Tenure is a pinnacle of academic culture. It promotes free discourse and provides the basis for faculty to pursue their scholarship, teaching, and research free of political and corporate influence. Granting tenure to a faculty member is one of the most important decisions our institution makes, and as such the process to receive tenure is rigorous and extended. The Office of Research honors the individuals who have achieved one of the highest markers of academic success as a scholar and professor at Ball State.
Ms. Audrey Barcio | Associate Professor of Art
Audrey Barcio’s research-based approach explores how abstract visual languages serve as a foundation for the architecture of human culture. Through abstract symbolic painting, she develops a visual vocabulary centered on equality, unity, and strength. Barcio is a Pollock-KrasnerFoundation Grant recipient and a Joan Mitchell Fellowship nominee. She earned her MFA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her BAE from the Herron School of Art and Design. She has completed residencies at the Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Rogers Foundation. Her work has been featured in New American Paintings, New Art Examiner, Occhi Magazine, PATTERN, NUVO, Las Vegas Weekly, and on NPR. Recent exhibitions include The Painting Center (New York), the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (South Korea), the Contemporary Art Center (Cincinnati), the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis (CAMi), Syracuse University, the Studio at Sahara West (Las Vegas), Echo Arts (Bozeman), and the Evanston Art Center. Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art, and the Rogers Foundation.
Dr. Lynn Bielski | Associate Professor of Audiology
Lynn M. Bielski, Ph.D., CCC-A, is an associate professor of audiology at Ball State University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed post-doctoral training at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She teaches courses in diagnostics, amplification, electrophysiology and hearing conservation. Her research interests include auditory-visual communication, auditory processing and listening difficulties in children and adults, and the relation between audition and cognitive function, especially working memory. Her area of clinical focus is auditory processing. She is a member of the Motherscholar Collective, a research organization dedicated to giving motherscholars+ across fields a place to collaborate. Outside of work, she is active in swimming, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Dr. Benjamin Downs | Associate Professor of Sport Administration
Originally from Latrobe, PA, Dr. Downs earned his B.A. in History and Black Studies from the College of Wooster. He earned his M.S. in Kinesiology from Mississippi State University and his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University. As a sport management / management history hybrid scholar he primarily uses modernization theory to examine how sport facilities change in urban environments. Specifically, he uses historical methods to explore how economic, political, social, and technological changes influence the design, construction, and renovation of sport facilities with focus on basketball and hockey facilities. Since joining the faculty at Ball State, he has been elected to the executive board of the Applied Sport Management Association and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Amateur Sport and Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics. Ben lives in Pendleton with his wife Danielle, daughters Stella and Hazel, and dog Teddy.
Mr. Huali Fu | Associate Professor of Art Animation
Huali Fu is an experienced 3D artist and educator specializing in content creation across the digital art space, with a background in game development and augmented reality. At Ball State, his research explores virtual reality and interactive media, uniting technical innovation with artistic vision to expand how technology transforms creative expression. From 2019 to 2023, he created Onboarding, an interactive virtual reality experience that integrates narrative with immersive world-building to investigate emergent forms of digital storytelling. Onboarding has been presented at more than 18 international festivals, earned notable recognitions, and featured in festivals across Europe, Asia, and the United States. He believes that dedication, hard work, and perseverance are essential to becoming a proficient artist. These values form the cornerstone of his teaching philosophy, and he strives to instill these values in his students. Before joining Ball State University, he worked in the San Francisco Bay Area. He earned his MFA from the School of Visual Arts and his BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia.
Dr. Elizabeth Goldsby | Associate Professor of Nursing
Elizabeth Goldsby, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Nursing with 14 years of experience as a nursing educator and nine years of clinical experience in emergency and behavioral health nursing. Her teaching focuses on Behavioral Health Nursing and Culture and Healthcare, with a passion for preparing future nurses to provide compassionate, culturally responsive, and evidence-based care. Dr. Goldsby’s scholarship centers on mental health interventions, nursing leadership, and reducing stigma toward individuals experiencing mental illness and substance use disorders. Her work also introduced the Lasso Effect of Motivational Contagion, an innovative concept exploring how motivation can spread within interpersonal and professional environments. Her scholarly contributions include 21 publications, 26 presentations, and 10 grants. Throughout her career, Dr. Goldsby has been especially committed to connecting scholarship with meaningful improvements in nursing education, healthcare practice, and the well-being of both patients and healthcare professionals.
Dr. Mohsen Goodarzi | Associate Professor of Construction Management
Dr. Mohsen Goodarzi is an Associate Professor of Construction Management at Ball State University, where he was promoted with tenure in 2026. He joined Ball State as an Assistant Professor in 2021 after earning his Ph.D. in Construction Management from Michigan State University that same year. His teaching includes Construction Finance and Law, Sustainable Construction, Residential Construction Fundamentals, and High-Performance and Sustainable Residential Construction. His research focuses on green buildings and the sustainable built environment, with particular emphasis on life-cycle sustainability assessment and cost-benefit analysis. Dr. Goodarzi has secured multiple external research grants, published in leading peer-reviewed journals, and presented his work at premier conferences in construction and the built environment.
Mr. Zoran Jakovcic | Associate Professor of Music (Viola)
A native of Croatia, Zoran Jakovcic made his solo orchestral debut as winner of the National Competition in Zagreb. He has performed in recitals and as soloist with orchestras in Europe, Japan, China, and the US. Mr. Jakovcic was first violinist of the Essex Quartet (1988-98), winner of numerous competitions and awards with residences at Juilliard and a number of other prestigious institutions across North America. In 2005 Mr. Jakovcic joined the Maia Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Iowa, which performed throughout the US, Japan and China, and collaborated with leading chamber musicians. Mr. Jakovcic has taught and performed at notable music academies and festivals worldwide. Mr. Jakovcic graduated from The Juilliard School as a student of Dorothy Delay and served as teaching assistant to Robert Mann of the Juilliard Quartet. An accomplished teacher and administrator, Mr. Jakovcic has founded the Arcady International Music Camp (ME) and the Thurnauer Chamber Music Camp (NJ), and served on the faculty of the University of Iowa and Columbus State University in Georgia. Mr. Jakovcic has taught at Ball State University since 2018 and is an Associate Professor of Music (Viola).
Dr. Faisal Kalota | Associate Professor in the Center for Information and Communication Sciences
Faisal Kalota joined the Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS) in 2021, where he has been teaching graduate courses in Information and Communication Sciences. He has several years of experience in both technology and education, including Embedded Systems, IT Strategy and Planning, IT Training, and Educational Technology. He is dedicated to mentoring students, helping them build confidence and get ready for their future careers. He also works with students on research projects, giving them opportunities to co-author and co-present their work. To recognize his support for students, Ball State’s Graduate College awarded him the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentoring Award in Spring 2026. His commitment to teaching, research, and service earned him Ball State’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Award in 2025. He also received the Faculty Excellence Award in 2024 from the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE).
Ms. Jenn Meckley | Associate Professor of Dance, Dance Historian, & Teacher
As a performer, teacher, choreographer, and practitioner of hip-hop, street dance, club dance, and contemporary dance forms, Jenn (she/they) has made it her goal to emphasize the benefits of training in African American vernacular dance techniques and enhance the interactions between these dance forms and queer culture. Jennifer obtained a B.A. in Dance from Slippery Rock University and a M.F.A. in Dance from The Ohio State University. She previously served as a faculty member at West Chester University, Cuyahoga Community College, Northampton Community College, and the University of Dayton. Jennifer actively pushes the boundaries of physicality as a founding member of the modern dance company, which has performed at venues across the country. Their choreography has been presented at Gibney Dance Center, Detroit City Dance Festival, West Chester University, Slippery Rock University, and Ball State University. Her identity as a queer person motivates the content for her work and her choreography is a fusion of movement from breaking, house dance, waacking, vogue, and contemporary dance.
Dr. Todd Nesbit | Associate Professor of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Economics
Dr. Nesbit earned BS degrees in Economics and Mathematics from Capital University and a Ph.D. in economics from West Virginia University. He is an Associate Professor of Economics and the Associate Director for the Institute for the Study of Political Economy in the Miller College of Business. Prior to coming to Ball State University, he held academic positions at The Ohio State University, College of Charleston, Penn State-Erie, and Wabash College. He is a member of the Board of Scholars for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. His primary research interest is in public policy issues, specifically excise taxation and sports policy. His work appears in numerous academic journals, books, and national media outlets. He is the co-editor of two books and recently had two Wall Street Journal op-eds published within 12 months. Dr. Nesbit leads ISPE’s Buchanan Scholars program, and organizes the annual Horwitz Nobel Prize Panel. He also leads two academic conferences each May at BSU Fishers: Midwest Classical Liberals Conference and Midwest Institutes Conference.
Dr. Grace Park | Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication
Dr. Grace Park is an Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication. Dr. Park’s research examines the role of strategic communication skills in science related crisis cases, such as health and environmental issues, within a social media setting. She has published peer-reviewed articles in journals including Public Relations Review, Disasters, and Health Communication Research. She has presented conference papers at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference (AEJMC), International Communication Association (ICA), and International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC). Dr. Park has taught Principles of PR, Branding for Advertising and Public Relations, Media Theory and Research method, Account Management, Strategic Writing, and Media Law and Ethics at Ball State University.
Dr. Nadra Pencle | Associate Professor of Accounting
Dr. Nadra Pencle is an Associate Professor of Accounting in the Miller College of Business. Her teaching spans managerial, cost, and financial accounting, and she developed and teaches a graduate course focused on sustainability. Her research explores corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and how organizations navigate competing social, environmental, and financial priorities. Through her work, she encourages students and organizations to embrace a paradox mindset when confronting complex decisions. Dr. Pencle’s Caribbean island roots have shaped her strong work ethic, commitment to community, and appreciation for diversity in all its forms. She is passionate about creating an inclusive learning environment in which students feel valued and are encouraged to consider perspectives beyond their own. In the classroom, she challenges students to think critically, act with integrity, and recognize both the opportunities and responsibilities associated with education. She values the relationships she builds with students and takes great pride in supporting their academic and professional growth. Outside Ball State, she enjoys spending time and traveling with her husband and two children.
Ms. Kathryn Rohe | Associate Professor of Theatre & Dance, Costume Designer, and Teacher
Prior to joining Ball State, Kathryn worked in New York City, designing mostly for the award-winning Off-Broadway company, Transport Group. Four of the 18 productions she designed for TG were recorded by the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. She also designed eight world premieres, including Terrence McNally’s And Away We Go (Pearl Theatre, 2013) and Michael John LaChuisa’s Queen of the Mist (Transport Group, 2011). While in NYC, she supported herself by working backstage on Broadway shows, most notably for The Lion King and Mamma Mia!. She was a proud member of the Theatrical Wardrobe Union for 15 years and is a member of United Scenic Artists still today. Kathryn has also worked regionally throughout her career, with theatre companies such as the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Two River Theater, the Clarence Brown Theatre, Drury Lane in Chicago, Chautauqua Conservatory Theatre Company, and the Hippodrome Theatre. While teaching at the University of Virginia from 1992-2002, she also designed for Operafestival di Roma, a student opera program that performed in Rome. Kathryn is thrilled to be building the Theatrical Design and Technology program and teaching the next generation of theatre artists here at Ball State.
Dr. Faezeh Soleimani | Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences
Dr. Faezeh Soleimani is an Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Ball State University. She earned her Ph.D. in
Mathematics/Data Science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2021. She joined Ball State the following Fall as the
university’s first faculty member hired specifically in Data Science. She teaches a wide range of courses in data science, data
analytics, mathematics, and statistics, and enjoys helping students connect theoretical concepts with real-world applications. Her research focuses on optimizing algorithms and using machine learning and statistical methods to analyze real-world data, uncover meaningful patterns, and develop insights that can support better understanding and decision-making. In her free time, she enjoys
traveling, camping, playing volleyball, reading, and solving puzzles.
Dr. Jake Son | Associate Professor of Interior Design
Dr. Jake Son has been at Ball State since 2020 and is currently an Associate Professor of Interior Design. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Environmental Design. Jake’s research focuses on biomimicry, a new science that studies nature’s models and then imitates, or takes inspiration from, these designs and processes to solve human problems. Using these design principles, he is finding new solutions for using natural phenomena, such as thermoregulation and applying them to buildings in order to find ways to significantly reduce building energy consumption.
Dr. Yihsin Tai | Associate Professor of Audiology
Dr. Yihsin Tai is an Associate Professor of Audiology. She is a licensed audiologist in Indiana with the American Speech Language-Hearing Association. Her research interests focus on understanding the effect of hearing disorders such as tinnitus and hyperacusis on patients’ quality of life, particularly in exploring the relations among speech-in-noise performance, self-reported handicap, and cognitive functions in individuals with varying hearing disorders. Dr. Tai received her Doctor of Audiology from University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Ph.D. from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Siyang Tao | Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences
Dr. Siyang Tao earned a Ph.D. in Statistics with a concentration in Actuarial Science and Financial Mathematics from the University of Iowa in 2020. He also holds advanced degrees from the University of Iowa and Sorbonne University, along with bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics from institutions in France and China. Since joining Ball State University in 2020, Dr. Tao has emerged as a leading researcher in actuarial science and quantitative risk analysis. His research focuses on extreme value theory, quantitative risk management, and applying machine learning to complex actuarial problems. In addition to publishing in leading academic journals, Dr. Tao played a pivotal role in securing Ball State’s Society of Actuaries Center of Actuarial Excellence designation and remains committed to advancing actuarial research while mentoring the next generation of quantitative and actuarial professionals.
Dr. Christoph Thompson | Associate Professor of Music Media Production, Area Coordinator of Music Media Production, & Recording Engineer
Originally from Germany, Christoph Thompson is an Associate Professor of Music Media Production and Area Coordinator of the Music Media Production program. He has over 25 years of experience in the music industry and his recordings have been distributed on DefJam, Warner, MSR Classics, and Parma, among others. He is a frequently requested clinician and consultant. His professional service includes serving as the vice chair of the education committee of the Audio Engineering Society, and he is the division coordinator of the national Bands of America Music Production Boot Camp. His consulting work and research with Fraunhofer and Netflix has been internationally published and allows him to extend exceptional opportunities to Ball State students.
Dr. Jennifer Warrner | Associate Professor of Construction Management & Internship Coordinator
Jennifer Warrner is an Associate Professor and internship coordinator for the Construction Management program. She has taught in the Construction Management program since 2007. As internship coordinator, she assists all construction management students in locating and securing internships and full time employment. She also coordinates the annual Construction Management Career Fair. She has developed and led community-based initiatives and immersive learning projects with community partners including Muncie Habitat for Humanity, Muncie Community Schools, and the Muncie Animal Shelter. In the Muncie community, she serves on the boards for the Muncie Public Library, Ross Community Center, and Hearts and Hands United.