Tina Brown’s Job at Ball State Is a Family Tradition
Tina Brown is a group leader for the University’s pioneering geothermal system.
For third-generation employee Tina Brown, each day on the job fulfills the challenge of “making it work!”
Her grandfather, George Hale, served in the plumbing department at Ball State for close to 25 years. Her father, Stan Hale, carried on the tradition as supervisor of moving and storage.
Tina Brown, who joined the Ball State family in 2000, is group leader for the University’s pioneering geothermal ground-source heating and cooling system, believed to have been the largest of its kind in the country when it was completed in 2012.
“The one thing I absolutely love about my job is the variety of duties and the daily learning that is involved,” she said. “Taking something broken and making it work!”
Brown remembers her father taking her and her two brothers to campus to explore when they were kids. Her memories include “football practices and games; Cooper Physical Science Building, full of all the displays; Christy Woods; the art museum, and craft classes.”
Shared tradition
Brown worked in Ball State Dining Services before assuming her current role. The change of career paths involved a three-year training position in HVAC and courses at Ball State and then Ivy Tech to finish her science degree with an HVAC concentration.
Her grandfather and father were still alive when she started work at Ball State and were gratified to see her fulfilling the dreams they had for her. “It made my dad proud because I had done it on my own. He loved his campus family and enjoyed introducing me to them.”
Brown is “proud and honored” to be part of both a family tradition and the small army of University employees dedicated to keeping the campus functioning like clockwork, despite challenges ranging from bad weather to the recent pandemic.
“I have two favorite campus seasons,” says Brown. “August, when all the new students arrive, ready to grow and learn.” And Spring, “with bright futures and graduates ready to fly.”
