Get to know our board members! Each month, the Ball State University Foundation will be featuring three of its esteemed board members for you to get to know a little bit better. Below are some fun facts as well as a peek into what each of these board members do in their professional careers.  

Stefan Anderson (2005-2017)

Steve, the retired CEO of First Merchants Corporation and past Chair of the Ball State Foundation, has been a longstanding proud member of the Ball State community. He served as Chairman of Ball State’s first capital campaign in 1986 and received an honorary degree in 1992. His favorite part about volunteering with the Foundation is forming connections with the outstanding individuals on its board. Helping to advance the work of the University has been fulfilling for him because he sees the University driven by its values, a perspective gained through many years as Chair of the George and Frances Ball Foundation.

If Steve could live anywhere in the world, his number one place would be Muncie, Indiana. His home for over 45 years, Muncie always energizes him because of its vibrant base of caring volunteers. His number two choice would be Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin on Lake Michigan where he has his summer home. He enjoys hiking and kayaking there. Steve’s perfect day would involve snow skiing in the morning, followed by hiking in the afternoon.

Dave Heeter (2014-Present)

As an alum and longtime supporter of BSU, Dave has served on the Ball State University Foundation Board of Directors since 2014. Over the years, he has greatly enjoyed getting to learn new things about the university and the people he gets to interact with. “I have learned so much about philanthropy and its importance. And through my service, there is a chance that I can make a positive difference about what happens around campus.” Dave feels incredibly blessed and humbled to have the opportunity to volunteer with such an amazing university.

Currently, Dave is the Corporate Executive Vice President of Northwest Bank. If he could live anywhere, Dave stated that he would select  someplace like their lakehouse where the weather is always good and he can be close to his grandkids. He also would love to spend more time in Ireland and Italy, which are two of his favorite places. Dave’s perfect day involves not rushing out of bed and spending a relaxing morning. He would love to get something done everyday, whether that be work related or maybe a project around the lakehouse and to watch some of his favorite sports teams and end the day with a nice meal shared by family and friends.

Jill Lacy (2021-Present)

Jill has loved her time on the Foundation Board. She holds a deep appreciation for everything Ball State has given her and her son who is now a student on campus. Ball State was where she figured out what she wanted to do in life professionally and who she wanted to be personally. “I have volunteered for BSU pretty consistently since I graduated and it simply just gets better.” She is excited to continue her journey at the Ball State Foundation.

Presently, Jill is the President of the Lacy Foundation which is a private charitable foundation that focuses on education, leadership and quality of life issues. Their goal is to help Indianapolis become an outstanding place to live by focusing on education, community, arts, and culture. Jill stated that if she could live anywhere in the world, it would be on a cruise ship. That way she could visit many different ports and countries all over the globe. Her perfect day involves spending some “me” time by reading a book surrounded by beautiful scenery and then enjoying time and a meal with friends and family.

For more information about the Ball State University Foundation Board and full member list, click here.