Cardinal Compass: Campus & Community Conversations

Geoffrey Mearns highlights the great work being done by Ball State University in partnership with people and organizations in the region. For the last episode, Mearns looks back on the past academic year and highlights the programs and the initiatives that are strengthening ties between our campus community and our friends and neighbors right here in East Central Indiana.

 The next phase of Ball State's transformational plan to revitalize The Village is a central plaza called the Village Green. Dozens of students had a role in its design. President Geoffrey Mearns has a conversation with faculty and students from the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning about how the Village Green’s design has been influenced by talented Cardinals.Cardinal Compass explores the connections between Muncie and Ball State University. Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns and his guests will take the audience behind the scenes of the evolving relationship by exploring the challenges and opportunities that exist. This show is produced by Ball State students in the College of Communication, Information and Media.

Ball State University is a partner of Muncie Habitat for Humanity, which helps people realize their dream of home ownership. President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Lindsey Arthur, CEO of Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity, and Ball State staff and student-athletes, as they discuss how this non-profit organization changes lives in our community. About Cardinal Compass: Cardinal Compass explores the connections between Muncie and Ball State University. Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns and his guests will take the audience behind the scenes of the evolving relationship by exploring the challenges and opportunities that exist. This show is produced by Ball State students in the College of Communication, Information and Media.

"Optimus Primary" is a collaborative initiative designed to help healthcare professionals live and work in East Central Indiana. And with funding from the Ball Brothers foundation, this initiative has engaged Ball State University as one of several partners to help build a healthy future for people all across our region.

Ball State's community partners will soon benefit from sharing the new Center for Innovation and Collaboration  with students, faculty, and staff. President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Chris Palladino, Director of Real Estate Services, and Brandon Smith, Executive Director of the Digital Corps, as they discuss how the building contributes to the university’s vision for The Village

A new studio space for Ball State's Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning is creating more opportunities for design and collaboration in Downtown Muncie. President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Andrea Swartz, Associate Dean, and Daniel Van Dyke, a CAP student, to discuss the college’s expanded presence in Muncie.

Since 2018, a partnership between Ball State and Muncie Community Schools has reinvigorated our public school system. Jim Williams, president of the MCS Board of Trustees, and Katrina Bulkley, dean of Ball State's Teachers College, join President Geoff Mearns as they discuss the future of the partnership and a new leadership pipeline for MCS educators.

This month, Cardinal Compass highlights the past academic year, including Ball State University’s collaborative partnership with Muncie Civic Theatre, the impact of the Charles W. Brown Planetarium on the community, and student interest in exploring Downtown Muncie.

Ball State’s David Owsley Museum of Art has a collection of more than 11,000 objects from all seven continents. BSU President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Robert La France, director of the museum, and Ronn Brown, photographer and guest curator, as they explore how students and thousands of community members can learn from these works of art.

Ball State's iMADE project bridges the gap between digital design and real-world architecture, benefiting students and the Muncie community. Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Kevin Klinger, associate professor of architecture, and John Smith from Mid-west Metal Products as they discuss how this distinctive partnership brings students’ creative designs to life. 

Did you know that Ball State is home to the largest planetarium in Indiana? It’s a pride point for the University—and every show offered inside the planetarium is free to the public.  President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Dayna Thompson, director of the planetarium, and John Millis, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, to discuss all there is to experience under the dome of this special facility. 

For many years, Ball State faculty, staff, and students have directed and starred in productions at Muncie Civic Theatre. President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Laura Williamson, executive director of Muncie Civic Theatre, and Julia Horlander, a Ball State student involved with Muncie Civic, as they discuss the decades-long partnership between our University and our local community theatre.

Ball State University invites its friends and neighbors to attend events and performances on campus. At the same time, the university encourages students to experience all that Muncie offers. President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Cheryl Crowder, director of Downtown Muncie, and Michelle Kinsey, from the Office of Community Engagement, as they discuss how arts and culture enriches the community. 

For many years, Ball State’s Athletics Department has empowered student-athletes to become servant leaders committed to improving the lives of the university’s friends and neighbors. President Geoffrey Mearns has a conversation with Jeff Mitchell, director of Ball State Athletics, and Keionte Newson, a Ball State football player about how Cardinals serve the community.

We take a look at some highlights from the past academic year, including how Ball State students with disabilities thrive before and after graduating, a transformation of The Village with a new performing arts center and hotel, and how Studio 165 Plus highlights Ball State's immersive learning programs. 

In 2019, Ball State University converted a former elementary school into an innovative childcare facility. Today, the Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center serves families across east central Indiana. Janette Stanley, director of youth development for the YMCA, and Jennifer Young, an associate lecturer at Ball State join President Mearns to discuss how the center has become a tangible example of success for the community.

Studio 165+ is a team of student designers who enhance their skills by serving the community. Join President Geoffrey Mearns for a conversation with Assistant Professor Shantanu Suman, instructor of Studio 165+, and Heather Williams, program manager for Building Better Neighborhoods, as they discuss how students are helping design a prosperous future for area organizations.

Ball State students and faculty are helping keep the community heart healthy through a unique partnership with IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.  On the next Cardinal Compass, President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Tonya Skalon, senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, and Katrina Riggin, manager of East Central Region Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, to explore how students are helping patients recover from cardiac events or procedures.

To help Ball State University empower students, support faculty and staff, and enrich communities, the university will raise more than $350 million during a comprehensive fundraising campaign. President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Mark Helmus, chief advancement officer for the Ball State University Foundation, and graduate Jill Lacy, president of the Lacy Foundation, as they discuss why Ball State is encouraging graduates and friends to answer the "Call to Beneficence."

For several years, Ball State University has been developing a plan to revitalize the Village, the area adjacent to BSU’s campus. President Geoffrey Mearns has a conversation with Randy Ruttenberg, founder of Fairmount Properties, and Greg Schahet, president of Schahet Hotels, to hear about the progress on the collective efforts to make this commercial district a more vibrant amenity for campus and the community.

Accessibility has been a long-standing commitment at Ball State University. On this episode of Cardinal Compass President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Courtney Jarrett, Director of Disability Services and Larry Markle, Director of the Fehribach Center. They discuss how Ball State excels at serving students with disabilities and preparing them for jobs after they graduate.

Ball State’s mission is to prepare our students for fulfilling careers. On the next episode of Cardinal Compass, President Mearns will be joined by two guests who will discuss how students’ career interests have led them to the state legislature. Please join him and Becca Rice, Ball State’s Vice President for Governmental Relations and Halley Kissel, a Ball State student and statehouse intern. 

In 2002, Muncie's AWAKEN organization was founded with the goal of providing educational opportunities, vocational training, and healthcare to women and children in Afghanistan. Bibi Bahrami, president and founder of AWAKEN, and Joann McKinney, president of the Refugee Alliance of Delaware County join President Mearns to discuss how our community is now helping refugees make Muncie their new home. 

Ball State University prioritizes the career connections and professional development of its students and graduates. President Mearns is joined by Jim McAtee, Executive Director for Career and Professional Development and Amanda Mast, Talent Manager for Enterprise Holdings. They discuss how BSU's Indiana Connection Lounge provides an innovate new space on campus to host one-on-one interactions between students and future employers. 

Ball State strives to help make Muncie a better and safer community.  By planning the next steps for the next several years, companies big and small are coming together to create a better place.  Elizabeth Rowray, the Chief Economic Development Officer of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Jeff Bird, the President of IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital join President Geoffrey Mearns to discuss plans to make East Central Indiana a better place to live and work.

Faculty from Ball State's College of Architecture and Planning collaborate with community partners to develop projects that provide valuable, professional experience to our students.  Dean Dave Ferguson and Jeff Kingsbury, an Indiana developer and Ball State graduate join President Geoffrey Mearns to discuss the role of the college and how one such project is bringing exciting changes to the city of Ft. Wayne.

Ball State students and faculty make the university an extraordinary place to experience arts and culture.  Their talent and creativity shine across our campus and enrich the local arts scene as well. Laura Williamson, Executive Director of Muncie Civic Theatre and Seth Beckman, Dean of the College of Fine Arts join Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns to discuss the importance of arts and culture in our community. 

It's been a very good year for Ball State and the city of Muncie. On this “best-of” edition of Cardinal Compass, we’ll reflect on our previous conversations, from the promotion of inclusive excellence on our campus, to how Ball State is contributing to the community through immersive learning, to how our partnership with our local YMCA benefits our community.

Ball State’s vision for The Village is to create a more vibrant environment surrounding campus.  President Geoff Mearns is joined by Jim Lowe, associate vice president for facilities, planning and management, and Bill Jenkins, chair of our Department of Theatre and Dance, as we discuss how a new performing arts center, along with other proposed developments, will serve the Muncie community and the entire region.

Ball State University and our local YMCA seek to improve the health and wellbeing of our community. Please join President Geoffrey Mearns, Chad Zaucha, president and CEO of the YMCA of Muncie, and Jennifer Young, campus liaison for the Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center. They will discuss how Ball State and the YMCA are creating new childhood development opportunities for our friends and neighbors in our community.

Since its founding in 1918, Ball State has committed itself to more than the development of future leaders, but also to the community.  President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Jennifer Blackmer, Director of the Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry and Paaige Turner, Dean of the College of Communication, Information and Media to discuss Ball State's various learning opportunities and immersive learning programs that help propel students into life after college.

Philanthropy connects Ball State University to the Muncie community in more ways than one can probably imagine. President Geoffrey Mearns, Jean Crosby, the president of the Ball State University Foundation and Kelly Shrock, the president of the Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County share how donors support the university’s mission and how the university supports the community.

A new partnership between our state and our region is helping create a shared vision that may propel investment in East Central Indiana. Mindy Kenworthy of the East Central Indiana Regional Partnership and Mark Wasky of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation join President Geoffrey Mearns for a conversation on how this partnership will propel our region.

Ball State University recognizes inclusive excellence as an integral endeavor to fulfill the University’s mission and strategic plan.  How is Ball State striving to reach this goal?  What work is left to be done?  Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns is joined by Marsha McGriff, the Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Bobby Steele, Director of the Multicultural Center.  They discuss their visions for bringing a climate of inclusion into the classroom, campus and the community.

It's been an extraordinary year.  And on Cardinal Compass, we brought you many of the stories that connected our campus and the community.  On this show, we'll share a few of the highlights, from our conversation with Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour to an update about the campus master plan to BSU's success in sports.

Fewer and fewer people are calling East Central Indiana home. Now, key community stakeholders are joining forces to try turning that around and increase educational attainment and economic opportunities in our area. They’re doing it through the East Central Indiana Talent Collaborative.  Indiana Secretary of Career Connections and Talent Blair Milo and Ball State Associate Vice President for Community Engagement Delaina Boyd join President Geoffrey Mearns to discuss how they hope to reach these goals. 

It’s hard to escape the building boom on the Ball State campus.  New residence halls, academic buildings and more are close to completion.  And other plans in the works.  Ball State Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning and Management Jim Lowe joins President Geoffrey Mearns to discuss what’s ahead and how it’s about more than new buildings; it’s about building a stronger relationship between Ball State and the community.

The new year started off on a high note for Ball State Athletics. For the first time in school history, the football team finished the season in the AP Top 25.  On the February edition of Cardinal Compass, Ball State Director of Athletics Beth Goetz discusses the milestone with President Geoffrey Mearns. She also talks about the challenges facing college sports and student athletes in 2021 and how sports can unite an entire community.

Muncie is at an exciting crossroads. The university and community are working together to build a better tomorrow. Together, they are forming partnerships with small businesses, to build lively places, and to create a safer, more vibrant place for everyone to call home.  On this edition of Cardinal Compass, we explore the evolving relationship between Ball State and Muncie with Mayor Dan Ridenour. 

On this edition of Cardinal Compass, we explore Ball State’s historic partnership with Muncie Community Schools. More than two years after the two educational institutions tied the knot, what has changed and what comes next? Muncie Community Schools Chief Executive Officer Lee Ann Kwiatkowski and Ball State Teachers College Dean Anand R. Marri join President Geoffrey Mearns for a progress report.

On this episode of Cardinal Compass, we focus on COVID-19 and Ball State’s response to the pandemic.  BSU President Geoffrey Mearns and Provost Susana Rivera-Mills discuss what the university did immediately after the illness started to spread, how the university pivoted to reopen in the fall, and what comes next.

Ball State President Mearns and his guests explore ways the university and Muncie are building partnerships to strengthen both. This first program will explore campus-community partnerships that hope to revitalize the city and region, how the university hopes to make health care more easily available to the people of Muncie.

Join Indiana Public Radio at 6:30pm on March 20th for the premiere episode of Cardinal Compass.