News to Use:

• Ball State is committed to a bright future for Indiana and beyond. One example is our participation in the Innovate WithIN initiative for the third year. Innovate WithIN is a competition for high school entrepreneurs, working in teams of one to three, to pitch their innovative ideas to judges. The competition is accepting online video proposals from high school student teams through February 7. After regional competitions in March, finalists will be invited to Indianapolis for a chance to win a grand prize package, including a scholarship valued up to $10,000 to be used at any accredited in-state institution and up to $10,000 in seed funding to launch the proposed venture. Middle school students (grades 6-8) can participate in Innovate WithIN Ideation Labs. Innovate WithIN is co-sponsored by Ball State in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and the Indiana Department of Education. Ball State also works with Small Business Development Centers to make the competition possible. For more information, visit innovatewithin.org.
• Paula Luff will serve as our new vice president for enrollment planning and management. She will begin her service on April 20, 2020. Paula will join us from DePaul University in Chicago, where she is currently interim vice president for enrollment management. In her new role, Paula will oversee the ongoing implementation of our University’s new strategic enrollment management plan, and she will provide leadership for all areas of our admissions. She will also oversee the offices of the Registrar and Financial Aid and Scholarships.
• Dr. Anand R. Marri will join the leadership team at Ball State University as dean of Teachers College, effective July 1, 2020. Anand recently served as dean and professor (on research leave) of the Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester in New York. He started his career as a high school social studies teacher in California. After earning his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003, he joined Teachers College at Columbia University, where he founded the Economic Literacy Initiative. While on Columbia University’s faculty, he served as the highest-ranking officer for education in the Federal Reserve System from 2013-2018.
• Two years ago, we launched the We Fly marketing campaign to tell the story of Ball State University and its people. The central theme, We Fly, captures the spirit of intellectual curiosity that challenges our students and graduates, our faculty and staff—everyone in our community—to excel. The campaign has proven to be successful. To build on that success, we have introduced new messaging, photography, videography, and designs, which you can see in banners and signage on campus, billboards on Indiana interstates, a commanding banner at the Indianapolis International Airport, digital ads, and our exciting new commercial.
• Former basketball standout Trey Moses has received a 2020 NCAA Inspiration Award, bestowed on only two people in the country. The award recognizes how the recipient persevered through adversity and serves as a role model. During his time at Ball State, Trey championed children with special needs and spoke openly about his struggles with depression while encouraging and supporting others in similar situations.