Ball State University has appointed Dr. Kristen McCauliff as dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM). Dr. McCauliff has served as CCIM’s interim dean since July 2024.
A member of the Ball State faculty since 2009, Dr. McCauliff is a respected scholar and experienced academic leader. She previously served as associate provost for faculty affairs and professional development, where she led campuswide initiatives that advanced faculty success and student learning.
“Dr. McCauliff is a thoughtful and effective leader who exemplifies our University’s enduring values,” said Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. “She brings to this role a deep understanding of our campus community, a strong record of academic and administrative leadership, and an unwavering commitment to student success. I look forward to her continued impact in guiding CCIM’s innovative programs that provide our students with distinctive experiences and prepare them for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives.”
As a faculty member at Ball State, Dr. McCauliff has taught and advised graduate students in rhetorical theory, criticism, feminism, and media analysis. In recognition of her commitment to high-quality instruction, she received the University’s Outstanding Teacher Award in 2015. Her research has been published in Communication Studies, Women & Language, Rhetoric Society Quarterly, and the Journal of Faculty Development. She is also the co-author of Listening to Women on the Right: Communication Strategies of Today’s Female Republican Politicians, published in 2017.
Nationally, Dr. McCauliff has led workshops with Academic Impressions and has been named an EAB Rising Higher Education Leaders Fellow and a University of California, Berkeley Bridging Differences Fellow. She earned her doctorate in communication from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Wake Forest University.
“I’m grateful to the Ball State University Board of Trustees, President Mearns, and Provost Anand R. Marri for their confidence and support,” Dr. McCauliff said. “Serving as interim dean has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I look forward to continuing that work alongside our exceptional faculty, staff, and students. Together, we will continue to shape a CCIM experience that is innovative, student-centered, and rooted in the values that define Ball State.”
CCIM’s academic offerings include the Department of Communication Studies, the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, the Department of Media, and the Center for Information and Communication Sciences. The college provides a nationally recognized learning environment built on immersive learning experiences, hands-on production skills, and faculty mentorship.
CCIM is home to Ball State Public Media—which includes Ball State PBS and Indiana Public Radio—as well as the University’s award-winning student media organizations, including The Ball State Daily News, Ball Bearings magazine, and Sports Link, the nation’s first academic program in sports media. The college also oversees Ball State’s nationally recognized esports program as well as its speech and debate teams. These platforms help prepare students for fulfilling careers in journalism, public relations, media production, strategic communication, data analytics, and emerging technologies.
For more information about CCIM, visit the college’s website, email ccimdeansofc@bsu.edu, or call 765-285-6000.