Events Listed As Speakers

Guatemala is a land of mystery and majesty, home to 1,700-year-old Mayan Temples, active volcanoes and the deepest lake in Central America. From the bustle of Guatemala City to the Mayan mystery of Tikal, Guatemala was an awesome experience that needs to be shared, and Deb Smith, recently returned from an Overseas Adventure Travel week, is eager to share her stories with you.

Seven years ago the Health Library opened; five years ago the Foundational Sciences Library opened. A lot has happened since then. Catch up on how these two branches of the University Libraries have continued to adapt to selective pressures within the ever-evolving academic ecosystem. Kevin Brooks, Science Librarian, will provide an inside look at the resources, services, and spaces that serve students and faculty in the broad range of STEM disciplines and health professions.

Join us for the official opening of the "Ages of Liberty" Archives and Special Collections exhibit. Refreshments will be served.In 1776, a committee of five members of the Continental Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence, one of the most foundational and important political documents in the history of western society. But the Declaration did not spring from the minds of the writers out of nothing. Like any great work, it was profoundly influenced by the cultural movements of the time. The writers were inspired by a century of Enlightenment philosophy advocating reason, liberalism, and natural rights. They were also inundated with a media landscape of print information that was expanding in a way never seen before. These ingredients, along with unrest and unfair treatment, created an atmosphere of revolution — where political change actually felt possible.Ages of Liberty seeks to explore the 18th century cultural "ages" of Revolution, Enlightenment, and Print which were all important ingredients in creating the atmosphere where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed. The exhibit features six original signed documents from American Founders Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Lafayette. The Age of Revolution section also includes other revolutionary rare books and documents. The Age of Enlightenment section displays works of philosophy, medicine, and education, as well as Diderot's famous Encyclopédie. The Age of Print section showcases newspapers, magazines, novels, poetry, and more, including an original Poor Richard's Almanack, a first-edition Gulliver's Travels, and Bible leaves from the first ever printed Bibles in the American Colonies.

The Ball State Writer-in-Residence program is thrilled to host Varian Johnson, award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, in Muncie the week of October 19th-21st to read, write, learn, and talk with students in our community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around books and storytelling. The first event takes place on October 19th, 7:30 p.m. in the Pittenger Student Center Ballroom on "Writing for Young People".

Muncie’s quality of place didn’t happen by accident, it’s the long-term result of decades of infrastructure growth, rising maintenance responsibilities, and development patterns that change slowly and compound over time. This presentation tells Muncie’s growth story through an infrastructure lens, explains why real change can’t happen overnight, and argues that this reality isn’t hopeless—it’s manageable.

The Ball State Writer-in-Residence program is thrilled to host Varian Johnson, award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, in Muncie the week of October 19th-21st to read, write, learn, and talk with students in our community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around books and storytelling. At 5:30 p.m. at the Ross Community Center, pizza and dessert will be served and Varian Johnson will be available to sign books after the event.

Join us for the largest student professional development event of the year, October 20-22. Network with alumni as they join us on campus to participate in numerous panel discussions. Alumni will share their experiences leading a range of industries, including manufacturing, financial services, and telecommunications. Networking and social opportunities complement professional development sessions and workshops.

This session will look at a brief history of housing at colleges and universities. The presentation pays close attention to the housing history of Ball State University and how this compares to the growth of housing operations at American Universities. The presentation includes a photo history of Ball State’s housing.

Join us for a free screening of Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire and an in-person discussion with director Oren Rudavsky. October 28 at 7:30 p.m. in AJ 175. Advance registration is encouraged; walk-ins are welcome.

Join us for a special lecture featuring renowned landscape architect Thomas L. Woltz, FASLA, as he shares insights from his award-winning work shaping meaningful public landscapes around the world.

Most people know that you can determine the age of some trees by counting their annual growth ring. However, those growth rings can tell us so much more. Measurement of dated tree-rings have been used to determine when the Anasazi built their large community in the American Southwest and to document the mega drought that forced them to leave these homes. After listening to this presentation, you will never look at trees the same way again.

Operation Iceberg-Heroes of the Fleet - Okinawa was the last battle of the war. The casualties were greater and the duration longer than any battle of the war. It was nearly beyond what the mind could absorb and yet it would be a small percentage of the ferocity of the battle to come. Nobody can take away from the sacrifice of our soldiers and marines. Few understand the sacrifice of our sailors. This is a story of near misses, miracles, loss, and stand-your-ground heroism.

The Creative Writing Program Visiting Writer Series and Women’s, Gender and African American Studies welcome Indiana author, Melissa Fraterrigo for a reading and book signing, Thursday, November 12, 5:00 PM in Robert Bell 125.

Why 65 Changes the Rules, Your Income Picture After 65, The Three Big Deductions for 2026, Medical, Given, and Itemizing—When to Skip the Standard Deduction, RMD’s, Roths, and Timing Withdrawals, Indiana -Specific, Q&A and Resources

The Building Material Samples Collection contains physical building material samples used to inspire and inform design thinking in architecture, landscape architecture, construction management, and interior design. Evaluating the tactile properties and physical characteristics of materials helps students explore how materials perform, how they are manufactured and installed, and why a designer might specify them.Join Brad Johnston, Building Materials Librarian, and Zachariah Michielli, Assistant Teaching Professor of Architecture, for a presentation discussing how the collection forwards conversations around building science, design, and construction.This event is a part of the University Libraries Virtual Lunch and Learn series. It is free and open to the public.

Charles Dickens and Christmas have been inextricably linked in the popular imagination since the publication of “A Christmas Carol” in 1843. This talk explores the circumstances under which Dickens wrote the novella, the place it occupies in its author’s career, and the impact it made from the beginning in promoting benevolence and charity. Adapted for stage, radio and screen, nearly two centuries later it retains its power to move and inspire.