On Friday, Aug. 15, just before the Fall 2025 semester began, faculty and staff gathered for the Fall Opening Convocation and departmental meetings.
During the convocation, President Geoffrey Mearns and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Anand Marri presented the annual University Faculty Awards, two of which went to faculty from CCIM: Dr. Katherine Denker and Dr. Faisal Kalota.
Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, Dr. Kathy Denker, received the Outstanding Faculty Award. Dr. Marri said her “CV clearly articulates her excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service as well as her disciplinary expertise and accomplishments.” Dr. Denker is an award-winning and active researcher who has numerous peer-reviewed publications, an edited book, and over 100 conference papers, many of which she co-authored with graduate students. She also formerly served as president of the Central States Communication Association.
Dr. Faisal Kalota, Assistant Professor in the Center for Information and Communication Sciences, was recognized with the Outstanding Junior Faculty award, which is awarded to faculty who have been at Ball State for no more than 5 years and demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarly or creative productivity, and service. Dr. Marri commended Dr. Kalota for his consistent focus on student success, stating that Dr. Kalota’s “primary concern in every decision and discussion is ensuring all students will benefit.” Dr. Marri also mentioned that Dr. Kalota’s key strength is in offering his students support and challenge in the same assignment and creating labes and exercises that accommodate different learning styles.
After the Convocation, CCIM faculty and staff gathered in the Letterman Lobby, where CCIM Dean Dr. Kristen McCauliff announced this year’s Faculty Award winners.
These winners represent the commitment to excellence that all faculty and staff in CCIM demonstrate daily.
CCIM Empowerment Award: Josh Gremer
Media Equipment and Volume Wall Coordinator
CCIM is lucky to have the support of so many people both within and outside of our college here on campus, which is why the CCIM Empowerment Award was created. Josh Gremer, Media Equipment and Volume Wall Coordinator, was incredibly involved with the addition of the LED wall. The wall marked a pivotal advancement for the Department of Media and the College of Communication, Information, and Media not just in terms of technology, but for curricular development. Focusing on the benefits that would come for our students, it was easy to overlook the needs that came with such incredible technology. Concerns were frequently brought up in talks of the wall, but we struggled to find a solution for maintaining and supporting it. That’s when Gremer stepped in.
Gremer’s natural curiosity about technology and its application has proven to be invaluable. His deep interest in the direction of the wall combined with his extensive knowledge of equipment and his understanding of how students and faculty engage with technology made him an indispensable asset. Before formally stepping into the newly created role dedicated to managing the LED wall, Gremer was already an active participant in training sessions, conducting research to better understand the technology, and providing essential support to our faculty.
Outstanding Teacher Award: Mary Moore
Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies
Within CCIM there is a lot to be proud of when it comes to our teaching and our faculty. Senior Lecturer Mary Moore has played an integral role in elevating teaching standards across our college and University through her contributions to student learning, curriculum innovation, and mentorship.
She teaches multiple core curriculum courses through a range of mediums and reaches over 1,000 students each year. Her remarkable commitment to student-centered learning is evident in her continuously positive student evaluations.
Under Moore’s leadership, COMM 210 has adopted a coaching-based, flexible structure. This structure allows students to choose from a range of assignments that speak to their strengths while maintaining rigorous learning outcomes. She also mentors a number of graduate students to ensure consistency and quality among the different sections of COMM 210 and provides a healthy dose of life advice. She has championed students’ access and equity by assisting in the movement to eliminate costly textbooks in favor or inclusive course materials. Moore also co-founded the BSU Speaking Center, which has already supported over 1,380 students across campus. Her teaching, mentorship, and passion for student-driven learning is exactly why she was recognized as the recipient of the CCIM Teaching Award.
Distinguished Researcher Award: Dr. Marcy Meyer
Associate Professor in Communication Studies
As a researcher, Dr. Marcy Meyer has engaged in a journey that very few scholars undertake. Trained as a quantitative social scientist, she has expanded her skillset to explore important questions that demand a methodological lens that honors participants’ words. Over the past three years, Dr. Meyer has become a leader in arts-based scholarship and has published a book titled “Iconographic Research Poetry” that instructs other scholars interested in this arts-based methodology.
In an ever-changing world, looking for new ways to bridge gaps can be quite challenging, but Dr. Marcy Meyer has taken on this challenge full-heartedly. She lives her values, making sure knowledge and information is available to all. She has also industriously worked to earn research funds to publish her book in an open access format, allowing for anyone interested in this realm to take a peek inside.
Community Connections Award: Dr. Luis Orozco
Assistant Professor in Center for Information and Communication Sciences
Although Dr. Luis Orozco is new to CCIM, he is incredibly involved in the community, and we are very excited to see how his ties grow within his time here. As someone who has maintained many outreach efforts prior to his time here, Dr. Orozco has and is always looking for ways to create new ties with the Hispanic community. Because of these ties and his service, he was nominated for the Advocacy Award by the Hispanic Business Council. This speaks volumes to his dedication to advocacy and building bridges between communities.
Dr. Orozco currently serves on the Community Engagement Taskforce to continue to champion his passion for connection and service. He has worked with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on several community engagement initiatives, serves as advisor for the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), and is also the co-editor for the Global Journal of Transformative Education. Dr. Orozco was also recently awarded $5,000 for a sponsored project titled “Digital Resilience During Covid-19: Best Practices Among Hispanic Businesses.” It is easy to see that he has a passion for community and advocating for underserved voices within them. Dr. Orozco will be presenting at the 2025 Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference showcasing the work he’s done with more than 40 Midwest partners!
High Technology Award: Alex Kartman
Associate Lecturer in Department of Media and Director of Sports Production
Technology is such an important part of CCIM, and it is always changing and evolving! We want to honor Alex Kartman, who goes out of his way to keep pace with the evolving landscape in our industry. He is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancement, and his pivotal role in researching and guiding the Department of Media‘s acquisition of the LED Wall from ARWall not only enhanced his own technological expertise but also reshaped the direction and focus of their curriculum. Kartman’s in-depth research laid the foundation for developing courses that enable students to master this innovative technology. Many times, throughout the last year, Kartman has helped in explaining the importance and significance of the wall to external and internal stakeholders.
Kartman played a key role in mentoring Sports Link students, helping them integrate the LED wall into their projects and maximizing its potential. This desire to mentor and guide CCIM students is what initially inspired him to take on the role of researching this technology, as he has always strived to provide students with a path to work on and with technology that is leading the industry. We recognize Kartman for his dedication to researching technology to ensure we are able to serve our students to the best of our ability in this evolving industry.
Professionalism Award: Dr. Rob Brookey
Professor in Department of Media
As a college known for professionalism and collaboration, we are happy to highlight Dr. Rob Brookey, a member who has gone above and beyond in his work. His professional leadership has touched countless areas over the years as he has served as the Director of Graduate Studies twice, has held the role of chair of the Department of Media’s Promotions and Tenure, and has served as the chair of CCIM’s P&T committee at the college level. His contributions to enhancing the graduate program in the Department of Media have set a new standard across the University. Now used as a model for other programs across campus, Dr. Brookey developed an innovative system to assess prospective graduate students that allows them to earn credit for prior work experience.
With a long history of collaborative research, we recognize Dr. Brookey for his distinguished career marked by professionalism. In leadership roles both within and outside of Media, Dr. Brookey’s impact has been far-reaching. He has represented our values with exceptional professionalism in many areas, from committees, editing critical studies in media communication, or contributing to several editorial boards in communication organizations, Dr. Rob Brookey’s commitment to professionalism is evident in every aspect of his service.
Inclusive Leadership Award: Leo Caldwell
Assistant Lecturer in School of Journalism and Strategic Communication
Our University and college have always strived to be inclusive and supportive of all of our students, faculty, and staff. CCIM is proud of the lengths our team members go to make sure our students feel that they belong not only within our college, but in our world no matter their background. Advocating for those from traditionally under-represented groups is a point of passion and excellence for Leo Caldwell. As someone who experienced life-changing affirmation and belonging at Ball State as a student, he has paid it back for almost a decade as a faculty member where he champions digital storytelling as a way to promote inclusion.
Caldwell brings empathy and storytelling together to promote a more inclusive world here at Ball State while also working with organizations as a professional consultant to help design an inclusive workplace where all genders are welcome. He has led the CCIM Inclusive Excellence Taskforce, served as a Faculty Fellow in the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and also served on the President’s Advisory Council of Inclusive Excellence. Although research is not a requirement of Caldwell’s assistant-lecturer position, he is committed to advancing understanding about how empathy and storytelling can promote inclusion of all genders, and this is seen through his project “Interactive Empathy Exhibit: Understanding the Transgender Journey (2022)” among others. He not only has a reputation here of inclusivity and support but is nationally recognized for his expertise and advocacy in diversity.
Extraordinary Service Award: Matt Lowe
Project Manager and Adjunct Faculty
CCIM champions service. We have so many incredible members of our team who go out of their way to support others. Matt Lowe’s support of our own School of Journalism and Strategic Communication (SJSC) has been vital. Not only does he have his department’s goals in mind, but he also includes our University’s strategic goals thoughtfully and seamlessly. From planning and implementing high-level events like the Louie Awards, The National Writing Award Luncheon, and The Schranz Distinguished Lectureship Series to managing the load of projects between both SJSC and EMDD, Lowe does the work of two people with unmatched grace.
While handling a multitude of Lowe’s own projects, he also assists in supporting our CCIM Outreach team with their expansive range of events and has done amazing work assisting with our David Letterman Speaker Series. His service is essential to our college and university as a whole. From managing the allocation of GA support to meet the changing and emergent needs of faculty to efficiently and effectively handling any unexpected or last-minute change, Matt Lowe is an expert at navigating any situation without internal strife or external embarrassment. Without him, many events may have been a lot rockier and less polished—and a lot less fun!
Dean’s Faculty Award: Dr. Glen Stamp
Professor in Communication Studies
Dr. Glen Stamp has been with Ball State since 1991 and was a department chair for 21 of those years after agreeing to first serve as chair in an interim capacity for 6 months! In that time, he was responsible for hiring countless faculty members, admitting numerous graduate students, and setting the tone for the revered and special culture of the Department of Communication Studies. Dr. Stamp did all this while maintaining an impressively high publication record—publishing in the top journals in our field and publishing in a way that brought junior faculty and graduate students on as co-authors. He is a generous scholar guided by a true love of research and a commitment to a curious life.
A wonderful college and university citizen, Dr. Stamp has served on just about every committee that ever existed. This year, when CCIM needed a last-minute P&T sub, he readily agreed to the additional service. He is a “yes, and …” leader. When faculty or graduate students come to him with an outlandish or wild idea, he is always quick to say “yes, and we’ll figure it out.” Dr. Stamp’s good humor, generous spirit, and long-time commitment to excellence is a mainstay around this building. The Dean’s Award is designed to honor someone who has a significant track record of emphasizing and putting into practice the college’s mission and values and the University’s Beneficence Pledge. For those who have had the privilege of working with Dr. Stamp closely, he doesn’t just emphasize and practice the college’s mission, he IS the college.
Blog by Amelia Harker (Strategic Communication: Public Relations ’27)