'OMEGAS 2002+
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
APRIL 26,
2002
Program
Reception
Welcome
Dinner
Remarks, Dr. Blaine A. Brownell, President
Presentation and Conferral of Omegas
Dr. Brownell
Mr. Thomas L. DeWeese, President, Board of Trustees
Omega Photograph in Library
1
Omegas
2002
John R. Barber
Ronald L. Johnstone
Patricia R. Brown
Dale Jones
Ronald Burton
David W. Kamens
James K. Danglade
Carolee A. Kramer
Joseph G. Decaroli
Dennis L. Kramer
Duane N. Diedrich
David L. Mackey
Karen L. Fitzpatrick
J. Paul Mitchell
Mardelle H. Gast
John E. Reno
Paul C. Gast
Joan E. Schreiber
Theresa M. Greenwood
Donald F. Smith
Jatinder N. D. Gupta
J. Steven Smith
Robert E. Hayes
Robert C. South
Joene E. Henning
Thomas M. Spoerner
Larry W. Henriksen
Joseph B. Tamney
David A. Hines
2
4. John R. Barber +
John Barber received his doctor of philosophy degree in modern European history from
Vanderbilt University. In 1969 he brought to Ball State University a particularly strong
passion for teaching, which has only increased through his thirty-three years of work
with some 22,000 Ball State students.
John, currently chairperson of the Department of History, received the university's
Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching, the University Teaching Professor Award, the
American Historical Association's Eugene Asher Distinguished Teaching Award, and the
Lawhead Teaching Award in General Studies. In 1997, the Indiana State House and
Senate passed a joint resolution in recognition of his accomplishments in teaching.
An interest in pedagogy led John to career-long involvement in instructional
development programs. In the mid 1970s, he was a member of a small faculty team
that established Ball State's Office of Teaching and Learning. He also served as a
methods improvement consultant for the College of Sciences and Humanities and for
the University of Michigan's National Center for Research to Improve Postsecondary
Teaching and Learning.
John's research in the 1960s, late 1980s, and 1990s focused on totalitarianism and
aspects of the world wars and cold war. From the early 1970s to mid 1980s, he
concentrated on gender violence and other topics related to his colloquium on violence.
He presented his findings on violence in numerous papers, television broadcasts, and
public programs. His research on totalitarian regimes, the world wars, and the cold war
were the basis of papers and articles and several chapters in his volume, Modern
European History, published by Harper Collins in 1993.
In 1993, John discovered the ideal way to teach his specialty—take students to the
historic places in Europe where they could most directly experience the drama of the
past. He took classes abroad every year thereafter, until he was locked away in the
history chair's office in 1999.
+ Patricia R. Brown +
Pat Brown will be long remembered by Ball State University and the Muncie
community for her role in executing excellence in food preparation and service for
more than sixteen hundred catered events annually.
After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in home economics education at
Ball State, Pat worked for ten years as a part-time instructor in the Department of
Home Economics, specializing in teaching foods, experimental foods, food
management and other related courses.
In 1984, she joined the Department of Residence Halls Dining Service as a
supervisor and in 1986 was promoted to manager of University Banquet and Catering,
a position she held until 1998.
During this period Pat was instrumental in creating a catering department that has
been recognized as one of the top university catering departments in the nation. She
oversaw the department expansion of catering services to the Kitselman Conference
Center, the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center, the Horizon Center, the Minnetrista
Cultural Center, and other university venues. She was recognized with the Meritorious
Service Award for Business Affairs in 1993.
In 1998, Pat was appointed manager of menu development and test kitchen, a
position that requires superb skills in organizing and managing the menu development
and revision process for forty-five food concepts throughout Residence Halls Dining
Service. Her knowledge of proper food preparation and her ability to analyze and
evaluate food quality and assist with training employees was a valuable asset to the
department. In addition, she directed the student quality assurance team in their role of
evaluating the quality of the food and dining services throughout the residence halls.
Pat's coworkers recognize her as gracious, always friendly, diplomatic, and very
dedicated to each task and goal put before her.
Pat received the Alumni Association's Benny Award in 2001. She has served as an
Alumni Center campaign volunteer and is presently on the family and consumer
sciences history committee. Pat plans to spend time traveling, gardening, and enjoying
her seven grandchildren.
4 Ronald Burton +
Ron Burton has spent 30 years as a professor at Ball State. He joined the faculty in
1972, the year he was awarded a Ph.D. in sociology from Michigan State University.
A transplanted Easterner, Ron came to the Midwest to earn his master's degree at the
University of Michigan after his undergraduate education at Brooklyn College.
Ron's most recent research focused on religion and politics. Stephen Johnson,
professor of sociology, notes "Ron worked with Joe Tamney and me during probably
the most productive years of our research on religion and politics. He is also one of the
nicest, most decent guys I have ever known."
Teaching always has been very important to Ron. In fact he has often said,
"Students are my number one priority." He regularly teaches introductory sociology
and has participated in the Freshman Connections program each year, a contribution
which he has found to be energizing in the later years of his career. Serving students—
and not only those students on campus—has been important to Ron. He often teaches
in the prison program, with a mission of helping the inmates prepare themselves for
productive lives after their release.
In addition to his years of service to Ball State, Ron has been very actively involved
with the Unitarian church, including serving as president of the local congregation.
Ron's fellow faculty in the Department of Sociology are happy that Ron will be able
to spend more time during his retirement with his much-loved family, but will miss
his kind and friendly collegiality.
+ James K. Danglade
Jim Danglade entered Ball State as a freshman in 1955 and graduated with a major in
history in 1959. After a stint in the U.S. Army Reserves, he returned to complete a
master's degree in counseling psychology. That same year he became a curricular advisor
at Ball State. In 1967, Jim resigned to work on a Ph.D. in history at his alma mater,
which he completed in 1971. During his doctoral studies he was named a fellow of the
Institute for International Education and studied British history at the University of
Edinburgh, Scotland. He was then named director of Ball State's Grissom Air Force
Base program, where he also taught history. Two years later, he became director of field
services in the Office of Continuing Education (now the School of Continuing
Education and Public Service). He was promoted to assistant dean and then associate
dean, the position he currently holds.
Shortly after his tenure in continuing education began, Jim was instrumental in
creating the highly successful Correctional Education Program, which now is operating
in six Indiana prisons with total enrollments of more than 800 full-time students. He
has been Ball State's representative to the University Continuing Education Association
for many years and served on its board of directors from 1979 to 1981. In 1996, Jim
was elected to the inaugural class of the International Adult and Continuing Education
Hall of Fame, based at the University of Oklahoma, and he has served on its board of
directors. He also has been Ball State's representative to the Indiana Partnership for
Statewide Education.
Throughout most of his professional career at Ball State, Jim has continued to teach
for the Department of History as an adjunct professor. The department recently
honored him by naming him Professor Emeritus of History. He has published histories
of Ball State's continuing education program and the Indiana Council for Continuing
Education as well as several journal articles on adult and continuing education.
+ Joseph G. Decaroli
Joseph Decaroli came to Ball State in the fall of 1977 after teaching in the College of
Education at the University of Delaware and in the Western Springs, Illinois public
schools system. He holds a B.S.Ed. in social studies and a master's in secondary
education/social sciences from Northern Illinois University, in addition to a master's
degree in education/curriculum and instruction from the University of Washington,
Seattle, where he was the Teacher Fellow in the Tri-University Project in
Education/Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction.
Joe is a well-loved, well-respected assistant professor of social studies education at
Burris Laboratory School, but he wears two other important hats as the administrative
assistant to the social studies department chair and the athletic director. He was very
involved in the development of the current 9-12 social studies curriculum at Burris and
instrumental in the development of many innovative programs, including a senior
research seminar and May term courses.
He contributed to the Journal of Social Education, the Journal of the National
Council for the Social Studies, the Journal of Geography; the Journal of the National
Council for Geographic Education, and to the Yearbook of the National Council for
Geographic Education. In addition, Joe served many times as a consultant and author of
teachers' guides for the MacMillan Publisher's Elementary Social Studies Series.
As a frequent member of North Central Accrediting Association school
visitation/evaluation teams, Joe was able to provide feedback to Burris on selfevaluation and strategic planning. In 1996, he was honored with the Outstanding
Teacher Award in University Schools by the Ball State University Teachers College
Alumni Association.
In retirement, Joe. and his wife, Sheila, plan to travel and spend more time with
their two children and grandchildren. In his free time, he will continue to be involved
with public education.
+ Duane N. Diedrich +
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Duane Diedrich received an A.B. degree in political science and an M.A. and Ph.D. in
speech communication from the University of Michigan. He was a Teaching Fellow
and instructor for four years at the University of Michigan before coming to Ball State
in 1961.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities in the Department of Communication
Studies, Duane has stayed active with committee and administrative assignments. He
has assumed administrative posts in two different colleges, including assistant to the
dean and acting dean for the College of Sciences and Humanities, and acting
chairperson for the Department of Communication Studies in the College of
Communication, Information, and Media. His untiring contributions to Ball State
include participation on the advisory board of the Center for Economic Education for
more than twenty-five years and the departmental Promotion and Tenure Committee
for eleven years.
Duane is well known in the community for his work with the Muncie Public
Library. He served as the president of the Friends of the Muncie Public Library Board.
Duane currently serves as a board member of Meals on Wheels of Muncie and has been
known to bring great joy to the people whom he encounters in this capacity.
Students love Duane's teaching style. They have said that he is an eloquent speaker,
a fair instructor, and a very concerned and caring individual. Not many professors
receive praise from students for being tough and demanding, yet caring and fair. He
will be truly missed by students and colleagues.
Duane is currently preparing holograph manuscripts from his collections of music,
literature, and historical Americana. In retirement, he plans to continue his collection
of holographs, do more reading, and play more golf and piano.
+ Karen L. Fitzpatrick +
Through her twenty-one-year tenure, Karen Fitzpatrick built Ball State field hockey
into one of the premier programs in the country, accumulating a 285-130-11-career
mark, for a sixty-eight percent rate of success. At the time of her retirement, her two
hundred eighty-five victories placed her among the top five active Division I coaches
nationally. In her years with the program, Cardinals teams produced .500 or better
marks in all but two seasons
As the "winningest" coach in the nineteen-year history of field hockey in the MidAmerican Conference, Karen—an eleven-time recipient of MAC Coach of the Year
accolades—led Ball State to a remarkable 153-29 all-time mark vs. conference
opposition for an .841 winning percentage. Under her guidance, Ball State teams
captured an unprecedented sixteen regular season MAC and ten league tournament
crowns, and advanced to four NCAA Championship tournaments, including three
quarterfinal appearances. The success of her program garnered the respect of national
pollsters, placing Ball State in the national poll on a regular basis since 1992, including
several times in the top ten.
By bringing outstanding players to Ball State and helping them develop, Karen
increased the university's national respect. She tutored eighteen players to All-American
recognition, including five with first team distinction. A league record seventy-one of
her players claimed First Team All-MAC accolades—twice the number of any other
conference school. In addition, a Ball State player was named MAC Player of the Year
six times over the nine-year history of the award.
The high academic standards Karen integrated into the field hockey program
reaped numerous additional honors. Cardinals players collected Academic All-American
accolades six times, including five with first-team mention. The combination of
outstanding success in both the athletic and academic arenas positioned Ball State field
hockey players among the top student-athletes in the country.
Karen was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999. We wish her
a winning season in retirement.
Mardelle H. Gast +
In her seventeen years at Ball State, Mardy Gast has been a wonderful academic
advisor—caring, bright, and focused. For many years, she worked closely with students
who were having unusual trouble finding an appropriate major. She has made a lasting
impact on University College by helping develop many of the strategies and programs,
including Shopping CART, which are used in working with those students.
During the last two years, Mardy has been coordinator for the Whitinger Building
(WB) Advising Resource Center, where she has used her excellent organizational and
problem-solving skills to maintain a center devoted to serving the faculty and students
of the College of Business.
Mardy has many interests—from sailing to cheering on those perennial losers, the
Chicago Cubs. She will have a busy, fun-filled retirement. The staff of University
College and Academic Advising will miss her and wish her well.
+ Paul C. Gast +
Paul Gast's thirty-eight years at Ball State have been characterized by steadiness,
wisdom, and a commitment to excellence. As an advisor, he has been well informed
and purposeful in his work with students.
As the first and only coordinator for the CP Advising Resource Center, Paul has
developed an—excellegt relationship with the departments and faculty he has served. A
leader in the development of the current Academic Advising program, Paul was
instrumental in developing many of the procedures and policies that are still being used
fifteen years later.
For many years, the Academic Advising staff has depended on Paul's knowledge and
great problem-solving skills. His absence will create a vacuum that will be difficult to
fill. As he moves on to what promises to be an active, exciting retirement, those left
behind in University College and Academic Advising wish him much joy and
happiness.
+ Theresa M. Greenwood +
Theresa Greenwood received a bachelor of music education degree from Millikin
University, in addition to earning master's and doctoral degrees in education from Ball
State University. She began her teaching career in East Chicago Public Schools and later
taught in the Muncie Community Schools as an elementary music teacher.
Theresa's twenty-five years of service at Ball State have continued to be musical,
magical, and magnificent. At Burris Laboratory School, as assistant professor, Theresa
taught elementary and middle school, and is currently the teacher for the P.A.C.E.
Gifted and Talented Program. Her commitment to the social development and
academic excellence of these students has given them local, state, and national
recognition and has made her one of the most beloved teachers at Burris.
She frequently gives presentations at the state and national Associations for Gifted
Children and for the National Association of Lab Schools. She has been the featured
education columnist for The Muncie Star Press for the past four years and has
contributed articles to a number of journals. She also has published two manuscripts:
Psalms of a Black Mother and Gospel Graffiti.
Theresa's awards and accomplishments include a commendation from former
Governor Robert Orr for work with the Indiana White River Task Force and
recognition as a Walt Disney Teacher. In addition, she was named Indiana Teacher
of the Year in 1993. In 1989, Theresa was given the Eli Lilly Creative Teaching Award
to France, and in 1998, a Fulbright Scholarship for study in Japan.
In her free time, she dedicates her time to the Delaware County Committee for
Integrity Enhancement, Christian Ministries, and Agape Ministries. She also has been
an adjudicator for thirty-four years in the Indiana State School Music Association
(ISSMA).
Theresa is married to Charles Greenwood, associate director of the School of
Continuing Education and Public Service, whom she says keeps a song in her heart. In
her retirement, she plans to continue writing, traveling, and singing!
4. Jatinder N.D. Gupta +
Jatinder Ueet) Gupta received a Ph.D. in industrial engineering, with specialization in
production management and information systems, from Texas Tech University, an
M.Tech. in industrial engineering and operations research from Indian Institute of
Technology, Kharagpur, India, and a B.E. in mechanical engineering from Delhi
University, India. He joined the College of Business as professor of management in
1985 and held adjunct professor positions in the departments of Industry and
Technology and Information and Communication Sciences.
As chairperson of the Department of Management for eleven years, Jeet led his
department through years of growth and improvement. Using his business experience
and senior faculty standing, he played a major role in the continuing development of
the entire faculty and worked to establish higher standards for research and teaching
productivity within his department.
Jeet took an active role in redefining the management and the university
curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including the creation and design
of Ball State's information and communication science curriculum. He contributed to
the redesign of a minor in management, and worked on developing a master of
manufacturing management degree with the Department of Industry and Technology.
He also played a major role in the ongoing efforts toward curriculum redesign for the
MBA degree. He took the lead in developing international exchange programs with
various universities and brought scholars from countries throughout the world.
Students report that he is an outstanding teacher and a mentor.
Co-author of a textbook on operations research, Jeet serves on the editorial boards
of several national and international journals. He was a recipient of the Outstanding
Faculty and Outstanding Researcher awards from Ball State and has published more
than 200 refereed journal articles.
Jeet plans to continue to be active in his profession and is currently completing
three books and several research projects. His colleagues at Ball State University will
sorely miss his knowledge, presence, and zeal.
+ Robert E. Hayes 4.
Bob Hayes came to Ball State in 1965. A professor of psychology counseling, he has
worked under seven presidents, seven department chairs, and six deans. Until 1990,
Bob also worked part time in the Counseling and Psychological Services Center. He
was chair of the Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services from
1984 to1987. During the years that Ball State had a graduate program with the air
bases in Europe, Bob taught a total of three years on bases in England, Germany, and
Spain. For the past three years, Bob has been the director of the Practicum Clinic for
the training of master's and doctoral students in counseling and counseling psychology.
Since 1994, Bob has worked with the American Red Cross and is one of the
highest ranking Disaster Mental Health Officers in the national organization. He also
is a member of the International Disaster Team. He has worked in numerous disaster
situations including floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, the Oklahoma City bombing,
and the Pentagon and World Trade Center disasters. In addition, he co-founded the
regional Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Bob was recently awarded the
Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor bestowed by the governor of Indiana, for
his advocacy of improvement in psychological counseling.
In retirement, Bob plans to continue his work with the American Red Cross, both
national and internationally. He also plans to travel for pleasure every once in a while!
Joene E. Henning +
In her forty years (forty years!) at Ball State, Joene Henning has distinguished herself as
an excellent academic advisor, administrator, and resource center coordinator. As an
advisor, Joene always has been a good listener and a supportive, knowledgeable source
of academic information.
As the first and only coordinator of the BC Advising Resource Center, Joene has
been an invaluable resource for the faculty and students assigned to that center. Part of
her assignment has included working with students in the center's prison programs, and
in that capacity she's been vital in providing students with accurate information as well
as maintaining high institutional standards. Joene has influenced the development of
many academic policies at Ball State through her work with University Senate
committees. She was an important contributor to the development of the Academic
Advising program that is now in place.
Joene has an almost encyclopedic "institutional memory," and she's been an
invaluable resource for Academic Advising. Consistently positive and professional in
her long career, she will be missed by her colleagues in University College and
Academic Advising. We wish her well in her retirement.
+ Larry W. Henriksen +
Larry Henriksen graduated from Carthage College and earned a master's degree from
the University of Illinois and master's and doctoral degrees from Florida State
University. He was an instructor of mathematics at Lena-Winslow High School in
Illinois and an instructor of mathematics at Wisconsin State University-River Falls.
Larry's initial appointment with Ball State in 1973 was as a research design consultant
in the Office of Research. The academic computing unit of that office later was moved
to University Computing Services.
Larry's responsibilities with University Computing Services consisted of providing
the university community with research design consultation services and serving as an
assistant director. He directed the university's examination, evaluation, and data entry
services from 1984 until 1993.
Larry provided instructional services for the Department of Educational Psychology
on an as-needed basis from 1973 until 1993, when he became a full-time instructor for
that department. As a member of its faculty, he taught courses in statistics, research
design, data analysis, and tests and measurement.
Larry has been affiliated with many professional organizations since 1970. He is
especially proud to be a charter member of the Mid-Western Educational Research
Association. His research has been published in a variety of national and international
professional journals. He was a recipient of the 1999 Friend of Wellness Award, given
by the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology. He has been involved with the
Lutheran Center program throughout his tenure with Ball State in several capacities.
Larry is especially appreciative of the close professional relationships he has
established with faculty and students through his role as an instructor, his statistical
consultation work, and his work with the evaluation and examination services. He
intends to remain active professionally. Larry and his wife, Donna, will be relocating to
Indianapolis where they will be close to their three children and five grandchildren.
They also plan to take longer and more frequent hiking and backpacking trips.
+ David A. Hines 4.
David Hines came to Ball State University in 1980, after serving for eleven years on the
faculty of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. He began his career at
Ball State as an associate professor and was promoted to professor in 1984. He served
as chairperson of the Department of Psychological Science from 1983 to 2000.
David graduated from the University of Florida with an M.A. and a Ph.D. in
clinical psychology in 1968. He has published regularly in scientific journals in the
areas of neuropsychology, cognitive psychology, and health psychology. David is best
known for his research in anti-smoking behavior and the correlates of smoking
behavior. His most recent research looks at the role of media in promoting health-risk
behaviors such as smoking or excessive alcohol use. His recent works include
Occasional Smoking in American College Students: Tobacco Control, and Young Smokers'
Attitudes About Methods for Quitting Smoking: Barriers and Benefits to Using Assisted
Methods.
David will be missed in the Department of Psychological Science as he heads to his
retirement home in Tallahassee, Florida.
+ Ronald L. Johnstone +
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Ron Johnstone earned an M. Div. from Concordia Seminary and master's and
doctoral degrees in sociology from the University of Michigan. After six years of service
in the Luthean Church, Ron became a professor and director of research at Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, and then as director of the Office of Research, Statistics, and
Archives for the Lutheran Council of the U.S.A. in New York City. Ron joined the
sociology faculty at Central Michigan University in 1969. For the next twenty-three
years, he served CMU as a faculty member, union president, associate dean of Arts and
Sciences, and, for five years, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. While at CMU,
he authored two books: Religion in Society: A Sociology of Religion and The Scope of
Faculty Collective Bargaining.
In 1992, Ron joined Ball State University as dean of the College of Sciences and
Humanities and immediately gained the strong loyalty and high respect of faculty and
staff. While becoming known for his integrity and fair-mindedness, he resolved salary
inequities for many faculty members in all departments of the college and significantly
increased the proportion of women and minorities among the ranks of the college's
tenure track faculty.
Ron and his wife, Arline, will continue to reside in Yorktown where he will pursue
his scholarly writing and hobbies and she will continue her work in fiber arts. They
plan to enjoy spending more time with children and grandchildren, traveling, and
visiting old friends.
4. Dale Jones +
Dale Jones served Ball State University and Academic Advising for 35 years. He was a
conscientious and knowledgeable advisor who spent his last years at Ball State as the
North Quad Advising Center coordinator, working with departments in the College of
Science and Humanities. He was one of the original coordinators whose expertise
helped set a solid foundation for the future of advising.
Dale, who rode his bicycle to work every day, was a familiar figure around campus.
He served the community as a board member of Little Red Door and as an active
member, teacher, and deacon at First Baptist Church.
Following a medical situation that caused him to leave advising, Dale has spent the
last few years striving to regain his form and get back on his bicycle. All of us wish him
well in his retirement and thank him for his service to Ball State University.
+ David W. Kamens
David Kamens came to Ball State University as an assistant professor of history in June,
1968. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science (1961), a master's degree in
American history (1966), and a doctorate in early American history (1971) from the
University of California, Santa Barbara. David was tenured and promoted to associate
professor in 1974. He spent the academic year, 1974-75, on a research sabbatical in
London, England.
A threatening illness forced David to leave Ball State in 1978. The university was
thrilled when he was able to return in 1987, and he assumed a position as an academic
advisor in the freshman advising unit. He will retire with emeritus status in both the
Department of History and Academic Advising.
David is married to Sheila R. Kamens, whom, he says, runs University Computing
Services almost single-handedly.
Carolee A. Kramer +
Carolee Kramer came to Ball State Teachers College as a student in 1958 and graduated
with teaching degrees in language arts, journalism, and library science. She began her
teaching career at Cowan School and also taught at Muncie Central, Blackford County,
and Taylor County Junior High School in Perry, Florida. Carolee earned her master's
degree in supervisor of guidance from Ball State University and later took additional
courses to enhance her counseling background.
In 1972, Carolee accepted a position as librarian for students (grades 7-12) at
Burris Laboratory School. She became the counselor at the school in 1976 and held
that position for twenty years, during which time she was promoted to assistant
professor. As Burris counselor, she was an advocate for students and provided guidance
for them, from kindergarten through post-secondary plans. She was committed to
serving all students, parents, and colleagues in a fair, kind, and compassionate manner.
She also held leadership positions on numerous departmental and university
committees, participated in professional organizations, and was recognized by the
Indiana Association of Counseling for her service to the profession.
Academic Advising at Ball State became Carolee's new assignment in 1997. She has
advised freshmen at the university since that time and was selected as one of three to
advise freshman athletes. While in advising she has served on several committees,
assisting with students on probation, developing evaluation procedures for colleague,
and preparing for and participating in the summer orientation process.
Community-related activities are important to Carolee. She gained satisfaction
from working on Habitat for Humanity projects with Burris students in past years and
found her nine years on the Board of Family Services of Delaware County a rewarding
experience. She and her husband, Denny, plan to continue to support Ball State and
Muncie community activities.
4 Dennis L. Kramer +
Dennis Kramer came to Ball State Teacher's College in 1961 as a matriculating
freshman from Huntington, Indiana. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from
Ball State and a doctorate from Florida State University. He taught mathematics at
Delta High Slhool, directed the office of educational information and research for the
Indiana Department of Education, and has devoted 30 years of professional service to
Ball State.
At Ball State, Denny began as a systems analyst in the computer center, was later
selected as the coordinator of systems for student affairs, and became director of
computing in 1977. He also is an associate professor in the Department of Educational
Studies and has taught several computer classes over the years. He designed and taught
the initial course on educational systems theory in the department and has consulted
with several school corporations and other organizations.
As director of computing services, Denny has been responsible for planning and
managing the installation of computers, data networks and related equipment
throughout the campus. The past twenty-five years have produced a frenzy of
computer-related activity and tremendous growth of computer capacity and use in
every administrative office, academic discipline, building, and residence hall.
Denny's approach to leadership has been recognized as inclusive and collaborative,
facilitating communication and teamwork among the technical staff, faculty, staff,
students and others using technology. Many professional organizations and community
agencies also have benefited from his service over the years.
Denny and his wife, Carolee, plan to maintain a residence in Muncie near Ball
State, spending quality time with friends, parents, children, and grandchildren. They
also will spend more time enjoying their lake home and community in northern
Indiana.
+ David L. Mackey +
David Mackey served as associate professor of architecture at Ball State and was
instrumental as a member of the Educating Architects for a Sustainable Environment
(EASE) steering committee at the university. He is a member of the Association for
Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA) and the International Facility
Management Association (IFMA).
At Ball State, David developed and coordinated the Electronic Design Studio
program, and engages in computer design systems research for medical facilities. He has
practiced architecture in New York, New Jersey, and Arizona prior to joining the Ball
State faculty. He received a bachelor's degree in art from Rutgers University and a
master's degree in architecture from the University of Utah.
Although he is missed in the Department of Architecture, David has been enjoying
retirement in Muncie.
+ J. Paul Mitchell +
Paul Mitchell came to Ball State in 1970 as an assistant professor of history. He began
his professorial career at Penn State University in 1962, later moving to Memphis State
University and then to Southern Methodist University. He taught United States history
survey courses, plus the first courses in urban history, and what was then called "black
history" at both SMU and Ball State.
Paul became the director of the Urban and Regional Studies Undergraduate
Program in the College of Sciences and Humanities in 1973. In 1981 that program was
relocated to the Department of Urban Planning in the College of Architecture and
Planning and Paul went with it. He was one of the principle designers of the
undergraduate bachelor of urban planning and development professional program,
which graduated its first students in 1991. He has been chairman of the department
since 1993.
Paul graduated from Knox College in 1959, and received his master's and doctoral
degrees in American studies from the University of Denver before switching fields and
obtaining his master's in planning and policy from Rutgers University. He has
published two books: Race Riots in Black and White in 1970, and a history of Federal
Housing Policy and Programs in 1986. His interests have been in housing and
community development as well as the history of planning.
Paul has enjoyed working with many bright, dedicated students and interesting
colleagues over the years. He looks forward to working on his nine-acre place, with a
restored wetland and lots of new trees, and spending more time with his wife, Lisbeth,
and their three daughters and their families in Chicago, Baltimore, and Madrid, Spain.
He also plans to continue and expand his involvement at Grace Episcopal Church.
During football season, Paul will focus on the Green Bay Packers. In the off-season, he
expects to read, travel, and work on a couple of scholarly projects he has put off for
several years.
+ John E. Reno 4
John Reno earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Southern
Illinois and a doctorate from Indiana University. He has had a long and distinguished
career at Ball State University, beginning at Burris in 1960 and then continuing with
the School of Physical Education in 1964. John became chairperson in 1971 and has
provided a total of twenty-one years of administrative service. In 2001, he received Ball
State's Outstanding Administrative Service Award.
John initiated the change that brought physical education and music to the status
of schools and worked with President Pruis and Ray Louthen to gain membership for
Ball State in the Mid-American Conference. He developed the sport management and
sport administration undergraduate and graduate programs for the School of Physical
Education. He has served on a presidential search committee and two dean's search
committees; chaired a vice president for student affairs search committee; twice served
on the search committee for head men's basketball coach; chaired the search for head
men's football coach; and currently is chair of the athletic director search committee.
John also served as executive director of the most recent presidential search committee.
He has chaired the University Senate and University Promotion and Tenure Committee
and has been the recipient of the Outstanding Facilitator Award by Disabled Student
Development. He has served for many years as Ball State's institutional representative to
the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA. John also has been inducted into Ball
State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Mile our university will miss John and his gracious, dedicated, and tireless service,
it is good that Muncie will continue to benefit from the friendship and leadership that
he and his wife, Shirley, have given so willingly. They plan to spend an extra few weeks
in Florida each winter.
4. Joan E. Schreiber +
Joan Schreiber came to Ball State in 1966 as an assistant professor in history, with a
specialty in social studies education, after teaching in the Iowa Public Schools. She
received her bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degrees from the University of
Northern Iowa, and her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. In 1966, Joan was
appointed coordinator of social studies at Ball State, a position that led to many
professional opportunities at the local, state, and national levels.
As Ball State, Joan served on a number of university committees, ranging from
traffic and safety appeals to chairing search committees for administrators. For twentyeight years, she was the college representative on what today is called the Teacher
Preparation Committee, acting as its chair several times. After serving two terms as
vice-chair, Joan was elected as chairperson of the University Senate, the first woman to
hold that position. In 1998, she received the Outstanding Faculty Service Award.
Joan's efforts to provide quality education for students has brought professional
involvement that extends beyond Ball Sate, providing her with an active role in
developing new state social studies standards and licensure programs for teachers.
Often, she has involved her students in these activities. One of her greatest joys has
been seeing many of her former students engage in these professional activities on their
own.
Joan has received numerous awards, including the gubernatorial proclamation
recognizing her innovations in teaching history in Indiana. She plans to continue her
Muncie community activities involving local history, heritage education, and animal
welfare. She also plans to be in Iowa part of the year when her two historic sites—a
house museum and an historic farmstead district, which are listed on the National
Register of Historic Places—will be open to the public.
+ Donald E Smith +
Don Smith has spent the past thirty years in a variety of positions at Ball State. He
served as a faculty member for ten years before being elected chair of the Department
of Industry and Technology in 1982. He held that position until September, 1995,
when he was appointed acting dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Technology.
Don has served as dean since 1997.
While in teaching assignments at Ball State, Don's professional area of interest was
primarily focused on curriculum development in manufacturing enterprise
management. He has made more than fifty presentations to professional associations;
authored numerous articles, editorials and yearbook chapters; co-founded and co-edited
a journal related to teaching manufacturing management; and served on approximately
thirty-five state and national committees as chair or member.
Don earned degrees from Wilmington College, Kent State University and the
University of Maryland. He has received the Leavy Award for Excellence in Private
Enterprise Education from the Freedoms Foundation, Alumni Educator Award from
Wilmington College, Lockette Humanitarian Award from the International Technology
Education Association, School of Technology Distinguished Alumni Award from Kent
State University, and Outstanding Administrator Award from Ball State.
Don and his wife, Melba, intend to spend more time with their four sons and six
grandchildren in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alaska. In addition, they will
spend much more time traveling throughout the country, sightseeing and visiting other
family and friends.
+ J. Steven Smith +
Steve Smith joined the Ball State University criminal justice and criminology faculty in
1985 after receiving his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. This followed a fifteenyear career as a social service planner and chief executive officer of an Arizona based
system of group homes for delinquent youth, which was affiliated with the Menninger
Foundation of Topeka, Kansas.
Steve's accomplishments while affiliated with Ball State include: co-founder of the
Lionel J. Neiman Criminal Justice Scholarship at Ball State; chairperson of the
American Correctional Association Professional Education Council; president of the
Indiana Correctional Association; Indiana Correctional Educator of the Year;
Distinguished Career Service Award from the Indiana Correctional Association;
chairperson of the Ilidiana Department of Correction Juvenile Detention Standards
Committee; and Ottawa University Outstanding Alumnus.
Steve plans to stay very busy in retirement by continuing to provide correctional
consulting services and teaching justice courses at Taylor University, and by following
the Ball State football program.
+ Robert C. South +
Robert South earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Northern
Michigan University. He completed his master's degree in industrial education at Ball
State University in 1970 and earned his doctorate at Indiana University in 1977, with a
major in vocational education and a minor in instructional systems technology. His
career at Ball State began in 1970 in the Department of Industry and Technology after
teaching five years in Orlando, Florida. He is the graduate advisor for the technology
education degree, SME student chapter advisor, and served many years as an
undergraduate advisor. He also served as the department administrative assistant for
five years.
Bob's area of teaching expertise is design and Computer Aided Drafting instruction.
He was responsible for the first CAD instructional lab on campus using Apple II-e
computers. He is a certified manufacturing engineer and has taught more than fifty
engineering fundamentals review courses nationwide for the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers. He also holds memberships in the American Society for Engineering
Education, Council of Technology Teacher Education, Epsilon Pi Tau, and Phi Delta
Kappa, and has presented numerous papers at their conferences. His most recent
publication is a chapter on product design in a text titled Fundamentals of
Manufacturing. In addition, he has served on numerous department, college and
university committees, including the department, college, and university promotion
and tenure committees.
Bob received a laureate citation from Epsilon Pi Tau and was the recipient of the A.
Garland Hardy Distinguished Service Award from Phi Delta Kappa. He is currently a
district coordinator for Phi Delta Kappa. Ball State will miss Bob, however, it is good
that Muncie will continue to benefit from the friendship and pleasant demeanor that
he and his wife, Ruth, have given to all so willingly. They plan to spend a lot more
time with their two grandsons.
+ Thomas M. Spoerner
A native of Hammond, Indiana, Dr. Thomas Spoerner joined Ball State's art
department faculty in 1978 after completing his doctoral studies. He has taught art
for forty-two years at the elementary, junior, and senior high levels, as well as at the
university level. He received a B.A. in art from Culver-Stockton College in Missouri;
an M.A. in art from George Peabody College for Teachers in Tennessee; and an Ed.D.
degree in art education from Ball State University.
After joining Ball State's art faculty, Thomas became coordinator of the graduate
and doctoral programs in art. In 1990 he accepted the role of interim chairperson of
the art department until his official appointment in 1992. Since then he has worked
on the administrative duties of running a department of twenty-eight faculty members
and four hundred undergraduate majors. For nearly ten years he worked with the art
faculty, university administrators, and Ratio Architects in the construction of the new
Art and Journalism Building. He is equally proud of the work he and his department
did to receive accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and
Design.
Thomas has exhibited his paintings and photographs in national, regional, and
local exhibitions. He has written a number of articles on art education, has given
presentations at the state and national levels, and has been an invited juror for a
number of local and state exhibitions. In 1983, Thomas received the National Art
Education Association's State Art Educator Award for meritorious service to the Art
Education Association of Indiana. He served thirteen years on the AEAI executive
council as its treasurer. For the past seventeen years he has organized and served as
commissioner of the Ball State University Men's Golf League.
As much as Thomas has enjoyed his career in the teaching profession, he looks
forward to retirement. He and his wife, Sharon, plan to travel and visit grandchildren
in North Carolina and New Mexico. Thomas also plans to begin painting again and to
spend more time on the golf course. Fore!
+ Joseph B. Tamney
Joseph Tamney, professor of sociology, received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from
Fordham University and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. He is an accomplished
author and researcher, with articles appearing in the British Journal of Sociology, Journal
for the Scientific Study of Religion, Review of Religious Research, Sociological Analysis,
Journal of Church and State, and Sociology of Religion (He served as editor of this journal
from 1994-2000.).
Joseph's recent works include: The Resilience of Christianity in the Modern World
(SUNY, 1992); American Society in the Buddhist Mirror (Garland, 1992); Western
Modernization and Asian Values in Singapore (Walter de Gruyter, 1996); The Resilience
of Conservative Religion (Cambridge, forthcoming); and Modernization, Globalization,
and Confucianism Chinese Societies (Praeger, forthcoming).
Joseph was a member of the editorial board for the Encyclopedia of Religion and
Society and has contributed several essays to this reference work. At present he is editor
of the Sociology of Religion section of the American Sociological Association
newsletter. He was a member of the executive council of the Association for the
Sociology of Religion (ASR) from 1988 to 1991. He also served on the ASR's
nominating committee and chaired the Association Ad Hoc Constitutional Review
Committee.
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