Honoring Vivian V. Conley and Hurley C. Goodall, Jr.
In 2024, the Multicultural Center was named in honor of Vivian V. Conley and Hurley C. Goodall, Jr. in recognition of their longstanding impact on our campus and community.
Ms. Conley and Mr. Goodall were proud supporters of Ball State University whose lives reflect the mission of the Multicultural Center, and the University’s enduring values of courage, inclusiveness, social responsibility, excellence and gratitude.
Ball State University is forever grateful to Ms. Vivian V. Conley and Mr. Hurley C. Goodall, Jr. for their historical and courageous leadership, extraordinary contributions, loyal service, unending commitment to education, and dedication to the Muncie Community and University.
On December 13, 2024 the Board of Trustees of Ball State University approved the naming of the Multicultural Center, the Vivian V. Conley and Hurley C. Goodall Multicultural Center as a lasting tribute to their servant leadership, service to community, and dedication to Ball State University as an advocate and friend.
I believe that higher education opens doors to a different quality of life.
—Vivian V. Conley, 1988
Vivian V. Conley
Ms. Vivian Conley is an alumna of Ball State University and was an activist for education and civil rights in Muncie. Ms. Conley attended Ball State University as a non-traditional student and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in gerontology and made it her life’s work to ensure access to a good education.
While attending Ball State University, Ms. Conley founded the Nontraditional Student Association to support students like herself, a legacy that continues with the Vivian Conley Memorial Scholarship that is awarded to nontraditional part-time students who demonstrate a commitment to the betterment of their community.
Ms. Conley served as the education coordinator for Trinity United Methodist Church for 20 years where she shepherded more than 150 students to a college education including to our campus for a Ball State education, while attending Ball State at the same time as her own daughter and three grandsons.
In the 1950s, Ms. Conley was part of the campaign to desegregate Tuhey Pool, and during the 1970s, she participated in the campaign to end the use of the confederate flag symbol at Southside High School.
The Muncie-Delaware County Coalition of Women’s Organizations honor the legacy of Ms. Conley by awarding the Vivian V. Conley Award to women who work in the arts, business, community service, education, social justice, environment, health, and humanitarian aid.
Hurley C. Goodall, Jr.
Mr. Hurley Goodall, a native of Muncie and graduate of Muncie Central High School was a historic trailblazer serving as the first black firefighter in Muncie and the first and only black member of the Muncie Community School board until 1993; and Mr. Goodall served in the Indiana House of Representatives from the 38th district as a member of the Democratic Party from 1978 to 1992. During his tenure in the state house, he was a ranking member on the Labor and Public Safety committees and served as the assistant Democratic floor leader. He was a founding member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and served as its first chair until his retirement from the state house.
Mr. Goodall was awarded an honorary degree from Ball State University and served as a visiting scholar at the Center for Middletown Studies; and Mr. Goodall was a historian who authored multiple books on black history, and the Ball State University Library is home of the Hurley
Goodall Papers, which include addresses, publications, and research on black history in Muncie from 1947-2000.
The Multicultural Center awards the Hurley Goodall Distinguished Faculty/Staff award, which recognizes a full-time faculty or professional staff member who has gone beyond the call of duty to assist the Multicultural Center in developing students