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 explor...

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 t...

"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 spec...

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...

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...

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 Stat...

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 an...

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 bet...

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 t...