Our Call to Beneficence

Don Mikesell served as Ball State's dean of students from 1985 to 2001. Before he was an administrator at our university, Don was both an undergraduate and graduate student on our campus. 

In this episode, Don reminisces about what Ball State was like when he first enrolled in 1956. From Greek life to helping adopt a more relaxed student dress code (believe it or not, khakis were controversial at the time!), Don was an involved and engaged Cardinal. Don also reflects on the mentors who shaped his professional career—a career defined by his outstanding service to our University.

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Craig Hartman is an accomplished architect and senior consulting design partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious design firms. Craig attended high school in rural Indiana. But it was the education that he received at Ball State University that opened his eyes to the possibility of making a professional name for himself on a global scale. 

In this episode, Craig talks about experiencing the first years of our University’s College of Architecture and Planning and the role models on our campus who inspired him in his pursuit of his remarkable and fulfilling career. He also shares details about his award-winning professional work, including his designs for the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport and the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland—the first cathedral constructed in the 21st century. 

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Ron Galbraith is a retired CEO and entrepreneur with a distinctive career path—one that began in academia, continued in healthcare, and ended as an entrepreneur. But before he enjoyed career success, Ron was a Ball State student who, on his first day on campus, walked into the wrong science class. 

Ron’s experiences as a first-generation college student in the 1960s shaped his professional aspirations. Guided by faculty mentors who encouraged his love of learning, Ron became a professor at Vanderbilt University. He then pivoted professionally to working for the Nation’s largest healthcare system before founding his own consulting firm. 

In this episode, Ron talks about how he found his calling at Ball State—and why he’s inspired now to reengage with his alma mater. He also discusses his impressions of our campus today, after returning for his first visit to the University in years. 

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Dana Kenworthy has dedicated her professional career to serving the people of Indiana—in particular those who have been victims of abuse and neglect.

Currently, she serves as a judge for the second circuit of the Indiana Court of Appeals, which is the second-highest court in the state. But prior to her appointment to the Court of Appeals, Judge Kenworthy served as deputy prosecutor in Grant County, where she concentrated on cases primarily involving child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She then served as a trial judge for 12 years—from 2010 to 2022—before her appointment to the Court of Appeals.

Throughout her life, Judge Kenworthy has been guided by the saying “If you see something wrong, fix it.” She’s applied this rule—one championed by her mother, her role model—to affect change on behalf of everyday Hoosiers. In recognition of her public service, pro bono work, and volunteer efforts, she has received the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Outstanding Prosecutor Award and the Indiana Pro Bono Commission’s Randall T. Shepard Award. 

In this episode, Judge Kenworthy talks about her passion for justice and how our University’s enduring values, embodied by Beneficence, have inspired her throughout her life. 

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Throughout Dr. Jeff Bird’s long and fulfilling career in medicine, he has put his patients—and the people of Muncie—first. 

Dr. Bird grew up in Muncie. After completing his residency at Ball Hospital, he embarked upon a long and fulfilling career in medicine here in his hometown. As the hospital prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Dr. Bird reflects on the decades he’s spent—first as a doctor and then as an administrator—working to provide the best healthcare to the people who live and work in East Central Indiana. 

Since 2017, Dr. Bird has served as the president of the East Central Indiana region for IU Health, which includes IU Health Ball Memorial and Blackford Hospitals. Prior to assuming this executive role, Dr. Bird served 14 years as the associate director of the Ball Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. Before that, he was the owner of a thriving private practice of family medicine. 

In this episode, Dr. Bird talks about his great passion for medicine and his great love for Muncie. He also shares why he feels compelled to give back to the community that raised him along with his reasons for feeling—in his own words—“bullish” about the future success of the city and the region.

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During Brandon Allmon-Jackson’s major theatrical productions, he is never seen by the audiences. But as a stage manager fulfilling his dream of working on Broadway, he’s the person most responsible for making sure big acts—including The Music Man, Back to the Future, and Sunset Boulevard—go off without a hitch.

In the years since he graduated from Ball State in 2012, Brandon has applied the skills he learned in the classroom, along with his dedication and drive, to stand out in the competitive world of commercial theatre. He’s also dedicated himself to providing more opportunities for artists of color.

In this episode, Brandon talks about how the confidence he built and connections he made at his alma mater helped him advance professionally. In less than 10 years, he’s gone from stage managing regional theater and cruise ship performances to working on the biggest shows on Broadway. 

Brandon also reveals why he’s grateful for his humble Southern upbringing and how, by mentoring the next generation of talent at Ball State, he’s giving back in a way that upholds the promise of Beneficence. 

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Hope Churchill is a senior studying business administration in our Miller College of Business. She’s also our current student representative on the Board of Trustees. In this role, Hope serves as the voice of her peers, advocating for her fellow Ball State students and bringing their perspectives to the board. 

As she prepares to graduate in May, Hope reflects on her Ball State journey and her service to our University. She shares how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced her high school and college experiences—and how more students on campus are stepping up as leaders now that the pandemic has receded. 

When asked what she loves most about Ball State, Hope also shares her appreciation for the University’s distinct culture, which is shaped by the Midwestern hospitality of our faculty, staff, and students and a shared commitment to the Beneficence Pledge. 

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Jeff Feltman is a distinguished Ball State graduate who has had an impressive career in foreign affairs and international diplomacy. Currently, Jeff is the John C. Whitehead Visiting Fellow in international diplomacy in the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, and he's a senior fellow at the UN Foundation, both of which are based in Washington, D.C.

Over the course of his impressive career, Jeff served as the UN's undersecretary general for political affairs and as U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. During our conversation, I ask Jeff about his undergraduate experience at Ball State and how it prepared him for the Foreign Service. We also talk about his diplomatic posts in the Department of State, including his experience as ambassador to Lebanon from 2004 to 2008.

And we discuss the Ball State professors who encouraged Jeff to pursue his challenging and rewarding career in the Foreign Service. Among his mentors was Warren Vander Hill, a long-time professor and distinguished administrator who died in July. This month, Jeff joined the University community in attending an on-campus memorial for Dr. Vander Hill. Jeff and several of his classmates also created an endowed fund in honor of Dr. Vander Hill. The fund will support internships, research, and other experiential opportunities for Ball State students. 

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Paris McCurdy is a graduate who played a pivotal role in Ball State's own March Madness Cinderella Story. Paris was a senior for the Cardinals when he and his teammates won the MAC Championship and went on to compete in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

As our basketball teams prepare to kick off another season of play, Paris reflects on his memories of that remarkable ’89-’90 season and about the valuable role he played in getting the Cardinals to the Sweet 16. He also talks about his career playing professional basketball in Europe and his current role as our University's director of community diversity initiatives. 

Finally, looking back on his own days as a Ball State student, Paris shares his pride in the changes that have since transpired on our campus, from the facilities to the demographics of our freshman class. 

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Roy Weaver spent nearly 30 years serving Ball State University—first as a faculty member and then as an administrator. He was the associate dean of our Teachers College for 10 years, before serving another 16 years as dean.

In addition to his passion for serving Ball State students, Roy has a passion for Ball State football, which celebrates its 100th season in 2024. Roy’s appreciation for the Cardinals inspired him to co-write a book about Timmy Brown, a former All-American football player for Ball State who later became an NFL champion for the Philadelphia Eagles.

In this episode, Roy recounts memories from his educational and professional journey at Ball State. He also shares more about the work that went into writing Running Against the Grain: The Story of Philadelphia Eagle and Movie Star Timmy Brown and why he felt compelled to write this biography of the late football player-turned-Hollywood star.

Roy’s book about Timmy Brown is available for purchase at www.eagle22.org. If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.