Ball State alumna Jill Lacy, ’92, has built a lifelong connection to her alma mater through student leadership, philanthropy, and service on key University boards and committees.
When Jill Lacy, ’92, left her hometown of Chicago to begin college at Ball State University, she didn’t arrive with a detailed plan. But what she found on campus—friendships, mentorship, and a sense of belonging—would shape her life in ways she never anticipated.
She quickly immersed herself in student life. Double-majoring in political science and exercise science, she joined the Student Government Association, became an Orientation leader, and found a lasting home in Alpha Chi Omega, the oldest national sorority on campus.
For Ms. Lacy, the organization wasn’t just a college activity—it marked a defining choice.
“I always say Alpha Chi Omega was the first lifetime commitment I made as an 18-year-old—my husband obviously came later,” she said with a laugh. “But it was the first thing that I felt like I made a choice to make a lifelong involvement—not just my college years.”
That decision set a tone that would carry through every chapter of her life, including a decades-long relationship with Ball State that continues to this day.
Ms. Lacy has stayed deeply engaged with the University across generations. From her early days as a student leader to her current role helping shape Ball State’s strategic direction, her involvement reflects a long-standing dedication to the institution’s success. Today, she serves on the Ball State Foundation Board, the Women of Beneficence Leadership Council, and the University’s Strategic Planning Committee—roles central to Ball State’s philanthropic and institutional trajectory. Her most recent work began in 2024, when Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns invited her to join the committee developing the University’s latest iteration of its strategic plan. She describes the group as “small but mighty,” with a mission to help Ball State prepare for an unpredictable and rapidly changing world. Her presence on the committee reflects more than her institutional knowledge—it draws from her experiences as an alumna, Foundation representative, and, at the time, a Ball State parent. Her son, Callahan Lacy, ’25, recently graduated from the University.
“I serve as the Foundation representative, an alumni representative, and at the time, a parent representative,” she said. “How do we ensure that we’re being innovative? How do we ensure that we are growing the right way, not just for growth’s sake? How do we make sure we’re resourcing appropriately, and that we’re preparing students for jobs that don’t even exist yet?”
These are questions she takes seriously. Whether she’s helping shape the University’s strategic vision or working with the Foundation Board to align donor support with student-focused results, Ms. Lacy brings a steady, values-driven perspective to every conversation.
“There’s nothing else quite like it,” Ms. Lacy said of her ongoing involvement at Ball State. “It doesn’t end when you graduate—it keeps going. For those of us who continue to stay in that space, there’s nothing else quite like it.”That leadership style took root early. Her time with Alpha Chi Omega gave her a platform to learn the complexities of managing peers, resolving conflict, and navigating responsibilities well beyond the classroom. She served on the executive board and credits those experiences with developing her professional skillset.
“It was where I learned to lead and manage conflict and try to figure out how to communicate effectively,” she said. “I think it is the best fundamental growth set that a student can have in college, just the amazing things you get to do, the challenges you have when you manage your peers, manage finances, and really learn to work with other people.”
Those lessons stayed with her. For 13 years, Ms. Lacy served as an advisor to the chapter before terming out. She remains deeply connected to the organization, whose mission focuses on domestic violence awareness and prevention, and whose programming—including the annual Watermelon Bust—continues to engage students across campus.
Even outside of Ball State, Ms. Lacy’s work reflects the same commitment to service and impact. Since 2012, she has served as president of the Lacy Foundation, a private charitable organization founded in memory of her husband’s uncle, who died in a car accident at age 27 in 1973. Her grandmother-in-law, who was CEO at the time, launched the foundation as well as the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, an initiative dedicated to helping Central Indiana become a world-class place to live, work, and learn.
What began with a choice to get involved as a student has turned into something much more enduring: a relationship with her alma mater that continues to grow, a lifelong commitment to leadership—through her sorority and her philanthropic work—and a fulfilling career centered on service.
Alpha Chi Omega, the sorority close to Jill Lacy’s heart, co-hosts the Watermelon Bust—a long-standing Ball State tradition that raises funds for A Better Way and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
