Bette Smith will serve as director of Ball State University’s Center for Innovation and Collaboration (CIC), effective Jan. 5, 2026.
Located at the southeast corner of Ashland Avenue and Martin Street in Muncie, the CIC will be a cornerstone of the University’s work to revitalize The Village district. The three-story facility—scheduled to open in Fall 2026—will bring together students, faculty, community organizations, and business partners to develop ideas, create prototypes, and support regional workforce and innovation needs.
As director, Ms. Smith will oversee the Center’s strategic direction, operations, and emerging programs. She will also help shape the Center’s initial organizational structure and expand partnerships that connect Ball State’s expertise with community and industry priorities.
“As we continue to build out the Center’s structure and programming, Bette’s experience creating and leading collaborative environments will be vital,” said Dr. Anand R. Marri, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Ball State. “The Center for Innovation and Collaboration reflects Ball State’s commitment to connecting learning and discovery with real-world impact. Under Bette’s leadership, the Center will accelerate opportunities for students and faculty while advancing innovation throughout our city, region, and state.”
Ms. Smith brings more than two decades of professional experience in higher education, organizational change, and partnership development. Since 2013, she has served as principal of Destra Consulting Group, where she works with corporate, nonprofit, and public-sector clients on transformation initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and leadership alignment.
Previously, Ms. Smith was the founding director of the J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities at the University of Colorado Denver Business School, where she established the Center’s academic programs, industry relationships, and portfolio of professional events. She also held senior positions with CQG, Inc., a global financial technology firm, where she led corporate communications and professional development.
“I am honored to join Ball State University and grateful to the members of the search committee for their confidence in me,” Ms. Smith said. “My passion is bringing people with diverse experience and perspectives together, and innovation and collaboration thrive when we come together with a shared purpose. I look forward to working with campus and community partners to realize the Center’s vision—sparking creativity, fostering collaboration, supporting entrepreneurship, and strengthening connections across East Central Indiana.”
Since its groundbreaking in 2024, the Center for Innovation and Collaboration has been a key project within Ball State’s Village Revitalization Plan, a public-private partnership designed to create a mixed-use district that strengthens the connection between campus and the surrounding community. Alongside the CIC, the Performing Arts Center and the Cantio Hotel—both expected to open by Fall 2026—will serve as major anchors in the redevelopment of The Village. The CIC will offer collaboration spaces, design and fabrication studios, and technology-equipped labs to support hands-on learning and partnerships with business and community organizations.
“Over the past year, our team and partners have laid important groundwork for the Center,” said Dr. Jennifer Palilonis, the Center’s interim director and George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Multimedia Storytelling at Ball State. “Bette Smith is the right leader to build on that foundation. Her background in higher education and organizational strategy will help position the Center as a hub for creativity, entrepreneurship, and meaningful collaboration.”
A New York native, Ms. Smith earned her master’s degree in social science from the University of Colorado Denver and her bachelor’s degree in Russian studies from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. She is also a certified Prosci change management practitioner and has served on several boards and advisory councils related to leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation in education.