Every month, Ball State alumnus Phill Miller boards a plane bound for Dublin, Ireland, to lead an international technology company. He never imagined those trips would create an unforgettable experience for two Ball State students.
A 2002 graduate of the Honors College with a degree in computer science, Mr. Miller has remained connected with Dr. Fred Kitchens, associate professor of information systems and operations management.
During one of their conversations, Mr. Miller mentioned how much time he was spending in Ireland after joining Skillwell as CEO in 2025. Skillwell is an AI-powered educational technology company based at Trinity College Dublin’s Technology & Enterprise Campus. Dr. Kitchens shared that for many years, he had taken Ball State students to Ireland to participate in the Innovation Value Institute Summit at Maynooth University, but he didn’t have a way to do so this year.
That discussion sparked an idea.
By hosting the students in Dublin, Skillwell could make the international experience far more attainable while giving them firsthand exposure to an innovative global technology company and its network of academic and industry partners.
Ben Shewmaker, a junior majoring in business information systems, and Conner Austerman, a senior majoring in business information systems and business administration, represented Ball State, the only U.S. university participating in the competition, which focused on artificial intelligence and digital footprints.
The opportunity allowed the students to travel to Ireland, present their research at the Innovation Value Institute’s annual competition, and immerse themselves in an international academic and professional environment. Their work earned the Innovation Collaboration Award, presented to the team that best demonstrated one of the institute’s core values: innovative collaboration between industry and academia.
“It means everything to Ben and me to receive this award,” Mr. Austerman said. “To represent Ball State internationally and have our research recognized for the work and dedication we put into it was incredibly fulfilling. None of this would have been possible without the help of Phill Miller and Skillwell, and I am deeply appreciative of their support and guidance.”
Although international recognition was exciting, the relationships built throughout the trip became the most memorable part of the experience.
“The best part of this trip was simply talking to the other student competitors and talking to the Irish locals,” Mr. Austerman said. “Hearing the different perspectives of students from all around the world was very eye-opening. I learned so much from those conversations.”
Creating those kinds of opportunities has become one of Mr. Miller’s greatest motivations for staying involved with his alma mater. He hopes students not only have the chance to represent Ball State on a global stage but also graduate with experiences that set them apart in today’s workforce.
“I work with Human Resources leaders and CEOs all the time,” Mr. Miller said. “They are always telling me that they need graduates with a lot more experience and not just a degree.”
Because of Mr. Miller and Skillwell, the students gained more than an opportunity to compete. They also saw firsthand how an international technology company works across higher education and industry.
“In this case, the students gained experience working with Skillwell, an international company, while also experiencing what it’s like to work abroad,” Mr. Miller said. “We also connected them with Trinity College Dublin and the Learnovate Centre, giving them a firsthand look at how industry and academia collaborate.”
From Mr. Miller’s perspective, the award simply recognized what the students had already accomplished.
“The fact that they won the award was just a bonus. To me, they had already won.”
Decades after graduating, Mr. Miller still collaborates with Dr. Kitchens on academic research while also finding new ways to invest in today’s students. It’s a partnership that reflects the lasting connections Ball State inspires among its faculty, alumni, and students.
