Gretchen Coffman, ‘88, still remembers the feeling of stepping outside the airport and into the busy London streets for the first time. A Ball State junior at the time, she arrived to work with oil and gas company British Petroleum (BP) as part of a summer program offered by The State University of New York (SUNY).  

“I worked in their London headquarters, taking the tube to work every day, and ultimately gaining impactful work experience that solidified my desire for a career in human resources. I worked on an engagement program called ‘Putting People First’ and the most valuable ideas came from the employees on the front line. To this day, I’m mindful of listening to employees at all levels to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard.” 

The experience of embarking on an international work assignment may have been new to Gretchen at the time, but moving forward, it would inform her approach to change. “Problem solving in the midst of being put in uncomfortable, challenging situations is where the biggest growth happens,” Gretchen shared. “Whether you’re new to an organization, facing an unprecedented business challenge, or studying abroad, you are gaining experiences that will ultimately make you a better leader and thought partner in your chosen profession.” 

After graduation, Gretchen maintained fond memories of the learning experiences she had while studying at the Miller College of Business (MCOB), her experiences abroad, and the continued support of her sorority, Chi Omega. Choosing human resources as a profession, she progressed through a variety of HR leadership roles at McDonald’s Corporation, National Safety Council, and James Hardie Building Products. But as her career and family grew in importance, she found there was a new challenge: how to approach re-engaging with her alma mater. 

“I was busy with life. Working full time and raising kids.” Living outside of Indiana increased that feeling of separation as well: “That connection with Ball State just wasn’t always there because it was out of sight, out of mind.”   

“I started to get re-engaged when a student from my kids’ high school chose to attend Ball State in 2016. I’ve been following her career progression as a meteorologist, and I’m excited to see an early-career Ball State alum achieving success in their field.”

Gretchen became intentional in her involvement as an alumna and in her desire to see Ball State’s accomplishments represented in her local area. She started by attending a Ball State alumni holiday reception, starting conversations, and looking for ways to contribute. “Ball State has great programs that I wanted to be a part of amplifying. Rather than just sit back on the sidelines, I asked myself, how can I get more involved?”  

Getting more involved is exactly what she did. Since then, she has volunteered as a participant in the annual Miller College Dialogue Days to share her human resources leadership experience with students, and she serves on the MCOB Executive Advisory Board. In 2024, the Miller College of Business recognized Gretchen for her career success and her continuing support of the college with the prestigious Alumni Award of Achievement. Her engagement with the Miller College, and her own study abroad experience, inspired her to actively support the college’s study abroad opportunities. She recently committed a major gift to provide significant financial support to the MCOB Study Away & Abroad program.  

Gretchen is committed to raising the profile and awareness of Ball State. “I’m proud to be a Ball State Miller College of Business graduate, and I’m excited to pay it forward and see the university – and more importantly the students who graduate from the university – achieve success and realize their potential in the world.” 

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