Advertise on podcast: Cardinal Compass: Campus & Community Conversations

S14 E01: Homecoming Turns 100

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.