AP
■
ALUMNI CENTER
Reception
Welcome
Dr. Deborah Balogh, Associate Provost
Dinner
Remarks
Dr. Beverley Pitts, Acting President
Presentation of Omega Faculty and Professional Personnel
Acting President Pitts
Associate Provost Balogh
Mr. Thomas L. DeWeese, President, Board of Trustees
Conferral of Emeritus/Emerita Status
Acting President Pitts
Omega Photograph
Alumni Center Library
■111111111111111111110118Mtg
, SVP11
Field Green Salad with shallot vinaigrette
Grilled Pineapple with toasted macadamia nuts
Beef Filet with herbed goat cheese and demi-glace
Roasted Polenta Rounds
Baby Carrots
Strawberries Romanoff
Dr. James C. Helton Jr., pianist
Assistant Professor of Music Performance
Douglas D. Amman
Martha L. Kendrick
Nikki A. Assmann
James J. Kirkwood
Norman E. Beck
Thomas W Koontz
Donna L. Biggs
Donald E. LaCasse
Gilbert L. Bloom
Harry J. Macy
Ann L. Caslan
Frank L. Meeker
David L. Clayton
Kenneth E. Miller
John G. Condran
Monte J. Reece
Phillip M. Dunn
N. Kirk Robey
Paul R. Errington
Gary J. Santoni
Richard J. Falls
Sharon H. Seager
Julia C. Hemeyer
C. Warren Vander Hill
Kathleen M. Keil
C. William Barnett
Clinton P. Fuelling
Nancy J. Mannies
3
Douglas D. Amman
Douglas Amman, professor of music and director of choral activities, joined the Ball State faculty
in 1982. Previously director of the choral program at Northern Michigan University, he conducted
its Arts Chorale, which performed for both regional and national American Choral Directors
Association (ACDA) conventions. It also twice performed at the St. Moritz, Switzerland, Choral
Festival with guest conductors Neville Marriner and Robert Shaw.
Upon coming to Ball State, Dr. Amman reorganized its choral offerings into eight performing
ensembles, at one time conducting as many as five of them himself. He founded the Chamber
Choir and has conducted it in a number of invited convention appearances: the Indiana Music
Educators Association, the ACDA College-University Sing, and three regional ACDA conventions.
The Chamber Choir has performed on tours in 36 states, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Italy,
France, and Germany, singing in such venues as St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice and Notre Dame
Cathedral in Paris. Dr. Amman also has prepared choruses for the Muncie Symphony Orchestra
and often conducted these choral-orchestral performances on a nearly annual basis.
Dr. Amman has been especially proactive in his efforts to create linkages between the School of
Music and Indiana public schools. To that end, he has served as clinician, adjudicator, and guest
conductor for schools, festivals, and contests, in Indiana and seven surrounding states. As a result,
he was appointed to several task forces by the Indiana Department of Education to improve
`sight-reading and set music performance guidelines. From 1987 to 1993, he served in various
offices, including the presidency, of the 500-member Indiana Choral Directors Association
(ICDA). Currently he serves as chair of the ICDA Youth and Student Activities Committee.
In 2001 Dr. Amman received the Upper Peninsula Choral Leadership Award for service to
choral music in the state of Michigan; in 1996 he was honored with Ball State University's
Outstanding Creative Endeavor Award. However, his greatest joy in his 43-year professional life
has been the success of literally hundreds of former students in becoming graduate students, public
school teachers, college and university choral conductors, and directors of church choirs and
community choruses. Often called "a people person," he continues to keep open his door,
telephone, and e-mail account to his students—both past and present.
Nikki A. Assmann
Nikki Assmann began teaching at Ball State University in 1969 as a member of the Women's
Department of Physical Education. During her time in this position, she taught, served as a
sponsor for the synchronized swimming club, and coached the women's swimming team for seven
years and the track team for two years. In 1971, during her term as coach, the women's
swimming team placed fourth nationally. In 1986, Miss Assmann was appointed to director of
aquatics. Since 1988, she has served as administrative assistant to the chairperson of the School
of Physical Education.
Over her professional career, Miss Assmann has made more than 30 presentations at state,
regional, and national conferences, and she has authored articles in a number of state and national
publications. She also is the co-author of the text Swimming Everyone. Her professional service
includes journal editor, section chair, committee chair, conference manager, vice president, and
4
president of the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
(IAHPERD). Currently she is serving as the organization's executive director. Additionally, she
serves as the treasurer and a board member for the Indiana Association for Intercollegiate Athletics
for Women (IAIAW); as committee member and chair, section chair, and program director for the
regional organization; and as member of the AAHPERD Alliance Assembly and the United States
Collegiate Sports Council Women's Swimming Committee.
Miss Assmann has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Woman of America and in Who's
Who in American Education. She has received the IAHPERD Leadership Award, IAHPERD
Honor Award, a number of IAHPERD presidential citations, and two AAHPERD Physical
Education for Public Information awards. Her colleagues will miss her and wish her well.
Norman E. Beck
Norm Beck has spent most of the past 48 years as student, teacher, or administrator at Ball State,
taking time out only to fulfill his obligation to the United States Army in 1958 and to spend a
brief period working in the private sector.
In 1961, Dr. Beck began his successful career, which ultimately spanned two occupational
specialties: financial aid and human resources. In his early years, he made his mark in the financial
aid area, as assistant director and then as director. Under his guidance, Ball State became a national
leader in the automation of the financial aid process. He was active on the College Board and
numerous other financial aid councils and professional national, regional, and state committees,
receiving awards for distinguished service from the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association, the
Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the U.S. Department of
Education. He received Ball State's Outstanding Administrative Service Award in 1979.
In 1981, Dr. Beck changed careers to direct the activities of the human resources and auxiliary
services areas of the university. As associate vice president for human resources and auxiliary
services in business affairs, he oversees the activities of Ball State's University Human Resource
Services, Residence Halls Dining Service and Banquet and Catering, the Ball State Bookstore, the
John R. Emens College-Community Auditorium, Printing Services, and Telephone and Postal
Services.
During his tenure in Business Affairs, Dr. Beck implemented a new job classification system
for staff personnel, oversaw arbitrations and union negotiations for the university, worked with
staff council, served as a member of the University Senate, was a member of a presidential search
committee, directed the privatization of two auxiliary campus units (the Barnes and Noble
Bookstore and the Cardinal Health System Health Center), served as liaison to university
attorneys in personnel matters, and assisted in developing a full-service catering operation to
support a wide range of university events.
In addition to his commitment to the university, Dr. Beck is an active member of the
community, contributing his talents to such civic endeavors as the United Way, Rotary Club,
Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, and First Presbyterian Church.
His colleagues thank him for his deep commitment and dedicated service to Ball State and the
Muncie community.
5
Donna L. Biggs
Donna Biggs joined the faculty of Burris Laboratory School as a teacher of middle school and
high school mathematics in 1988. Her expertise and ability to work with students of all abilities
brought her well-deserved recognition as an exemplary classroom teacher. In 1996 she accepted the
position of assistant principal of the school, and in 1998 she assumed the role of principal. For the
past six years she has provided the school with stable leadership and a spirit of caring and concern
for teachers, students, and parents.
Mrs. Biggs' friendly demeanor and her desire to serve have characterized her leadership style.
She takes an active role in the activities of the school and the daily welfare of its students and
faculty. She greets all constituents with a cheerful smile and leaves them feeling that the most
important thing she had to do that day was to spend some time with them.
As the leader of the school, she has led the efforts to raise even higher the academic standards
of an already exceptional school. Her leadership in curriculum design, utilization of instructional
technology, academic assessment of students, and professional development of faculty has been
outstanding.
The entire Burris community will miss her leadership, her positive attitude, and her ability to
give of herself for the benefit of others. Her presence has made Burris a better place, and she leaves
the school with a solid foundation upon which to continue to expand its vision. Burris wishes
Mrs. Biggs well in her retirement.
Gilbert L. Bloom
Since 1962, Gil Bloom has been a teacher, artist, colleague, and mentor in the Department of
Theatre and Dance. During his 42 years of service, he has been a consummate professional in
every area of theatrical endeavor with which he has been associated.
Dr. Bloom has taught courses in theatre history, acting, directing, introduction to theatre,
technical theatre, children's theatre, and dramatic theory and criticism, among others. As a
director, Dr. Bloom's resume features more than 50 productions at Ball State University.
Additionally, he has served as the lighting designer and scenic designer for 30 productions on
campus. Moreover, his work as the primary departmental advisor has been instrumental during
the surge in numbers that the Department of Theatre and Dance has experienced over the last
15 years. This past year, Dr. Bloom was responsible for the coordination of advisement for more
than 350 theatre and dance majors, a job that he has done with no released time or additional
compensation.
As a mentor, Dr. Bloom has affected thousands of students through his dedication,
commitment, and generosity of spirit. Recent Ball State graduate Dan Marrero (Class of 2000)
best summarized Dr. Bloom's contribution to the department in the following excerpt from a
letter he sent earlier this year: "Dr. Bloom has shaped the lives of thousands of students through
his knowledge and love of theatre, his point-blank direction, his pursuit of excellence on stage and
in the classroom, and his low-key, dry wit....Dr. Bloom has done more than teach his students in
these many decades. He has inspired them to higher levels." While the Department of Theatre and
Dance will hire another faculty member to fill the tenure-line position vacated by Dr. Bloom, it is
very clear that he will never be replaced.
6
Ann L. Caslan
Ann Caslan came to Ball State University as a faculty member in 1981. With degrees in
education and business administration, as well as a law degree, she brought a diverse academic
background to the College of Business. She also came with experience as a librarian, an
elementary school teacher, assistant to corporate counsel, a practicing attorney, and most
important, a love of learning and devotion to the importance of higher education.
During her more than 20 years of teaching in the Miller College of Business, Dr. Caslan has
had many professional accomplishments, but she will be remembered most for her influence on
literally thousands of students. She has taught classes serving the Department of Political Science,
the School of Nursing, the School of Physical Education, and the College of Architecture and
Planning, among others. She has been particularly important to students who have become
paralegals, or who work in legal administration, serving as a member of the Advisory Committee
for Paralegal Degree Programs. She is most appreciated, of course, by the many business graduates
who thank her for their success on the CPA exam and in their professional lives. The department
is left with a great challenge to replace her contributions to business students of the future.
Dr. Caslan has always provided outstanding service as assistant to the chair in the Department
of Finance and Insurance and on many departmental and college committees. In 1984 Ball State
and its Law Day Committee, including Dr. Caslan, won the American Bar Association's Public
Service Award. Her calm demeanor and wisdom have often guided the department in its debates
on important issues, and she has often taken on the responsibility for the social life of the
department. Her cordiality, her wit, and her warm heart will be missed.
David L. Clayton
David Clayton has served Ball State for 38 years, the first 24 as an academic advisor with a student
load greater than the total enrollment in many departments.
In 1985, he became the first coordinator of academic advising in a new unit, University College.
He filled that role until 1990, when he accepted the position of mathematics coordinator in
University College's Learning Center, with the responsibility of supervising 30 undergraduate and
graduate tutors in their work with more than 1500 students each year.
In addition to his position in University College, Mr. Clayton has served as a university senator
and as a member of such committees as University Promotion and Tenure and the Freshman
Learning Council. Externally, he has represented Ball State well with presentations at national
meetings, most notably the oddly titled but beloved Learning Centers: Who Needs 'Em, Anyway?
for the National Association for Developmental Education.
Whether they have been advisees, Learning Center clients, or peer tutors, students who have
worked with—or for—Mr. Clayton have found him to be compassionate and approachable.
His colleagues over the years have relied on him for everything from his willingness to work
collaboratively for the benefit of students and staff alike to his mathematics expertise at tax time.
He is a jovial, dedicated member of University College's staff who, for over three decades, has
exemplified Ball State University's commitment to undergraduate teaching and academic support.
7
John G. Condran
A transplanted Easterner, John (Jerry) Condran is completing 31 years as a professor at Ball State.
Throughout his career, he has exhibited excellent work on all fronts.
His research has focused on family and race and has been published in leading social science
journals. Two of his publications, "Changes in White Attitudes Toward Blacks: 1963-1977" in
Public Opinion Quarterly (1979) and "Rashoman, Working Wives, and Family Division of Labor:
Middletown, 1980" in the Journal of Marriage and the Family (1982 with Jerry Bode), are still
cited frequently.
Dr. Condran's approach in the classroom is to present well-thought-out lectures delivered in a
lively style. A dedicated teacher, he teaches more than 200 students in SOC 100: Principles of
Sociology each semester, including written assignments in his course requirements. He also has
taught sociai- trehds, family, minority relations, and urban sociology in recent years. His teaching is
very well received, as evidenced by outstanding student teaching evaluations.
Dr. Condran also has provided important service to the department. His analytic mind and
efforts in consensus building have been wonderful resources. Dr. Condran recently has served as
departmental representative on the College Promotion and Tenure Committee and has provided
excellent advice to assistant professors about those processes. In all of this, his sharp sense of
humor is always present. While the sociology faculty members will miss having Dr. Condran as
their colleague, they wish him well in retirement and say thanks for a job well done.
Phillip M. Dunn
Phil Dunn is retiring after more than 30 years of service to Ball State University and its students.
As assistant director of admissions, Mr. Dunn worked with many prospective students, but a
particular focus and strength was his work in attracting minority students to Ball State.
Cooperating with high schools and working with special weekend programs, he developed a
pre-registration program that was important in increasing minority enrollments, and he initiated a
"minority student roundtable" for minority freshmen to discuss academic progress and adjustment
issues. Throughout his career, Mr. Dunn has been a strong advocate for the needs of minority
students.
In 1986, Mr. Dunn joined the staff of Academic Advising. As an advisor, he has been well
informed and caring. He is noted for his excellent presentations in orientation and his special
work with disabled students. While working as an advisor, he has maintained his incredibly diverse
interests and activities, both on and off the campus. He has taught wellness classes through the
School of Extended Education's program in the prisons, and he has been an organizer and host for
the Mr. and Ms. Ball State bodybuilding competitions, a keynote speaker during Martin Luther
King, Jr. Week, and a "personal trainer" for a number of staff members.
Advisor, educator, musician, athlete, community activist, and volunteer—these are all terms that
describe Phil Dunn. He has many more things on his agenda as well. His colleagues wish him a
busy, joy-filled retirement.
8
Paul R. Errington
Paul Errington joined the Department of Physics in the spring quarter of 1970. During his tenure
at Ball State, he has taught a wide range of courses, from introductory physics to graduate-level
electromagnetic theory. From 1989 to 1992, he served as the chairperson of the Department of
Physics and Astronomy, and from 1992 to the present as its administrative assistant.
Professor Errington's exceptional experimental talent and creativity resulted in continual
updating and use of technology in the department's research, classroom, and laboratory instruction
programs. In the late 1970s, he and a departmental colleague initiated the planning and
establishment of an energy center. In 1979 a $1.5-million appropriation from the state provided
funds for what became known in 1982 as the Center for Energy Research, Education, and Service
(CERES).
Professor Errington is always available to assist students and faculty in designing an experiment
or trouble-shooting a piece of faulty equipment. He has provided university students, high school
students, and in-service teachers with state-of-the-art electronics experiences by continually
updating laboratory courses and workshops.
In 1984 Professor Errington received the university's Outstanding Faculty Service Award. For
those who know him and have had the privilege to work with him, it is clear that this was a
well-deserved honor. He has continued to demonstrate each year the qualities that are necessary to
earn this award. The students, faculty, and support staff of the Department of Physics and
Astronomy will miss Professor Errington as a creative teacher and valued colleague who has given
freely of his time and talents for the benefit of others. They wish him the best of everything in his
retirement.
Richard J. Falls
An administrator once said, "You could almost look at a Ball State University insignia and see
Charlie Cardinal on one side and Dick Falls on the other." That comment sums up the career
of Richard Falls, who retired from Ball State after almost half a century of association with the
university.
Mr. Falls was a student-athlete at Burris, and later a teacher, coach, and athletic director for the
Owls. He held a variety of positions in the Ball State athletics department, beginning in 1982 as
men's athletics department administrative assistant and culminating as the school's deputy athletics
director before his retirement in 2003.
In his tenure as a Ball State administrator, Mr. Falls supervised a majority of the school's 22
intercollegiate athletics teams at one time or another and was in charge of scheduling for football
and men's basketball. He was the right-hand man to four Ball State athletics directors and was one
of the most loyal and dedicated athletics administrators in Ball State history. He was instrumental
in moving the Ball State athletics department to NCAA Division IA status and was a key figure in
the merging of Ball State's men's and women's athletics departments in 1995.
As a student, Mr. Falls was a three-time Ball State golf letterman, and he won four consecutive
Muncie District Golf Association Championships. He is a member of the Delaware County Hall
of Fame and the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame.
9
Julia Corbett Hemeyer
For 24 years, Julia Corbett Hemeyer has been a professor of religious studies at Ball State
University; for many of those years, she was the only professor of religious studies. A graduate of
Vanderbilt, she came to Muncie as a single mother with a small child at a time when women had
to hide such a fact. But she is the kind of woman that paves the way for others to follow.
Dr. Hemeyer's teaching has been noteworthy, her scholarship superb. In time she produced
Religion in America Culture. It has become a very popular textbook for religious studies courses
throughout the United States. Indeed, the fifth edition will soon be out. With her late husband,
Michael Corbett, she authored Religion and Politics in America. This book is descriptive and
informative, so much so that the U.S. State Department translated it into Arabic. It was believed
that this book about the interplay of religion and politics in the American context could help the
Islamic woad better understand the United States.
Dr. Hemeyer is still p'dving the way for many women. In the last several years, she has expanded
her interests to helping female survivors of sexual abuse to heal spiritually. She has been able to
lead the way because of her strong character, her moral fiber, and her deep concern for others.
Kathleen M. Keil
Kathleen Keil, assistant professor of computer science, is retiring with 34 years of service to the
university. After teaching a few years, Mrs. Keil joined the Department of Mathematical Sciences
in 1968 as an instructor and was promoted in 1974 to the rank of assistant professor. When the
computer science department was formed in 1983, she chose to join the new unit.
Her area of greatest interest has been undergraduate education, and over the past eight years she
has served as the department's director of undergraduate programs and primary advisor to
departmental majors and minors. During this time, she was chosen to serve as acting chairperson
of the Department of Computer Science twice: the first time in 1999-2000 and again in
2002-2003, after the untimely deaths of two chairpersons. During those difficult transition
periods, she held the department together and was a catalyst for a much needed sense of stability
and unity among the faculty.
Mrs. Keil is the embodiment of integrity. She displays the same dedication, selflessness, sense
of fairness, and generosity of spirit in both her private and professional lives. These qualities,
combined with an unfailing positive attitude and constant cheerfulness, have made her a joy as
a colleague. Faculty and students alike will greatly miss her daily presence.
10
Martha L. Kendrick
Marty Kendrick has been employed at Burris Laboratory School since 1980. In the 24 years she
has been at Burris, she has served her school and her students with dedication and perseverance.
She has had high expectations for her primary classes, tenderness, and an understanding of what
small children need to be successful.
Dr. Kendrick is a well-loved, well-respected member of the Burris family. She truly believes that
all children can succeed if given the opportunity to explore learning from their own frame of
reference. First grade is a very special time for young children, and Dr. Kendrick works diligently
to prepare them for the many new experiences of school.
No matter what challenges she may have with a particular group of students, she has a design
and a process that work. She serves as a model of classroom management for new faculty and has
worked in classrooms with new teachers as a mentor and advisor. Struggling teachers and college
students come away with a new awareness of how to manage children and plan their day.
Dr. Kendrick is a warm and sincere teacher who puts her students' needs above her own and still
maintains an environment of excellence in her classroom. She truly will be missed in the halls and
classrooms of Burris Laboratory School.
James J. Kirkwood
Jim Kirkwood has served Ball State University and the Department of Industry and Technology
for the past 38 years. Although Dr. Kirkwood has taught numerous courses during his career, his
major focus has been in the area of technology education for the elementary grades.
He is most recognized for his decades of technology education for elementary students at Burris
Laboratory School. Under his direction, the Burris technology education program received
national recognition on several occasions. At the national level, Dr. Kirkwood has served as a
board member for the International Technology Education Association.
More recently, he played an active role as a graduate faculty member in the development and
implementation of the on-line master's degree in technology education.
In addition to his significant contributions in the areas of teaching and service, he has an
outstanding record of publications related to the field of technology education for the elementary
grades and technology education in general. Dr. Kirkwood also is well known for his interesting
and informative articles on jogging that have appeared in the Muncie Star Press.
Professor Kirkwood has a well-deserved reputation as a faculty member who cares about his
students and is always willing to listen to the professional concerns of students and faculty. His
colleagues and students will miss him and join in wishing him much happiness in his retirement.
11
Thomas W. Koontz
Tom Koontz came to the English department from Indiana University in 1967. In 1969, he
participated in the Carmichael Living-Learning Project; in 1972, he directed an NEH-funded
project to design a humanities-centered curriculum. He has received grants for proposals ranging
from a study of Edward Arlington Robinson's poetry to a series of poems responding to the atomic
destruction of cities. In 1985-86 he spent a year writing poetry influenced by archetypal
psychology. By 1990 he was working on "chicory" and "postcard" poems; more recently, he has
collaborated on projects linking poetry with paintings by artist Nina Marshall.
Professor Koontz's poetry has appeared in at least 24 different journals. He has four poetry
chapbooks in print, an edited anthology, and a number of reviews and essays. As director of
creative writing, he has sponsored print and electronic literary journals, brought visiting writers
to campus, and:organized public readings in response to national crises. As editor and publisher of
The Barnwood Press, he has published a poetry journal and 35 books of poetry by authors
including Robert Bly and William Stafford.
In 1983, Dr. Koontz proposed the development of a master's degree concentration in creative
writing at Ball State; that dream came to fruition in 2001, when the first class of six masters'
candidates entered graduate study. Last year, for the first time, the Distinguished Master's Thesis
Award was awarded to a creative project—a collection of poems by one of that first group of
writers.
Professor Koontz served as director of master's programs in English from 1981 to 1983 and as
department chairperson from 1995 to 1998. He also has served on the Indiana Arts Commission,
the Midwest Writer's Workshop, and the Delaware County Council for the Arts.
Donald E. LaCasse
For 17 years, Don LaCasse served as the chairperson of the Department of Theatre and Dance
at Ball State University. During his tenure, Dr. LaCasse saw the department grow from
approximately 70 majors to an astounding 350 majors. He helped institute a new musical theatre
program and facilitated the merging of theatre and dance in the late 1980s.
As director and teacher at Ball State, he directed more than 25 shows, including four shows
(Cabaret, Dancing at Lughnasa, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Wit) that were invited to participate
at the regional level of the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival.
Dr. LaCasse continues to flourish in academia and in the professional world as the director of
the School of Theatre at Illinois State University and the managing director of the Illinois
Shakespeare Festival. May his "retirement" eventually lead to rest and relaxation!
12
Harry J. Macy
In 1977 the social work program separated from the Department of Sociology to form the
Department of Social Work, and Harry Mary was persuaded to leave the University of Iowa to
become its first (and only) department chair. At Iowa he was an assistant professor in the School
of Social Work and director of the Graduate Social Work Education Center in Cedar Rapids. Very
early in his career, Dr. Macy was a middle and high school teacher in the Peru, Indiana,
Community Schools and a Peace Corps teacher in Tabora, Tanzania.
Dr. Mary is an Indiana licensed clinical social worker. He has been active in national social work
professional organizations and has served in such capacities as a member of the Council on Social
Work Education's Commission on Educational Policy and a member and officer on the board of
directors of the Council on Social Work Education, as well as the Membership Committee and
Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification of the National Association of
Baccalaureate Program Directors. Dr. Macy also has been active with many state and local organizations dedicated to providing quality social services to the citizens of Indiana.
Dr. Macy has served on numerous social work journal editorial boards, authored books and
refereed journal articles, presented dozens of papers at professional meetings, and been awarded
many grants. He received a distinguished alumni award from the Indiana University School of
Social Work in 2003.
Frank L. Meeker
After earning his B.S. degree from Ball State, Frank Meeker left Indiana for the mountains of
Montana for graduate studies, but returned to Muncie a few years later as a member of the faculty.
During his 34 years of service, Dr. Meeker conceived of his role primarily as that of a teacher.
Even when serving the department in administrative roles, first as administrative assistant
(1974-1977) and then as chairperson (1977-1983), his primary mission was to improve the
quality of instruction, especially for undergraduates.
As a result of his leadership, psychological science was among the first departments to
implement a comprehensive program of instructor and course evaluations by students and to
adopt a salary plan with a merit component. Dr. Meeker also was responsible for hiring ten
tenure-track faculty members, some of whom remain at Ball State today. Further, he negotiated a
change in the department's name, from general and experimental psychology to psychological
science, to better reflect the departmental mission As chairperson, he helped to build the
foundation on which the department now rests.
After serving as chairperson for six years, returning to the faculty allowed him to indulge his
passion for historic preservation, environmental psychology, and the success of undergraduate
psychology majors. In doing so, he taught courses in the basics of experimental psychology,
published a series of papers on railroad crossing safety and littering, developed the department's
first post-graduation survey of alumni, and served on countless departmental, college, and
university committees focused on improving undergraduate education. In some respects, he has
served as the department's conscience, always reminding it of the primary of undergraduate
education in the department's mission.
13
Kenneth E. Miller
Kenneth Miller has been a "roving ambassador" for Teachers College, willing to assume many
leadership positions upon call. He came to Ball State University in 1980 as superintendent/
principal and department chairperson at Burris Laboratory School. He served in that capacity
from 1980 to 1991 and then returned for a year in 1997-98. In other years, he served as director
of student teaching, assistant director of educational licensing, and acting chairperson of the
Department of Educational Leadership. From 1996 to the present, he has served as assistant to
the dean.
Dr. Miller also has been a long-time executive secretary for the East Central Indiana Public
School Study Council. He was actively involved in the initial planning for the Indiana Academy
for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities; the Ball State University Professional Development
Schools Network; and the,Charter Schools Initiative. He has worked extensively with public
schools through North Central Association evaluations, consultant work, and professional
organizations. Since 1982, he has served on the board of directors for the National Association
for Laboratory Schools.
Ken Miller has provided important, caring leadership. His willingness to work on almost any
task, at any time, is highly unusual and has been greatly valued.
Monte J. Reece
A
Monte Reece began his career at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Stout Machine and Tool
Company, Sheller-Globe Corporation, and U.S. Engineering in varying roles as buyer, bookkeeper,
purchasing agent, inventory control supervisor, and quality control technician. In 1981, he came
to Ball State as a buyer in the purchasing department, beginning a 23-year career at the university.
Today he is a purchasing agent.
Mr. Reece has been involved primarily in the purchase of computers, servers, routers, printers,
and all other computer-related peripherals. A consistently reliable, studious, hard-working
employee who keeps the university's best interests in mind, he is insistent upon obtaining the best
possible contracts for university departments. He procures supplies, equipment, and services—
obtaining maximum value while ensuring that they meet the quality requirements of the
institution. Furthermore, he always is looking for better sources for these supplies. Colleagues
speak of his excellent file system, his maintenance of good records, and his organizational skills.
Mr. Reece also has consistently taken advantage of training and development opportunities, and
he has been active in his professional organization, the National Association of Educational
Buyers. It will be a difficult task to find a replacement who reflects his work ethic and dedication
to the university.
14
N. Kirk Robey
In 1976, Kirk Robey came to Ball State as the university's immigration specialist and advisor to
international students. Since then, he has been instrumental in the growth in international student
enrollment. To date, this enrollment totals 10,150 students, representing 94 different countries.
Among Mr. Robey's outstanding accomplishments has been the co-authorship of the Muskie
Grant, which provides funding for six eastern European students to come to the United States
each year. He also created and coordinated the SANNO contract programs serving a women's
business college in Japan, recruited extensively for Ball State in Asia, and established links with
alumni groups there.
Additionally, he has been active professionally as an ex officio member of Ball State's
International Affairs Committee, ex officio member of the European Teachers Education Network,
and District VI chair of the National Association of Field Study Administrators. He also is the
computer guru for the university's Center for International Programs!
With Mr. Robey's retirement, much more passes than just a historical fact. For nearly 30 years
he has dedicated himself both professionally and personally in the service of international students.
The course he charted in that service could be bumpy, for an immigration advisor often has to be
the bearer of messages that the recipient does not want to hear. Undaunted, Mr. Robey did it his
way, and that way included making sure his table and hearth were a home away from home for
any student who wanted to partake of the renowned hospitality of the Robey family. Kirk Robey
not only "talked the talk" of serving students, but always "walked the walk."
Gary J. Santoni
Gary Santoni joined the faculty at Ball State University in 1988. Since 1991 he has held the title
of George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics. Prior to his arrival at Ball State,
he taught at Kansas State College and California State University, Northridge. From 1982 to
1988, he was senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Dr. Santoni is an exemplar of Ball State's teacher-scholar model. His classroom performance has
always demonstrated an excellent blend of rigor, high expectations, and lucid presentation. As a
scholar, he has concentrated on the stock market and has authored numerous publications dealing
with volatility, "bubbles," and regulatory issues. His interest and expertise in the stock market and
macroeconomic performance have made him, for many years, one of the most popular and
respected participants in Ball State's quarterly Business Forecast Roundtable, participation that
will continue after his retirement.
Dr. Santoni also has an excellent record of service within the university. In addition to serving
on various councils and committees, he worked in the early '90s with the university to expand its
array of retirement investment options for faculty and staff.
Faculty members in the economics department are delighted that Dr. Santoni will retain his
office and continue to participate in the intellectual life of the department. He has always been an
especially active participant in departmental seminars, and the department looks forward to
continuation of his efforts in this area.
15
Sharon H. Seager
Sharon Hannum Seager joined Ball State in 1966. The history faculty who welcomed her—
including department chair Everett Ferri!l and her faculty mentor, Althea Stoeckel—would not
have been surprised had someone told them that Dr. Seager would have a long and productive
career at Ball State.
From day one, Dr. Seager demonstrated that she had the knowledge and skills needed to excel.
Her original teaching and research interests focused on the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the
U.S. South. Though she never left those behind, she also knew how to change with the times.
By the 1970s, she had become a pioneer in the new field of women's history.
If Dr. Seager changed in some ways, she remained the same in others. Excellent teaching and
dedication to students always remained at the core of her career. Service to the department has
been another,constant. For almost 40 years, she has been an important leader in the Department
of History, playing a mafor role in job searches, advising, promotion and tenure decisions, and the
writing of departmental policies.
In February 1966, the chairman of the history department wrote a memo to Ball State's vice
president recommending that Dr. Sharon Elaine Hannum be hired as an assistant professor at a
salary of $9,050 per year. Dr. Ferrill wrote: "While she seems to be a bit young, she appears to be
an excellent teaching prospect." After all these years, perhaps we can excuse the chair's flippant
remark about age, because his prediction proved right on the mark: "Teaching prospect" Sharon
Hannum went on to become teacher extraordinaire Sharon Hannum Seager.
C. Warren Vander Hill
Warren Vander Hill, University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies, professor of
history, and presidential liaison, served the university as provost and vice president for academic
affairs from 1987 to 2002. Under his leadership as provost, the College of Communication,
Information, and Media was developed. He also was responsible for creating endowed chairs and
distinguished professorships as significant recognition of outstanding faculty. In 2000, he chaired
the campus-wide Strategic Planning Committee, creating the university's first five-year strategic
plan. Additionally, he started the exchange program with Harris Manchester College at Oxford
University and was a visiting fellow himself in 1994.
In recent years, Dr. Vander Hill has led the institution in a nationally-recognized, comprehensive
environmental initiative, which has included several international Greening of the Campus
conferences held on the Ball State campus and the creation of a campus-wide Council on the
Environment. He has championed an array of programs in the areas of environmental awareness
and sustainability, including interdisciplinary courses in environmental studies, and he initiated
two major interdisciplinary assessments of the university's "green agenda."
16
Dr. Vander Hill joined the Ball State history faculty in the late 1960s. He became the director
of the University Honors Program and Honors College, serving from 1970 to 1985. He was
associate provost from 1985 to 1986, and acting provost and vice president for academic affairs
from 1986 to 1987.
Dr. Vander Hill's published work includes books, articles, and reviews in American social
history, particularly American immigration history, and more recently, essays on American
environmental history. He also was a participant and consultant on projects funded by the
National Endowment for the Humanities, including the "Middletown" series of six documentary
films on various facets of life in Muncie. Turning to another one of his loves—sports—this year
he and fellow historian Tony Edmonds published a history of Ball State basketball.
Always an advocate of liberal education, Dr. Vander Hill will be remembered as a provost who
championed a strong university core curriculum. Likewise, his contributions in creating numerous,
campus-wide environmental activities, supporting international education, and building a strong
faculty will continue to be recognized. Warren Vander Hill, a mentor and friend to many
colleagues, and a respected teacher to hundreds of students, leaves a legacy in which his love of
Ball State University is evidenced time and time again.
17
C. William Barnett
Bill Barnett's association with Ball State University spanned more than four decades, beginning
with a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's in business administration. He returned to
his alma mater in 1974 as a cost accountant in the Budget Office, where he remained until 1982.
He then became the director of Library Business Services for University Libraries, a position of
significant responsibility that he served with distinction until his untimely death on May 2, 2003.
A confirmed Ohio Riser enthusiast and Muncie Central Bearcat fan, Mr. Barnett was also a
staunch Ball State Cardinal. He could be seen at most Ball State football and basketball games and
could be counted upon to offer spirited post-game analyses. When not in the stands, he could
often be found devoting himself to the study of history, particularly as it related to Delaware
County and the Ohio River region.
Never one to do anything by halves, Mr. Barnett was well-known for his attention to detail,
fierce determination, and an uncanny ability to drive to the core of a problem and find a quality
solution. Less well-known was his quiet mentorship and assistance to colleagues, students,
community members, organizations, and others in need.
Colleagues express their thanks for the countless contributions Mr. Barnett made throughout
his career. The positive difference he made in the lives of so many is a legacy that will endure for
many years.
Clinton P. Fuelling
The colleagues of Clinton Fuelling are honored to recognize him as the founding father of the
Department of Computer Science at Ball State University. Dr. Fuelling served as chairperson of
the department from July 1, 1983, when the department separated from mathematical sciences,
until November 15, 1999, when he succumbed to the ravages of cancer at the age of 61.
After completing his academic degrees and serving in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Fuelling worked
for the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., and then with the General Research
Corporation in McLean, Virginia. He joined the Ball State faculty in 1973.
Dr. Fuelling was a past president of University Senate. He was a delegate to Annamali University
and a Ball State Far East Study delegate. His international involvement took him to China as a
representative of the World Bank. He held memberships in SIAM, the Association of Computing
Machinery, and the American Mathematical Society, and he served on the board of directors for
Project Stepping Stone.
18
Although Dr. Fuelling authored and co-authored many publications and was awarded many
research grants, he considered himself first and foremost a teacher. He was much loved and
respected by his students. From an outpouring of love and respect, a scholarship was funded in his
name. The Clinton P. Fuelling Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student of
excellence each year and is administered by the Ball State University Foundation.
Nancy J. Mannies
Nancy Mannies was an associate professor of secondary education who joined the faculty of Burris
Laboratory School in 1969. She taught middle school English and social studies and created many
exceptional programs that served her students well.
She was noted for her excellence in teaching and for always putting the welfare of her students
first. Moreover, she was a champion for students who had low self-esteem and worked tirelessly to
help them succeed. A parent wrote about Mrs. Mannies: "She is sensitive, capable, and
innovative. Above all, she has the strength and ability to teach her students to understand
themselves, and to discover the relationship of themselves to society, and for this I feel she is
superior."
One of the greatest attributes of Mrs. Mannies was her caring, giving nature. She always had a
smile on her face, regardless of her feelings. Her sense of humor enriched everyone, and there
wasn't a day that went by that she didn't make "the Burris folks" laugh Education and children
were the love of her life, and she is truly missed by the Burris family. Moreover, people in the
Ball State community and beyond will be reaping the benefits of her contributions, gifts, time,
and energy for years to come.
19
2035-04 uc