Our Call to Beneficence

Ball State University
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Our Call to Beneficence is a podcast hosted by Geoffrey S. Mearns, the president of Ball State University. The podcast features conversations with Ball State graduates and friends who embody the spirit of Beneficence through their professional success and their personal service.

  1. S5E5: “We Get to Do Great Things” | (Jud Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ball Brothers Foundation)

    JAN 28

    S5E5: “We Get to Do Great Things” | (Jud Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ball Brothers Foundation)

    Jud Fisher is a member of the extended Ball family, a family whose vision and enduring philanthropic support founded and has sustained Ball State University. Jud Fisher is also the president and the chief executive officer of the Ball Brothers Foundation. In that role, he serves as living proof of the Ball family’s longstanding commitment to our University, to Muncie, and to East Central Indiana. In this episode, Jud talks about his childhood growing up in northern Michigan and how he found personal and professional fulfillment after moving to Muncie. He describes the mission of the Ball Brothers Foundation, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary. And he shares his gratitude in carrying on the stewardship legacy of the Ball brothers by supporting the community and continuing to improve the quality of life in Indiana.  If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.

    43 min
  2. S5E4: ‘Beneficence is About ... How You Become a Better Person’ | (Stefan Anderson, Retired CEO, Community Leader, and Honorary Alumnus)

    12/16/2025

    S5E4: ‘Beneficence is About ... How You Become a Better Person’ | (Stefan Anderson, Retired CEO, Community Leader, and Honorary Alumnus)

    For more than 50 years, Stefan Anderson has had a distinctive relationship with Ball State University. Though he never attended Ball State, Steve became an advocate and friend of the University soon after he became the CEO of First Merchants Bank in 1974. In the decades since, Steve has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Ball State University Foundation Board, chairing Ball State's first capital campaign,  chairing the Ball Honors House campaign, and serving on the leadership teams of several subsequent major fundraising initiatives.  In October, Steve received an Honorary Alumni Award from the Ball State Alumni Association. After listening to this episode, you’ll discover why he is a deserving recipient of this award. Steve discusses how meaningful it was for him to receive this award, and he shares the many ways in which he believes Ball State is an exceptional University.  Steve also shares stories about the front row seat he’s had to the evolution of the University—and how gratifying it’s been to witness the positive impact Ball State has had on so many people over the years, himself included.  If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.

    40 min
  3. S5E3: ‘I Try to Meet Students Where They Are’ | (Dr. Keith Robinson, Graduate, Career Educator, and Elected Official)

    11/24/2025

    S5E3: ‘I Try to Meet Students Where They Are’ | (Dr. Keith Robinson, Graduate, Career Educator, and Elected Official)

    Dr. Keith Robinson is an accomplished Ball State graduate who has dedicated his career to informing and inspiring high school students, first as an educator and now as an administrator.  In his current role, Keith serves as the associate principal of educational services for Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois. He is also a dedicated servant leader. He is the first Black trustee elected in the Village of Skokie. And Keith is also a member of the Ball State University Foundation Board of Directors and our Teachers College Advisory Council.  In this episode, Keith talks about how the academic struggles he experienced in high school and college fueled his passion to become an engaging educator. Keith also shares how, in addition to his professional career, he’s found a new purpose in his role as a public servant. And he reveals why the chance Ball State took on him as a student is the reason he’s been a loyal advocate in service to his alma mater ever since.

    34 min
  4. S5E2: “I Will Always Be a Ball State Cardinal, Through and Through” | (Jill Lacy, Ball State University Foundation Board Officer and Graduate)

    10/28/2025

    S5E2: “I Will Always Be a Ball State Cardinal, Through and Through” | (Jill Lacy, Ball State University Foundation Board Officer and Graduate)

    Jill Lacy is an accomplished, committed graduate of Ball State University. She serves on the Women of Beneficence Leadership Council, and she is a member of the Ball State University Foundation Board. As a student, Jill was active in student government and in her sorority. After graduating, she earned her master's degree in higher education administration, and then she pursued professional opportunities that allowed her to work at several colleges and universities across the country. Today, she serves as the president of The Lacy Foundation.  In this episode, Jill talks about the objectives of The Lacy Foundation and the challenges and opportunities of working in philanthropy. She also shares her excitement about her son attending Ball State, and how much she appreciated being asked to serve on the committee that developed the latest iteration of our University’s strategic plan.  If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.

    39 min
  5. S5E1: “If You’re Given an Opportunity ... Just Say Yes” | (Hugh Jackman, Award-Winning Theater, Film, and Television Actor)

    09/24/2025

    S5E1: “If You’re Given an Opportunity ... Just Say Yes” | (Hugh Jackman, Award-Winning Theater, Film, and Television Actor)

    Hugh Jackman is an award-winning actor of television and film. He is also an acclaimed theater performer who won a Tony® Award for his role in The Boy From Oz. Hugh’s most recent Broadway role was in the 2022 revival of The Music Man, which co-starred Ball State instructor and fellow Tony® Award winning actor, Sutton Foster.  In this episode, Hugh talks about joining Sutton this month on one of her return visits to Ball State—and he shares his own interests in teaching. He also shares some advice he gave our theater students, and he describes the trajectory of his career from the theater stages of Australia to the film sets of Hollywood.     If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.

    55 min
  6. S4E10: A Retired Administrator Reflects Back on His Years of Service to Ball State | (Don Mikesell, Graduate and Dean of Students Emeritus)

    06/24/2025

    S4E10: A Retired Administrator Reflects Back on His Years of Service to Ball State | (Don Mikesell, Graduate and Dean of Students Emeritus)

    Don Mikesell served as Ball State's dean of students from 1985 to 2001. Before he was an administrator at our university, Don was both an undergraduate and graduate student on our campus.  In this episode, Don reminisces about what Ball State was like when he first enrolled in 1956. From Greek life to helping adopt a more relaxed student dress code (believe it or not, khakis were controversial at the time!), Don was an involved and engaged Cardinal. Don also reflects on the mentors who shaped his professional career—a career defined by his outstanding service to our University. If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.

    39 min
  7. S4E9: A World-Renowned Architect Dedicates His Career to Innovative Design | (Craig Hartman, Architect and Senior Design Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill )

    05/28/2025

    S4E9: A World-Renowned Architect Dedicates His Career to Innovative Design | (Craig Hartman, Architect and Senior Design Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill )

    Craig Hartman is an accomplished architect and senior consulting design partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious design firms. Craig attended high school in rural Indiana. But it was the education that he received at Ball State University that opened his eyes to the possibility of making a professional name for himself on a global scale.  In this episode, Craig talks about experiencing the first years of our University’s College of Architecture and Planning and the role models on our campus who inspired him in his pursuit of his remarkable and fulfilling career. He also shares details about his award-winning professional work, including his designs for the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport and the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland—the first cathedral constructed in the 21st century.  If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.

    42 min
  8. S4E8: A Retired CEO and Entrepreneur Reflects on How Ball State Prepared Him For Career Success | (Ron Galbraith, Professor, Consultant, Innovator)

    04/29/2025

    S4E8: A Retired CEO and Entrepreneur Reflects on How Ball State Prepared Him For Career Success | (Ron Galbraith, Professor, Consultant, Innovator)

    Ron Galbraith is a retired CEO and entrepreneur with a distinctive career path—one that began in academia, continued in healthcare, and ended as an entrepreneur. But before he enjoyed career success, Ron was a Ball State student who, on his first day on campus, walked into the wrong science class.  Ron’s experiences as a first-generation college student in the 1960s shaped his professional aspirations. Guided by faculty mentors who encouraged his love of learning, Ron became a professor at Vanderbilt University. He then pivoted professionally to working for the Nation’s largest healthcare system before founding his own consulting firm.  In this episode, Ron talks about how he found his calling at Ball State—and why he’s inspired now to reengage with his alma mater. He also discusses his impressions of our campus today, after returning for his first visit to the University in years.  If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review to support the show.

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Our Call to Beneficence is a podcast hosted by Geoffrey S. Mearns, the president of Ball State University. The podcast features conversations with Ball State graduates and friends who embody the spirit of Beneficence through their professional success and their personal service.

Information

  • Creator
    Ball State University
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Our Call to Beneficence
  • Show Website
    Our Call to Beneficence