelopment Site

This Fall, numerous students within the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) participated in a student design competition involving a key redevelopment site in The Village in Muncie.

Formerly home to a bank branch, the site—at 1709 W. University Ave., on the southwest corner of Martin and University Avenues—is slated to become an event plaza as part of the Village Redevelopment Project Master Plan. Students from four departments submitted design proposals individually or in teams, competing for Tango gift cards.

Entries were unveiled on Oct. 2 during Muncie’s First Thursday event—at various campus locations—and online. The public was invited to vote for their favorites. Winners will be announced on Nov. 7.

The following ECAP faculty members organized the competition:

Celebrate Innovation During Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 17-21

Global Entrepreneurship Week, a celebration of bold ideas and entrepreneurial spirit, will occur Nov. 17-21. Organized by Ball State’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, this annual series of events spotlights innovation, creativity, and real-world business insights for students and the broader community.

Among the series’ highlights:

Learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week and see the full schedule online.

Horwitz Nobel Prize Panel Scheduled for Nov. 13

The Institute for the Study of Political Economy will host the Horwitz Nobel Prize Panel at 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, in the Whitinger Building, Room 144. The event will feature Ball State faculty discussing achievements and discoveries that earned Nobel Prizes this year.

CCIM honors the life of the late Dr. Maria Williams-Hawkins, Longtime Media Professor

Community members gathered on Oct. 27 to celebrate the life of beloved friend, colleague, and teacher Dr. Maria Williams-Hawkins, known affectionately by many as “Dr. Maria.” Her impact was poignantly displayed as stories were shared about her legacy and how she touched many lives through her commitment to the community and more than 30 years of service at Ball State.

Dr. Williams-Hawkins was the faculty advisor for Ball State’s National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) chapter. She actively volunteered with the Salvation Army and was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She hosted “How We See It” on WIPB, and in a memorial post was regarded as a “journalist, professor, mentor, and unshakeable force for good … [whose] life was guided by aphorisms, scripture, and a commitment to helping others see their worth.”

CCIM to Bring Alumni, Students Together for Annual Career & Internship Fair, and News Conference

The College of Communication, Information, and Media’s annual Career and Internship Fair and the Department of Media’s news conference will be held on Nov. 20. The events will bring alumni back to campus to connect and share wisdom with students. CCIM will provide resume review opportunities leading up to the events. Additionally, free professional headshots will be offered on the day of the events. 

Fall Special Exhibitions at the David Owsley Museum of Art

The David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) presents two special exhibitions, Sept. 18-Dec.19, 2025:

Virtual Training Sessions for Coaches Available

Dr. Jerry Reynolds, associate professor of social work at Ball State and director of Coach Beyond–Indiana, with the Coach Beyond Grant program (part of the Million Coaches Challenge), has helped the program meet its goal to train more than a million coaches by 2025. However, free additional virtual training sessions are still available for any coach in Indiana, courtesy of the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health. Additionally, all of the Coach Beyond Trainings count for professional growth points for Indiana Teachers. Learn more in this Ball State press release.

Additional Options for Taking Yoga Classes Available

The Interprofessional Community Clinic’s Health Lifestyle Center (HLC) has added a new location option for yoga. The new location is ECAP Downtown, 306 S. Walnut St. in Muncie, at 5:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. HLC also hosts chair yoga classes for people 55 and older, at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Muncie Senior Center, 2517 W. 8th St. For additional information about these classes and other offerings, call 765-285-1293 or email HLC765@bsu.edu.

‘Focus on Autism’ Event to Feature Presentation, Panel Discussion, Nov. 5

The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology is hosting a “Focus on Autism” event from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 5 in the Health Professions Building, Room 357. The event will feature a keynote presentation from the Indiana Autism Society, followed by an interprofessional panel discussion. Space is limited; RSVP online.

Free Conflict Prevention and Resolution Training Session Scheduled for Nov. 13

The Center for Peace and Conflict Studies will host a free Conflict Prevention and Resolution Training session from 6-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Health Professions Building, Room 357. During this interactive workshop, participants will learn skills and techniques to prevent, de-escalate, and resolve conflict. RSVP online.   

Award-Winning Author Comes to Campus as Ball State’s 2025 Writer-in-Residence
The College of Sciences and Humanities and the Department of English are welcoming award-winning author Christina Diaz Gonzalez as Ball State's 2025 Writer-in-Residence. 

Ms. Diaz Gonzalez’s books have been used in more than 32 states as part of statewide reading programs and have been designated as an American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, a Junior Library Guild Gold selection, and an International Reading Association’s Teachers’ Choice book. She is the Edgar Award-winning and USA TODAY best-selling author of several novels, including The Red Umbrella, Concealed, and the graphic novel Invisible.

Now in its fourth year, Ball State’s Writer-in-Residence program is an annual program that invites nationally recognized authors to campus to engage with students, faculty, and the local Muncie community. In a series of events during the week of Nov. 3, Christina Diaz Gonzalez will host public readings and lead creative writing workshops on campus, in Muncie community schools, and across the Muncie community. 

The following events, featuring Christina Diaz Gonzalez, will be free and open to the public:

Ms. Diaz Gonzalez will be available to sign books after each event. After 7 p.m., free parking is available in most campus lots and garages.

The 2025 residency is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English, with generous support from the Efroymson Family Fund, the College of Sciences and Humanities, and the Office of the President at Ball State.

Ball State University Graduate Named 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year

Megan Johnson, ’07, a fourth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Plainfield—and a Teachers College graduate—has been named the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). Ms. Johnson has 18 years of experience in upper elementary classrooms. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education while at Teachers College. Read more in this IDOE press release.

Professor Receives Lecture, Award Honors

Amanda Latz, professor of higher education and community college leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership, has been selected to receive the Barbara Townsend Lecture & Award from the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). She will deliver the Barbara Townsend Lecture during a special session at the ASHE 50th Annual Conference in Denver in mid-November.

Indiana Academy Receives Grant

The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities has received a Robert P. Bell Education Grant from the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. The $2,500 grant supports the inaugural year of the Indiana Academy Student Government (IASG). Funds will be used to purchase start-up materials and provide professional development opportunities for IASG students. Dr. Joel Olufowote, director of academic affairs at the academy, spearheaded the pursuit of the grant.

University College Offers Tips on Reaching Out to Students, Impacting Their Success

Students can face many different challenges at any point in their academic careers. Reaching out to students—even sharing a few encouraging words—can make a meaningful difference. That is especially true now, as students prepare to complete the semester and prepare for finals. University College offers the following tips to faculty (and staff who normally interact with students):

The C.A.R.E. Approach (low-stakes, quick actions):

Even the smallest, consistent gestures—such as a check-in, a strength-spot, or a nudge—can foster belonging and momentum. Together, these small actions can create a big impact on student success.

Exhibit Honoring the Life and Career of Steve Bell and Opening Ceremony

University Libraries will hold an opening ceremony commemorating journalist Steve Bell and the newly installed exhibit, “From the Newsroom to the Classroom: The Life and Lessons of Professor Steve Bell.” This exhibit is a tribute and a living archive of a journalist whose life and career mirrored the most pivotal moments in American history.

The opening ceremony will be held from 3-4 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Archives and Special Collections section in Bracken Library, Room 210. Refreshments will be served. Learn more about the exhibit online.

Learn More About Delaware County, Civil War, and Frank Bracken’s Reenactment Role

Through reenactment and storytelling, discover more about the role of Delaware County during the Civil War—and learn about Frank Bracken’s role as reenactor and collector of Civil War materials—at a special event at Bracken Library. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov.6 on the second floor of Bracken Library. Wine and appetizers will be served. Event details are available online.

Book Club to Explore Artificial Intelligence’s Potential Impact on Higher Education

This semester, University Libraries invites faculty to join a thought-provoking book club focused on the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for higher education. Participants will explore a series of books that range from alarmist to optimistic, speculative to practical—each selected to spark reflection, discussion, and dialogue about the role of AI in our personal and professional lives. Book club details are available online.

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