Class Notes | Fall/Winter 2017-18

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1960s

Shirley Willard, MA ’66, Rochester, Indiana, received the Indiana Historical Society’s 2017 Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the field of history. She helped establish the Fulton County Historical Society in 1963. She served as its first secretary, then its president from 1971-2001. She spearheaded the building of a new museum and the placing of over 80 historical markers on the 1838 Potawatomi Trail of Death from Indiana to Kansas. In addition to founding the Trail of Courage Living History Festival that attracts more the 12,000 people annually, she is also the author of four books and a weekly history column for the Rochester Sentinel.

Tom Farris, ’67, Muncie, had a 28″ x 22″ framed color photograph titled “Symphonic Lights Study #2” selected among 62 color, black and white and altered photographic art images for exhibition in the 2017 Honeywell Center Photography Show at the Clark Gallery in Wabash, Indiana. The juried national competition was open to photographic artists residing in the U.S. The subject of Farris’ photo is the colorful light display at Sursa Hall on Ball State University’s campus.

Jeffrey Faris, ’68, Indianapolis, hosted a book launch and signing for “Once Upon a Time 13.81 Billion Years Ago, Volume 1-3” in the fall at The Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library. Beginning just before the Big Bang, the work “provides the reader with a thorough, step-by-step examination of both the known and the unknown physics of the creation,” according to a comment on the book’s website.”

Martin Jacobson, ’68 MAE ’71, Manhattan, New York, was featured in the documentary “Coach Jake.” Shown at the Heartland Film Festival, the film documents how Jacobson guided Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Manhattan to 16 citywide soccer championships.

Ehsan Kousari, MA ’69 MA ’71 EdS ’78, Muncie, was featured in an art retrospective “Art and Soul: Celebration of Artist and Educator Ehsan Kousari” at Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie. Kousari taught drawing, painting, ceramics and photography for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2013.

1970s

Steve Archbold, ’71, Indianapolis, published “Where America Lives and the Faces of Poverty: A Journey through America and Portraits of Children and Families from Shepherd Community Center, Indianapolis.” Documenting poverty across America, Archbold took the photos over a 20-year period and also wrote the book’s text.

Cathy Moss, ’72, Louisville, Kentucky, was elected organizer of the International Chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Sisterhood at the organization’s biennial convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the fall.

G. Stuart Smith, ’73, Long Island, New York, recently published a biography of a legendary code-breaker, “A Life in Code: Pioneer Cryptanalyst Elizebeth Friedman Smith.” The book covers her career from just before World War I, when she was hired to prove there were codes in Shakespeare plays, to the period through World War II, when her Coast Guard group broke the codes of German and Japanese spies.

Mike Bantz, ’79 MA ’84, Muncie, was recently named clerk of the board of trustees of Friends Preschool Academy, one of Muncie’s longest-running preschools.

News anchor Dave Barras, ’79, retired in 2017 after more than 37 years with Indianapolis-based WISH-TV. The news anchor won an Emmy and received many Associated Press awards for excellence during his career. In 2015, readers of Indianapolis alternative magazine Nuvo voted Barras their favorite news anchor.

1980s

Amy Ahlersmeyer, ’80, Indianapolis, joined the staff of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites as chief marketing officer. She formerly served as vice president and chief marketing officer at Conner Prairie.

Michael C. LaFerney, MA ’80, Lakeville, Massachusetts, received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the editorial board of Marquis Who’s Who in America.

Dave Schwan, ’80, Chicago, won the Silver Dome Award (first prize) for Best Documentary for his piece entitled, “National Parks at 100: Our Midwest Treasures.” The award was given by the Illinois Broadcasters Association.

Doug Jones, ’82, Santa Clarita, California, has acted in over 25 films (“Hocus Pocus,” “Pan’s Labyrinth”) and many television series. He is currently starring as Lieutenant Commander Saru in the “Star Trek: Discovery” series and as the amphibious man in “The Shape of Water.”

Dodd Kattman, ’86, Roanoke, Indiana, a partner with MKM architecture + design, co-presented a lecture, “Culture by Design,” at the LeadingAge Ohio Conference and Trade Show in September 2017.

1990s

Amanda Thornburg, ’90, Indianapolis, has joined the law form of Bose McKinney & Evans LLP as a paralegal for the Business Services Group. She brought to the job 25 years of experience working for multi-national corporations and law firms.

Diana H.M. Brenner, ’92, Indianapolis, is principal of Brenner Design, an Indianapolis-based architectural firm that has received many awards — including for its design of Ball State’s new Ronald E. and Joan M. Venderly Football Team Complex. American School & University Magazine published the project in its 2017 Architectural Portfolio. Brenner Design is the largest woman-owned architectural firm in Indiana.

Mark McCorkle, ’92, Muncie, was appointed chief technology officer for BidPal, the leading mobile fundraising platform helping nonprofits raise more money. McCorkle joined BidPal after spending six years as an independent consultant, filling roles for a variety of startup and established tech companies, including WebLink International.

Randy Greenwell, MM ’94, Indianapolis, will be inducted into Music for All’s Bands of America 2018 Hall of Fame. Greenwell retired in 2017 as director of bands/performing arts department chair at Lawrence Central High School and is now an education support manager for Conn-Selmer, a leading manufacturer and distributor of musical instruments.

Jason Brooks, ’96, Muncie, lectured at the Entrepreneurial Experience Lecture Series at Pruis Hall on the Ball State campus. Brooks is the owner of Jay-Crew and Brooklawn Services and spoke on how to start your own entrepreneurial journey.

Juliana Mosley, ’96, Philadelphia, has been named Chestnut Hill College’s first College Officer for Diversity and Inclusion, a cabinet-level position that reports directly to the president. Mosley has held administrative positions in higher education including student life, enrollment management and multicultural affairs. She holds a PhD in educational leadership from Miami University and has also been a diversity consultant for nearly 14 years.

Ryan C. Sheppard, ’96, Monroe, Connecticut, is a partner with Knight Rolleri Sheppard CPAS, LLP. His extensive experience includes tax and business consulting for privately held companies, individuals and not-for-profit organizations. He was appointed to chair the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Professional Ethics Committee.

Gregory Myer, MS ’98, Cincinnati, Ohio, is a recipient of Franklin College’s 2017 Alumni Council Award for his contributions to his profession, community and Franklin College, where he is a 1996 graduate. At the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Myer is a professor, and directs both research and the Human Performance Laboratory for the Division of Sports Medicine. He has published more than 300 articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and several books and chapters related to his research in injury biomechanics, human performance, pediatric exercise, preventive medicine and sensorimotor neuroscience.

2000s

Brandon Mundell, ’01, Muncie, president, and Kyle Mundell, ’07, Muncie, e-commerce director of Toys Forever Models & Hobbies, spoke at Ball State’s Entrepreneurial Experience Lecture Series. They have launched a stronger online presence through a newly designed website. Both brothers graduated from the entrepreneurial management program.

Brent Kado, ’02, Los Angeles, has released his fourth feature film on Amazon. The film, called “A Short History of Drugs in the Valley,” was shot in northern Indiana. Kado also has directed numerous music videos, commercials and a web series.

Courtney Jarrett, ’04 MA ’07 EdD ’12, Muncie, is now the associate director of Disability Services and a Title IX investigator at Ball State University. Jarrett also teaches courses in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, advises the student group Feminists for Action and recently wrote and published the textbook “Not Your Momma’s Feminism: Introduction to Women’s & Gender Studies.”

Andrew Mitchell, ’04, Fort Wayne, Indiana, earned certification, granted by the American College of Healthcare Architects, for architects who practice as healthcare specialists. Mitchell is now only one of four in northeastern Indiana to have earned this certification. Mitchell is a senior associate at MKM architecture + design.

Margaret Amanda Ruling (Mae), ’07, Los Angeles starred in a short film entitled, “Bare Bones,” which was an Impactful Award winner at last year’s Festival Angaelica. Her other credits include another short film, “Off the Grid,” which was a James Wong Best Picture nominee at the 2017 LMU Film Outside the Frame awards.

2010s

Phill Keene, ’10, Indianapolis, was named director of sales for Costello, a startup software company. Keene will oversee the sales rep team, day-to-day management of new business opportunities, sale forecasting and growing Costello in the sales deal management market. Previously, he was director of marketing at Octiv and currently co-hosts the #RealSalesTalk podcast.

Vivek Hadley, ’11, Indianapolis, has joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP as an associate focused on environmental matters and litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Hadley clerked for Judge John G. Baker of the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Eric van der Vort, ’11, Syracuse, New York, was named one of the American Political Science Association’s Congressional Fellows. The highly competitive program embeds political scientists and other scholars on congressional staffs.

Lisa Albers, ’13, Fortville, Indiana, accepted a position as compliance project coordinator for the Office of Research Compliance at Indiana University, which ensures IU conducts its educational, research and clinical activities in a manner that is consistent with regulatory, statutory and organizational requirements.

Tyler Dobbs, ’15, Muncie, recently accepted a position as government affairs and public relations assistant at the Muncie-based Academy of Model Aeronautics. The nonprofit promotes development of model aviation as a recognized sport and worthwhile recreation activity. Dobbs’ position focuses on working with federal, state and local governments, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, on regulations for unmanned aircraft such as models and drones.

Alicia Kelly, ’15 MA ’17, Indianapolis, joined the marketing and communications staff at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana. Kelly was previously a reporter at the Marion Chronicle-Tribune.

Candace Brammer, ’16, Muncie, has been appointed director of the Friends Preschool Academy located in downtown Muncie. The school was recently updated and reorganized to include afternoon day care for children ages 3-5.

Wes Crouch, ’16, Indianapolis, has created a “for-pay” mobile application that can allow a student to request help with homework. Tutors will find the student based on a request from the app.