Cresta Hancock, Director of Secondary Education and Lecturer of Secondary Education in the Department of Educational Studies, brings a lifetime of curiosity, compassion, and commitment to her work at Ball State University. With deep family ties to the institution and an educator’s heart rooted in generations of learning, she sees her career not as a destination but as a joyful, ever-evolving journey.

A Calling Rooted in Family and Lifelong Learning

For Cresta, education is more than a profession, it’s an inheritance.

“Teaching and learning have always been part of my family dynamics for generations… I think the passion for educating and learning from others is in my DNA!”

Her path to higher education wasn’t linear, but it was meaningful. She notes,

“I did not take the straightest path to get to my current field or place in my educational journey, but here I am, very grateful to be here.”

Why Ball State? A Personal and Professional Homecoming

Ball State is more than a workplace for Cresta, it’s a community she’s been part of her entire life.

“I am a graduate of our secondary teacher education program… I have been a part of the Ball State University community in some way my entire life.”

She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees here, taught in local Muncie schools, mentored students in programs like the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, and watched both her father and grandfather retire from Ball State.

“You might say working here was my destiny?” she reflects.

The Joy of Watching Students Grow

One of Cresta’s favorite parts of her work is the opportunity to connect with students from their first days on campus through the completion of their teacher training.

Her role allows her to collaborate across disciplines and schools, serve as a bridge to local secondary classrooms, and showcase the teacher education program to future educators and their families.

“It is amazing to see our students grow in praxis!” she says. “What could be more rewarding than that?”

Research That Expands Conversations and Challenges Perspectives

Cresta’s research centers on areas that shape the future of inclusive, culturally responsive teaching. Her focus includes:

• Pre-service teacher self-efficacy
• Culturally sustaining and critical pedagogy
• Cultural humility
• White critical consciousness
• Digital communities of practice

She enjoys exploring how teachers develop a critical lens and an awareness of the cultural and social contexts surrounding their work.

“As a licensed Science teacher, I tend to spend my days observing the multitude of phenomena in our everyday lives,” she explains. This curiosity led her to pursue a PhD in Urban Education Studies, where she has been able to “view, review, and focus my observations” into purposeful research.

Advice for Future Educators

Cresta brings wisdom and warmth when offering guidance to aspiring teachers and incoming students.

Her advice for those entering the profession:

“Surround yourself with people who enjoy teaching, who love to learn, and who are humble enough to know that each of us has something to teach and we all have so much to learn.”

To students at the start of their academic journey, she offers a deeply thoughtful message:

“Ask questions. Advocate for yourself and others. Know your worth. Strive to be better each day… Trust in yourself and your abilities and encourage others to do the same.”

She encourages students to appreciate their unique paths and reminds them, “No two paths on this journey are ever the same, so compare yourself to no one!”

Life Beyond the Classroom

Cresta’s life outside of Ball State is full, joyful, and beautifully eclectic.

She finds happiness in time with her family, caring for her energetic two-year-old Boxer, and exploring interests from crafting and sewing to working out and tending to her beehives, “those who have beehives call ourselves bee-havers!”

She also co-owns a numismatic and collectibles business, spends time reading outdoors by her pond, and co-directs Camp Adventure Science and Literacy-based summer camp, where her favorite role is “teaching our campers how to fish!”

“Anything to keep the mind and hands busy!” she says.

What She’s Most Proud Of

For all her accomplishments, Cresta’s answer to this question was simple and heartfelt: “My children and grandchildren!”