January 29, 2026

     As the president of Ball State University, I am fortunate to participate in many events with our students across our beautiful campus. Recently, I had the opportunity to serve as host of a trivia night in Kinghorn Hall. I enjoyed being invited by the hall council, spending time with our students as they connected, unwound, and shared some good-natured fun.

     Seeing our students gathered for trivia night reminded me of the many ways our Office of Housing and Residence Life supports our students, enriching their education and enhancing their overall college experience.

     For example, Housing and Residence Life helps our University offer an immersive approach to education through its 13 living-learning communities (LLCs), where students live among peers who share academic majors and fields of interest. LLC residents have access to academic peer mentoring, resource rooms, and makerspaces. The LLCs also offer major-specific experiences and experiential learning opportunities, including off-campus, career-path-focused trips across Indiana that deepen learning and strengthen statewide partnerships.

     I am grateful for the efforts and commitment of the leadership and staff in the Office of Housing and Residence Life, including the upper-level students employed as academic peer mentors. Thanks to them, our residence halls are one of our University’s strongest engines for student belonging, engagement, campus community-building, and early career exploration.

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 wrap up with Goal 5: Inclusiveness and Institutional Effectiveness. Ball State is distinguished for our effectiveness across all dimensions of our work, with a culture of well-being that enables faculty and staff to find fulfillment in their work and meaning in their lives.

By 2030, our University will enhance programs that promote understanding across cultural and intellectual differences, strengthen commitments to academic freedom and freedom of expression, and invest in professional development, career advancement, and employee wellbeing. We will continue to refine our programs and processes, ensuring that people, policies, and resources are aligned to support excellence and innovation.

The updated plan also advances how we sustain a thriving institutional culture: through shared responsibility, strategic use of data and technology, philanthropic growth, and stewardship of our financial and physical resources. These efforts are grounded in our belief that Ball State is a place where all people can do their best work, feel supported in their growth, and contribute to a community defined by accountability, collaboration, and shared success.

Latest Episode of ‘Our Call to Beneficence’ Features Jud Fisher, President and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation

Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation, is the guest on the January 2026 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. 

Mr. Fisher joined Ball Brothers Foundation in 2003 after working for Old National Bancorp. He serves on the boards of several regional and statewide organizations—including the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, IU Health East Central Region Board of Directors, Edmund F. & Virginia B. Ball Foundation, Muncie Aviation Company, First Merchants Corporation, and Burris Laboratory School’s Owl Academic & Athletic Boosters.

In 2023, Ball Brothers Foundation—under Mr. Fisher’s leadership—awarded 174 grants to organizations in Muncie, Delaware County, and throughout Indiana. Those grants totaled $8.8 million, the second-highest single-year payout in the foundation’s history. The foundation also continues to provide vital funding for many Ball State-related projects, including a $1 million initial grant in 2018 to support the University’s historic partnership with Muncie Community Schools.

Jud Fisher is the great-grandson of Edmund B. Ball, Ball Brothers Foundation founder. Edmund B. Ball is one of the five Ball brothers whose generous gift led to the development of what is now Ball State University.

December 2025 Episode of ‘Our Call to Beneficence’ Features Ball State’s 2025 Honorary Alumni and retired Chairman and CEO of First Merchants Corporation, Steve Anderson

Stefan “Steve” Anderson—an unwavering champion of Ball State for decades—was the guest on the December 2025 episode of “Our Call to Beneficence.”

For all the meaningful ways Mr. Anderson has supported Ball State, he was named the University’s 2025 Honorary Alumni. A retired chairman and CEO of First Merchants Corporation, Mr. Anderson has demonstrated steadfast dedication and transformative leadership, significantly impacting Ball State’s growth and overall success.

He has served on numerous boards and committees, and as chair of the Ball State University Foundation Board; chair of Ball State’s first capital campaign, Wings of the Future; and chair of the Ball Honors House campaign. He also has served on the leadership teams of subsequent major fundraising initiatives. Additionally, he is the cofounder and first chair of the Miller College of Business Executive Advisory Board.

Mr. Anderson is a graduate of Harvard University and of the University of Chicago’s MBA program.

Legal Consulting Services Available as Part of Employee Benefits

As part of employee benefits, Ball State University employees have access, through TELUS Health, to Legal Consulting Services—a confidential resource to help people navigate everyday legal matters. Whether the topic is divorce, real estate, estate planning, or assistance with finding a lawyer, TELUS Health can connect University employees to no-cost or low-cost community resources and, if needed, a licensed attorney for a free 30-minute consultation.

Additionally, access to online legal tools—including an easy-to-use legal library, FAQs, and an online will and legal document tool—is also available through TELUS Health. It’s practical support designed to offer peace of mind at work and beyond.

Visit TELUS Health or call 1-888-851-7032 for assistance. Log in to TELUS Health using your Ball State username and password.

Listening, Learning, Improving—It Starts With You

This February marks Year 3 of our Gallup Employee Engagement Survey. Thank you for your continued willingness to share your experiences and perspectives. Your participation matters, and it plays an important role in cultivating a shared commitment to improvement.

Once again, the survey will be administered by Gallup, an independent third party. On Feb. 9, employees will receive an email from Gallup with a personalized survey link.  All responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate; individual responses will not be identifiable to you. Participation in the survey is voluntary, but your perspective is essential as we work to gain an accurate and meaningful understanding of what is working well and where we can continue to grow. 

Year 3 represents an important moment in this work—not as something new, but as part of our ongoing commitment to listening, learning, and improving together. As a reminder, the engagement survey is not an evaluation of individual performance. Rather, the survey helps us understand whether our employees experience support, recognition, growth, and connection in their work—elements that are foundational to engagement, well-being, and institutional excellence at our University. Our process remains the same: leaders across campus are expected to review results, share them transparently, and focus on a small number of meaningful actions that strengthen their teams over time.

Thank you for your many contributions to our University and for your willingness to share your voice through this process. Please take approximately 10 minutes between Feb. 9 and Feb. 27 to participate in the Employee Engagement Survey and help shape our continued conversations and progress.

Workday Learning is Live

In January, the Division for People and Culture has been transitioning to Workday Learning, which will become the central resource for People and Culture Learning and Development activities. This new platform is designed to create a more seamless and engaging learning experience for employees by offering improved navigation, personalized learning recommendations, and easy access to on-demand content.

Workday Learning will also provide a more streamlined way to manage, track, and complete required and optional training in one place. As part of this transition, Workday Learning will replace our current use of Minicourse, bringing all learning experiences into a single, integrated system. In addition, custom courses will be included in Workday Learning, ensuring continued access to support employee growth and development. Questions about this transition can be directed to learndev@bsu.edu.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun Appoints Dollyne Sherman to Ball State University Board of Trustees; Reappoints Trustees McDaniel and Griffith

Indiana Governor Mike Braun has appointed Dollyne Sherman to the Ball State University Board of Trustees. Her appointment began Jan. 1, 2026. Governor Braun also reappointed trustees Mike McDaniel and Julie K. Griffith to new terms on the Board, each effective through Dec. 31, 2029.

With expertise in public policy, strategic communications, media and public relations, and crisis communications, Ms. Sherman has spent more than four decades working in state and local government and the private sector. She is the owner of DS Consulting, formed in 1994 to serve clients in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Ms. Sherman earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and business administration from Ball State in 1977.

Trustee McDaniel was initially appointed to the Ball State Board of Trustees in 2016 and serves as the board’s secretary. A two-time Ball State graduate, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and geography in 1973 and a master’s degree in public administration in 1979. Trustee McDaniel has worked as the executive director of governmental affairs at Krieg DeVault LLP in Indianapolis. He has decades of experience in public service and government relations.

Trustee Griffith joined the Ball State Board of Trustees in 2022. She serves as the assistant secretary of the board and chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. A 1979 Ball State graduate, Trustee Griffith has held senior leadership roles in public affairs, marketing, business development, and government and regulatory affairs, including positions with Purdue University, Duke Energy, and Spectra Energy and its predecessor companies. She also serves on the Ball State University Foundation board and the Dean’s Advisory Council for the University’s College of Sciences and Humanities.

Read more in this Ball State press release.

Ball State Hires Dr. Judith Lewandowski as Special Advisor for Purpose Exploration

Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns has selected Dr. Judith Lewandowski to serve as the special advisor for purpose exploration. She will join Ball State on Feb. 9.

Ms. Lewandowski has an extensive record of teaching, research, and academic administration. Currently, she serves as the vice provost of adult teaching and learning at Purdue University Global. Prior to that, she served as the director of learning design and curriculum at the University of Notre Dame.

Ms. Lewandowski was raised and educated in Indiana. She has three degrees from Purdue University—a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, and a master’s degree and a doctorate in learning design and technology.

President Mearns announced this news to Ball State employees in this Jan. 12 email communication.

 Level Up on Career, Credentials, and Education with Lifetime Learning

Through Lifetime Learning by Ball State, career advancement can seamlessly fit Ball State employees’ goals and schedules. Explore programs in project management, AI and cloud computing, data analysis, and more. Educators can also advance their careers with teacher mentoring courses designed by Teachers College. Additionally, professional experience or certifications may be eligible for academic credit through Ball State's Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program, which can save time and money when pursuing another credential. Learn more and register online.

Faculty and Staff Can Purchase Tools and Software Through University Technology Store

Ball State faculty, staff, and other University employees can purchase technology tools and software—for use in Ball State-related work—through the University Technology Store. Available technology includes enterprise software options, computers, keyboards, and other related equipment.

Advanced AI tools are also available through the Office of Information Technology. Systems being sold include Gemini Pro, ChatGPT Business, and Microsoft Copilot Studio. These specialized software tools can be integrated with Universitysystems. Learn more about the options online.

Any technology or software purchased using University funds or used with Ball State information systems must follow the official IT Purchase Policy.

For help, contact the Technology Store at 765-285-4104 or techstore@bsu.edu. For walk-in support, visit the Tech Center in Bracken Library, Room 101.

Rinker Center for Global Affairs Announces Two New Awards

The Rinker Center for Global Affairs has launched two new campus-wide recognitions: the Global Impact Faculty Award and the Global Impact Staff Award. These recognitions celebrate faculty and staff whose work significantly advances Ball State’s global mission through exceptional contributions to international student success, global engagement, partnerships, curriculum globalization, program development, and/or operational excellence.

Each award has its own eligibility guidelines and evaluation criteria:

Please share these opportunities with others and encourage nominations of colleagues whose efforts exemplify the University’s commitment to global learning and engagement. Questions or requests for additional information can be directed to Dr. Alicia Miller, director of global initiatives & operations at Ball State, at ajmiller@bsu.edu.

Expanding the Honors Experience: The Honors Second Year Experience

The Office of Housing and Residence Life, in partnership with the Honors College, has launched the Honors Second Year Experience (HSYE), which will start in Fall 2026. This initiative directly aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan Goal 1B, prioritizing student engagement in living-learning communities.

To support significant growth within the Honors College and the desire of prospective students to join the Honors College’s living-learning community, DeHority Complex will transition to a dedicated first-year-only residence hall. To ensure a continued residential pathway for returning students, the HSYE will debut in Klipple Hall (Noyer Complex). This application-based program focuses on leadership development, featuring a one-credit course in which students engage directly with Muncie community leaders. This course will be taught by Honors College Dean Dr. Jim Buss.

Interest in the pilot attests that this is the right direction for growth. Nearly 100 applications were submitted, and 40 of the 50 initial spots are already finalized. This program provides an intentional pathway for students to remain involved in on-campus living while developing leadership skills as they transition into their sophomore year.

For more information on this collaboration and the new HSYE program, visit bsu.edu/honorsllc.

Register Now for the 2026 Provost’s Faculty Summit, and Teaching and Technology Summit 

The 2026 Provost’s Faculty Summit, Cultivating Kindness and Belonging in Higher Education, will take place Feb. 5–6. This free, virtual event will feature keynote speakers Cate Denial, author of A Pedagogy of Kindness, and José Bowen, author of Teaching With AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. To register and learn more about the keynote speakers and sessions, visit the summit webpage.

Registration is also open for the 2026 Teaching and Technology Summit, scheduled for March 19–20. This free, virtual event, hosted by the Division of Online and Strategic Learning and University Libraries, will feature a keynote speaker—educator and author Flower Darby—and focus on teaching for authentic student learning in the AI age. A limited number of session proposals will be accepted; submit one today.

ECAP Launches DesignWeek Program for Students

In early January, the interior design and landscape architecture departments within Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) launched DesignWeek. This collaborative design event engaged more than 200 students across both disciplines this semester.

DesignWeek is a judged, team-based challenge program uniting undergraduate and graduate students from all years. Thirty-one interdisciplinary teams, each led by a student captain, worked in a studio-like environment using professional practices, emphasizing collaboration, clear communication, and the development of a shared design language across these fields. 

For this year’s challenge, teams were asked to design and construct a four-player game integrating principles of interior design and landscape architecture. The games were set up in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom. At the conclusion of DesignWeek, a game night provided students the opportunity to play each other’s games, participate in raffles, and celebrate the awards. 

Out of 31 teams, eight awards were given. Each competing team had at least five student participants.

The event was organized by Craig Farnsworth, Roan Distinguished Professor of Practice in the Department of Landscape Architecture; Jeremy Merrill, assistant professor of landscape architecture; Sarah Alfaro, associate professor of interior design; and April Westcott, assistant teaching professor of landscape architecture.

Read more in this ECAP blog post.

Conversations in Entrepreneurship and Leadership Scheduled for Spring

Entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry leaders will share their business experience, lessons learned, and advice to students during a speaker series offered by the Entrepreneurship Center. The series will be held in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom at 11 a.m. Learn more about the scheduled speakers:

2026 Forecast Revealed at 30th Annual Indiana Economic Outlook

Uncertainty was the underlying theme of the 30th annual Indiana Economic Outlook, held Jan. 21 in downtown Muncie. Dr. Michael Hicks, the George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics and director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, shared his 2026 forecasts. Scott Buehrer of B. Walter & Co. and Steven Smith of Mid-West Metal Products Co. discussed the challenges facing local manufacturers.

Registration Opens Feb. 2 for Annual JDAY+/CCIM+ Conference and Summer Workshops

Registration for the College of Communication, Information, and Media’s (CCIM) annual programming for middle and high school students and teachers will officially open Feb. 2.

The JDAY+/CCIM+ Conference will be the first of these events and will be held on April 24. The conference typically welcomes more than 1,000 students and teachers for a day of learning, featuring sessions on communication, information, and media taught by industry professionals—including Ball State faculty, staff, and alumni. The day also offers attendees a great opportunity to explore Ball State’s campus and learn more about the University.

High school students will also be able to register for the CCIM Summer Workshops, which will take place June 22–25. Interested attendees can register and learn more by visiting ccimoutreach.com. Those interested in assisting with either event can email  ccimoutreach@bsu.edu.  

Performances and an Exhibition

U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Holds ‘Fireside Chat’ on Campus Feb. 16

The College of Health’s Department of Nutrition and Health Science is hosting a “Fireside Chat,” featuring the Honorable Alex M. Azar II—the 24th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—at 7 p.m., on Feb. 16,  in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom. This “Fireside Chat” is part of the McGovern Lecture series. 

Help is Available for Meeting Physical Fitness Goals

The School of Kinesiology’s Adult Physical Fitness Program offers daily exercise supervision and exercise counseling by trained staff. New members undergo comprehensive health screening and physical fitness testing, from which an individualized exercise plan can be implemented to help members achieve health and wellness goals. For more information, contact Nicole Koontz, director of the clinical exercise physiology program and adult physical fitness program, at nlkoontz@bsu.edu.

Free Health Screenings in February

The Healthy Lifestyle Center (HLC) is teaming up with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide free community health screenings at its mobile market events: Feb. 3 at Westview Elementary School in Jonesboro; Feb. 14 at South Meridian Church of God in Anderson; and Feb. 21 at the Ridgeville Public Library in Ridgeville. Or, make an appointment to come to the HLC office for free health screenings. Appointments can be made by emailing hlc765@bsu.edu or calling 765-285-1293. 

Student Achievement, Faculty Honor, and an Upcoming Event

Publishings

Virtual Lunch and Learn, and In-Person Panel Discussion Scheduled for February

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