2000 W. University Ave. Muncie, IN 47306 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED FALL/WINTER 2017-18 AS CARDINALS, Photo by Domenic Centofanti WE FLY More vocal. More visible. Ball State University is the one to watch. PAGE 30 BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS Alumnus Vince Bertram inspires a generation to connect to STEM. PAGE 48 Lasting Impressions Through its new brand, Ball State is letting the world know all the things that make it such a distinctive place (see p. 30). For many alumni, that list would include Frog Baby, the sculpture of a joyous little girl playfully holding a frog in each hand. Frog Baby was moved outdoors, to Dance major Ciara Borg (above) and other students the middle of a fountain near Bracken Library, in help Ball State University share its story with the world. 1993. Students take good care of her, bundling Photo © Ball State University her with a scarf or hat during chilly weather. First Glance Ball State University celebrates its new brand with a bang — literally — as hundreds of students, faculty and staff pack Sursa Hall for the Brand Launch Party. Streamers fly as cabaret students mentored by Tony Award winner Sutton Foster end their performance, a mashup of songs based on the new tagline, “We Fly.” The Nov. 6 launch also included a transformation of the campus and a student social media takeover. Photo by Don Rogers 2017-18 Alumni Council Executive Committee Chair: Sam DeWeese, MS ’02 Vice Chair: Kelli Lawrence, ’01 FROM THE PRESIDENT Past Chair: Christy Swing Horn, ’81 MA ’10 AlumFALL/WINTERn 2017-18i Secretary: Mike Earley, ’78 Treasurer: Jeff Kingsbury, ’91 At-Large Representative: Laura Cain, ’86 MAE ’98 EdS ’13 EdD ’15 Dear Alumni and Friends: At-Large Representative: Larry Riley, ’71 During my first convocation, I told our faculty and staff that we were going to reveal a refreshed Geoffrey S. Mearns At-Large Representative: Larry Roan, ’77 Ball State University Board of Trustees Representative: Wayne Estopinal, ’79 brand and launch an aggressive new marketing campaign. We are going to be more vocal. We are President Ball State University Board of Trustees Representative: Brian Gallagher, ’81 going to be more visible. We are going to tell the stories of our students and our graduates with the Ball State University Foundation Representative: Larry Metzing, ’71 President’s Cabinet President and CEO: Jen Goins passion and with the energy that they deserve. Marilyn Buck Ex-Officio: Jeff Lang, EVP/Treasurer, Ball State University Foundation We are going to demonstrate that Ball State University should be a student’s first choice — the best Interim Provost and Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Ball State University Foundation Alumni Engagement liaison: Lori Corvino option for students who want an excellent education that will prepare them to have successful careers Kay Bales, EdD ’00 At-Large and lead meaningful lives. We’re going to prove Ball State is the one to watch. Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Jay Brill, ’74 and Dean of Students The two most visible elements of a brand are its logo and its tagline. K. Douglas Cook, ’79 Sali Falling, MA ’88 Adam Drummond, ’02 MA ’05 EdS ’11 EdD ’14 In our new logo, Beneficence, the symbol of Vice President and General Counsel Jim Fields, ’97 our enduring values, plays a prominent role and Bernard Hannon Scott Franko, ’92 rightly so. The design of the new logo better Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer Liz Hodges, ’87 Loren Malm, ’86 Lana Manikowski, ’97 captures our aspirations as we enter our next Interim Vice President for Information Technology Pamala Morris, ’69 MAE ’71 century. Beneficence goes beyond the shield the Cherí O’Neill, ’89 Beth Snyder, ’78 way our University goes beyond the campus. President and CEO of Ball State University Foundation Nick Zuniga, ’04 “We Fly” is inspired by our University Mark Sandy Alumni Chapters/Clubs community, our faculty, staff, students, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Chicago Area: Blair Kramer, ’05 Kathy Wolf Indianapolis Area: Scott Wenclewicz, ’06 and alumni. Vice President, Marketing and Communications Michiana: Samantha Adamczewski, ’10 So who is the “We” in “We Fly”? Let’s start Northeastern Indiana: Jacqueline Downey, ’87 with our students. They are bright, ambitious, Magazine Staff Professional Societies and curious. They want the active, hands-on Samantha Blankenship, ’15 College of Architecture and Planning: MJ Meneley, ’96 education that immersive learning provides. Multimedia Specialist Miller College of Business: Ed Armantrout, ’01 Elizabeth Brooks, ’95 Journalism: Deana Haworth, MA ’05 Guided by faculty mentors, our students discover Creative Strategist Natural Resources and Environmental Management: the solution to a real problem. Students and Danesa Stolz, ’97 Domenic Centofanti professors are learning partners on the journey. Multimedia Specialist Nursing: Cheryl Riwitis, ’83 Teachers College: Jennifer Conti, MA ’02 Staff, community partners, coaches, alumni, Jennifer Criss, ’98 Office Services Coordinator Telecommunications: Todd Merickel, ’94 and friends, all contribute to an environment of education innovation. Theatre and Dance: Holly Stults Haas, ’89 Dan Forst, ’85 “We” means all of us in the Ball State community, near and far. Account Strategist Constituent Societies And why “Fly” as the verb? Cardinals fly. Flying takes preparation, training, effort, work — Kari Gayes, ’06 Alumni Ambassadors: Dwight Smith, ’87 physical and mental. It is challenging and exhilarating. Account Strategist Black Alumni: Teresa Jeter, MURP ’95 Football Player’s Association: Kyle West, ’76 But a brand is more than a logo and a tagline. It is demonstrating how our University lives up Tim Obermiller Senior Content Strategist And Magazine Editor Young Alumni Council (YAC): Michele Musson, ’06 MBA ’07 to its promises. Marc Ransford, ’83 MA ’07 In these pages, you will see we are doing just that. Metals artist Stacey Lee Webber (p.15), Senior Communications Strategist Alumni Engagement Staff Lori Corvino David Northern of the Lake County Housing Authority (p. 42), and Vince Bertram of Project Kim Rendfeld Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, Lead The Way (p. 48) are only a few alumni who “fly” in their careers and serve their neighbors. Senior Communications Strategist Special Events and Stewardship Our University is strong. We have record total enrollment, a large freshman class that’s the most Don Rogers, ’77 Allison DeWitt, ’09 Multimedia Specialist Director of Alumni Engagement, Regional Markets academically qualified and diverse in our history, excellent four-year graduation rates, top-flight Gail Werner, ’04 Michelle Harrell, AA ’87 technology, and innovative academic programs. Alumni Engagement Coordinator Content Strategist We have a great story to tell — one made possible by you, our alumni and friends. Your loyal Michelle Johnson, ’01 MA ’07 Judy Wolf Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, Homecoming, support has helped make Ball State what it is today. It is a privilege to serve as your president. Communications Specialist Athletics and Reunions Carol Kosisko, ’88 Director of Alumni Engagement, Collegiate Groups Sincerely, EP Graphics, Berne, Indiana, prints Ball State University Alumni Magazine. Paper Alanna Lewis is Chain of Custody-certified by Forest Stewardship Council. Printer uses ink with Alumni Engagement Coordinator soy oil, and all waste paper and solvents used in the printing process are recycled. Lexi Rodebeck, ’12 Marketing and Communications, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47306, Alumni Engagement Coordinator 765-285-1560. Contact us: [email protected]. Ball State University practices equal opportunity in education and employment and Sue Taylor, ’71 is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Ball State wants Director of Alumni Engagement, Collegiate and Affinity Groups Geoffrey S. Mearns its programs and services to be accessible to all people. For information about access Kate Webber, ’98 MA ’99 President, Ball State University and accommodations, please call the Office of Disability Services at 765-285-5293; Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, Alumni Communities go through Relay Indiana for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals (relayindiana.com and Volunteer Management or 877-446-8772); or visit bsu.edu/disabilityservices. Deanna Zimmer Executive Assistant to the Associate Vice President 2 Ball State University Alumni Magazine of Alumni Engagement and Alumni Council Coordinator Photo © Ball State University Fall/Winter 2017–18 3 CONTENTSFALL/WINTER 2017-18 Photo © Ball State University 30 COVER STORY: We Fly DEPARTMENTS Our bold, new brand will tell the world what is distinctive to Ball State: Letter to Alumni . 6 our education innovation and the culture, values and perfect size to provide it. #BallState . 7 News . 8 Shared Experience 35 Students, faculty and community partners combine to make a powerful Arts & Culture . 14 impact through immersive learning. Athletics . 19 42 Building for the Better Empowered . 24 With determination and ingenuity, David Northern, ’97, finds new ways Alumni . 52 to provide safe, affordable housing for North Chicago residents. Class Notes . 54 Connecting the Dots In Memoriam . .61 46 Ball State’s Career Center provides students with specialized services and personal attention, and it gets them started early. CURRENCY EXCHANGE Breaking Down Barriers In addition to her solo work, Stacey Lee Webber, ’05, collaborates with fellow artists on projects such as this necklace. Webber