{"id":2469,"date":"2025-07-02T13:06:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T17:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/teachers-college\/?p=2469"},"modified":"2025-07-03T10:50:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T14:50:48","slug":"a-year-of-growth-and-gratitude-dean-katrina-bulkley-reflects-on-her-first-year-at-ball-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/teachers-college\/2025\/07\/02\/a-year-of-growth-and-gratitude-dean-katrina-bulkley-reflects-on-her-first-year-at-ball-state\/","title":{"rendered":"A Year of Growth and Gratitude: Dean Katrina Bulkley Reflects on Her First Year at Ball State"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2471 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01201538\/24_MC-69392_2000-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01201538\/24_MC-69392_2000-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01201538\/24_MC-69392_2000-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01201538\/24_MC-69392_2000-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01201538\/24_MC-69392_2000-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01201538\/24_MC-69392_2000-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Dean Katrina Bulkley marked one year at the helm of Ball State University\u2019s Teachers College this summer. We caught up with her to reflect on her transition to Muncie, the joys and challenges of the role, and what she\u2019s most excited about in the year ahead.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\">Why Ball State?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For Dean Bulkley, Ball State\u2019s Teachers College stood out as a place where innovation meets impact.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe national reputation of Teachers College in general, and especially as a place that prepares exceptional professionals, was very appealing,\u201d she shares. \u201cIt also has a well-earned reputation for being a place that is willing to experiment and innovate and an institution that is deeply engaged in its community.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2474\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204214\/IMG_1264-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204214\/IMG_1264-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204214\/IMG_1264-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204214\/IMG_1264-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204214\/IMG_1264-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204214\/IMG_1264-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>She was also excited by the unique units housed within TC, including Burris Laboratory School, the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, the Office of Charter Schools, and Ball State\u2019s partnership with Muncie Community Schools.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve studied charter schools for almost 30 years,\u201d she notes, \u201cand I was really drawn to the opportunity to work directly with programs and partnerships that serve schools and communities in such meaningful ways.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2478 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204742\/IMG_6766-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204742\/IMG_6766-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204742\/IMG_6766-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204742\/IMG_6766-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204742\/IMG_6766-1535x2048.jpg 1535w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204742\/IMG_6766-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>Settling into Muncie<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Transitioning from New Jersey to Indiana came with a few surprises\u2014but mostly welcome ones.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cPeople in Indiana are genuinely so welcoming! I tell people all the time that \u2018Hoosier Hospitality\u2019 isn&#8217;t just a myth,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd I really love the phrase, \u2018we&#8217;re so glad you&#8217;re here\u2019\u2014I&#8217;m trying to adopt it myself.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>There have been a few funny moments, like mishearing the word \u201ccarry-in\u201d as \u201ccarrion.\u201d And while she\u2019s not yet tried Pizza King (\u201cNew Jersey pizza is hard to beat\u201d), she\u2019s been impressed by Muncie\u2019s doughnut culture.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2480\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01205621\/IMG_1261-300x218.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01205621\/IMG_1261-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01205621\/IMG_1261-1024x744.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01205621\/IMG_1261-768x558.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01205621\/IMG_1261-1536x1117.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01205621\/IMG_1261-2048x1489.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Facing Challenges with Optimism<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Taking on a new leadership role always comes with a learning curve, and Dean Bulkley\u2019s first year was no exception.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cAside from the predictable challenges of getting to know people, departments, programs, research, and university processes, the main challenge has been that there is a lot of change in the overall landscape of higher education,\u201d she explains.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Fortunately, Ball State\u2019s clear mission and strong leadership made a difference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel fortunate to be at an institution such as Ball State that has a very clear set of values and priorities and a strong leadership team \u2013 this always helps but is particularly critical when changes are underway.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2479 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204804\/TeacherHealthCommencement2025_2-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204804\/TeacherHealthCommencement2025_2-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204804\/TeacherHealthCommencement2025_2-1024x711.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204804\/TeacherHealthCommencement2025_2-768x533.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204804\/TeacherHealthCommencement2025_2-1536x1066.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204804\/TeacherHealthCommencement2025_2-2048x1422.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Finding Joy in the Work<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Despite the pace of change, Dean Bulkley has found her work deeply rewarding.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThere are just so many moving parts in TC, so many fantastic people, and so much wonderful work,\u201d she says. \u201cIt definitely has felt like the proverbial \u2018drinking from a fire hose.\u2019 But I inherited an exceptional leadership and administrative team and really love going into work every day!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>She also appreciates the grace and kindness of those around her, even when she\u2019s needed a few reintroductions along the way.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2475\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204653\/IMG_5273-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204653\/IMG_5273-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204653\/IMG_5273-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204653\/IMG_5273-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204653\/IMG_5273-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204653\/IMG_5273-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Looking Ahead<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As she enters her second year, Dean Bulkley is excited to continue supporting others in pursuing work that makes a difference.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cOne of the aspects of leadership that I really love is knowing what folks are passionate about and trying to position them so that they can pursue those passions in ways that have real social impact.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>She\u2019s especially eager to support two of TC\u2019s community-serving clinics: the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Psychoeducational Diagnostic and Intervention Clinic.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI am working with the two clinics to see if we can get resources in place to allow them to expand their services so as to better serve families, children, and the community.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2472 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204150\/image0_Edited-300x238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204150\/image0_Edited-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204150\/image0_Edited-1024x813.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204150\/image0_Edited-768x610.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204150\/image0_Edited-1536x1220.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204150\/image0_Edited-2048x1627.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Meet the Bulkley\/Rabner Family<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Dean Bulkley is excited to be joined soon by her husband, Guy, a recently retired Italian and Spanish teacher. He and their youngest daughter, Talia, remained in New Jersey this past year so Talia could finish high school. Now, with Talia heading to college, Guy is preparing for his full-time move to Muncie.<\/p>\n<p>Their older daughter, Sarah, is already in Muncie this summer participating in the Chemistry Research Immersion Summer Program (CRISP) through the College of Sciences and Humanities.<\/p>\n<p>Even Guy\u2019s father, Hal, has made the move\u2014he now lives at Westminster Village. \u201cI feel so fortunate to have such an exceptional and caring senior community so close by,\u201d Bulkley adds.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2477 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204728\/IMG_6323-scaled-e1751417898819-300x214.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204728\/IMG_6323-scaled-e1751417898819-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204728\/IMG_6323-scaled-e1751417898819-1024x730.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204728\/IMG_6323-scaled-e1751417898819-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204728\/IMG_6323-scaled-e1751417898819-1536x1096.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/07\/01204728\/IMG_6323-scaled-e1751417898819-2048x1461.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Outside the Office<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When she\u2019s not on campus, Dean Bulkley enjoys long walks while listening to podcasts or audiobooks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve always been a big reader of fiction, and love being able to combine the stress relief and exercise of walking with listening.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c00\">A Message from the Dean<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Looking back on her first year, Dean Bulkley feels a deep sense of pride and purpose.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt sounds cheesy, I realize, but I am genuinely incredibly proud to be the Dean of Teachers College and part of the Ball State community. Chirp chirp!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dean Katrina Bulkley marked one year at the helm of Ball State University\u2019s Teachers College this summer. We caught up with her to reflect on her transition to Muncie, the joys and challenges of the role, and what she\u2019s most excited about in the year ahead. Why Ball State? For Dean Bulkley, Ball State\u2019s Teachers [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":305,"featured_media":2470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-and-staff-features","category-featured"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Year of Growth and Gratitude: Dean Katrina Bulkley Reflects on Her First Year at Ball State - Teachers College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/teachers-college\/2025\/07\/02\/a-year-of-growth-and-gratitude-dean-katrina-bulkley-reflects-on-her-first-year-at-ball-state\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Year of Growth and Gratitude: Dean Katrina Bulkley Reflects on Her First Year at Ball State - Teachers College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dean Katrina Bulkley marked one year at the helm of Ball State University\u2019s Teachers College this summer. We caught up with her to reflect on her transition to Muncie, the joys and challenges of the role, and what she\u2019s most excited about in the year ahead. Why Ball State? 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