Cardinal Pride: Alumni News (Winter 2022)

1950s

Mary “Jo” (Bergin) Beck, ’57, Clifton, Texas, taught in Indianapolis Public Schools for many years. She is an accomplished artist and has taught watercolor workshops in Georgia, Florida, and Texas. Her works are mainly still life and western-themed, and she has a gallery and studio on the family ranch, The Double Star.

1960s

Boyce Duvall, MA ’67, Grapevine, Texas, is the author of two books, Earn 5 to 10% Monthly Selling Options: Specific Step-By-Step Wealth Building System, and Earn Income Selling Stock Options: Wealth Building System. He is working on a third book that will cover strategies on how to make money if the stock market goes up or down. Now retired, Duvall worked as a director of Human Resources for an oil and gas company in Texas. His wife, Barbara, ’67, is a retired college professor and management consultant.

1970s

Gary Vance, ’77, Carmel, Indiana, authored the Kid Architect children’s book series. The series has three books: Kid Architect Goes to Columbus, Indiana; Kid Architect Goes to Indiana; and Kid Architect Goes to Moody Nolan Architects.

Amy McVay Abbott, ’79 MA ’83, Newburgh, Indiana, published Centennial Farm Family: Cultivating Land and Community 1837-1937, a survival story of four generations of her family after tragedy claimed her great grandfather’s life.

Ron Collier, ’79, New Palestine, Indiana, Indiana Members Credit Union President and CEO, donated $2,500 to establish an annual scholarship for an incoming Ball State University first-year student from New Palestine High School. This year’s recipient is Katelyn Sandlon, who is a double-major in Biology and Pre-Med.

Rebecca L. Silva, ’79, Riverside, California, recently co-edited Life After Lockdown: Resetting Perceptions of Autism. This work explores how the world has changed during the pandemic and provides a roadmap for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, special education teachers, social service providers, and anyone struggling with anxiety or social issues due to COVID-19.

1980s

Peter D. DiPrimio, ’81, Bloomington, Indiana, published The Quest for Indiana University Football Glory, the story of coach Tom Allen. DiPrimio has also published over 25 childrens books was inducted into the Indiana Sports Writers and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 2016.

John R. Shafer, ’82 MA ’83, Franklin, Indiana, retired from Franklin College as director of counseling, student development. Mr. Shafer joined the staff as assistant dean of student services in 1983.

Christel House International has promoted Barbara “Bobbi” Bosch, ’88, Indianapolis, to senior vice president of marketing and development. Ms. Bosch joined Christel House in 2013 after serving as director of corporate and foundation relations for the Indiana University Foundation. Ms. Bosch was also on the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee when Dan Quayle was Vice President of the United States.

1990s

John E. Girton, Jr., ’92, Indianapolis, advanced from Director of Marketing and Communications to Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Martin University. Mr. Girton is a community activist and founder of Unite for Change.org, and a former Journalism and Telecommunications instructor at Ball State.

Ann K. Barton, MA ’95, Greenwood, Indiana, retired after 38 years of dedicated service to Franklin College. Ms. Barton was assistant director of the Pulliam School of Journalism and assistant to the president for special projects.

Michele S. Denny, ’95, Fishers, Indiana, a Livestock Agricultural Specialist at Conner Prairie, published her first children’s book, The Secret Life of Mary the Librarian, which tells the story of her grandmother—a beloved librarian living on a dairy farm.

Jan Behounek, ’96, La Grange, Illinois, is the new Higher Education Practice Leader with FGM Architects. Ms. Behounek joined first as principal in 2019, and is a board member of the Chicago Building Congress.

Sean W. Abercrombie, ’99, Louisville, Kentucky, was promoted to the position of Project/Architect Manager for the Louisville office of Schmidt Associates—an architecture and engineering firm based in Indianapolis. Mr. Abercrombie’s work has included an array of projects, from civic to corporate and healthcare to hospitality.

Ball State alumni Damon Hewlin, ’99, and Brian A. Robinson, ’00, continue to join forces with Ramon Morrison (Indiana State University) to run their business Meticulous Design + Architecture, the largest minority-owned architectural firm in Indiana.

Jeffrey L. Papa, MA ’99, Sheridan, Indiana, chief of staff and general counsel for the Indiana Senate, has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Mensa Research Journal. Mr. Papa has been a member of Mensa since 1996.

2000s

Sisters Lauren E. Spath Luhring, ’05, Lafayette, Colorado, and Johanna Spath, ’08, Silver Springs, Maryland, co-founded and run a social justice book club for children. Jojo’s Book Club provides free, read-aloud videos, and other resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers by and about people of color and underrepresented groups.

Cara L. Pittenger, ’06, MM ’08, Noblesville, Indiana, assumed the role of executive director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Pittenger was a member of orchestras in Anderson, Muncie, Marion, and Kokomo and performed in the 38th infantry Division Band during her service in the U.S. Army.

Under the leadership of Jack D. Shepler, Jr., ’07, Indianapolis, CEO and founder of Ayokay, a marketing and web development agency, the firm was a featured business of the week on the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Shepler was also named a finalist for Indy’s Best and Brightest in the technology sector in 2017 and 2021. In 2019, he served as the Indy Pride entertainment director and was able to book international pop star Lizzo for the event. He has volunteered for Indy Pride for the last 10 years.

Jacob K. Hogan, ’08, MA ’11, North Liberty, Indiana, was named agribusiness lender with Interra Credit Union. In his role, Mr. Hogan will assist and support agribusiness members with filling their financial and lending needs.

2010s

Stacy L. Coleman, MAE ’13 EDD 2021, Fishers, Indiana, became the third generation in her family to graduate with a doctorate from Ball State University. Her father, Dr. Charles E. Coleman, MPA ’77 EDD ’90, Carmel, Indiana, is pictured here alongside her. Ms. Coleman is principal at Henry W. Longfellow Medical/STEM Middle School 28 in Indianapolis.

Corey Clark,  ’15, MAR ’17, Fort Wayne, Indiana, was promoted to senior associate at MKM Architecture + Design. Mr. Clark has been with the firm since 2017.