Meet the 2025 Excellence in Assessment Recognition Recipients!

Ball State University’s Division of Online and Strategic Learning, Office of Inclusive Excellence, and Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs hosted the 2025 Provost’s Summit: Fostering Inclusiveness in an Evolving Educational Landscape February 6 and 7, 2025. Each spring, Ball State faculty and staff are nominated and selected for Excellence in Assessment Recognition, and the honorees are celebrated at the Provost’s Summit. Four outstanding faculty were recognized in the following categories:

• Innovation in Assessment

• Collaboration in Assessment

• Equity in Assessment

• Distinction in Assessment

The video above was shared at the 2025 Provost’s Summit in celebration of this year’s Excellence in Assessment recipients. Learn more about their incredible work in the sections below.

Meet the 2025 Recipients 

Innovation in Assessment: Dr. Natalee Seely

This award recognizes an individual, program, or unit for going above and beyond expected assessment practices and initiating an innovative assessment method that resulted in improvement of an academic or co-curricular program at Ball State. Natalee Seely serves as Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication housed in the College of Communication, Information, and Media.

As Assessment Coordinator in her unit, Natalee oversees seven areas of assessment and provides innovative measures of student success in the constantly evolving field of journalism. For example, she fosters relationships with industry professionals and alumni who help evaluate capstone projects and she regularly updates the comprehensive exam to operationalize student learning outcomes. She continually streamlines assessment strategies for efficiency, and she uses data to develop annual action plans that address student deficiencies identified through assessment.

When asked what this recognition means to her, Natalee had this to share.

The School of Journalism and Strategic Communications takes pride in graduating skilled, ethical storytellers and communicators who are ready for real-world experience. Our assessment measures make sure students are on track, give us valuable feedback about where our unit can improve, and keep our school up-to-date and accountable.

Collaboration in Assessment: Dr. Amy Petts

This award recognizes an individual, program, or unit for exemplary assessment methods in partnership with other stakeholder groups, such as BSU students, staff, alumni, community partners, and employers to implement positive changes. Amy Petts is Interim Dean of University Libraries and Senior Manager of Assessment, Planning, and Outreach.

Amy collaborates with units across campus and provides inspirational leadership in assessment for University Libraries programming throughout the year. She revamped the data collection techniques and reporting methods to create a strong, mixed-methods approach to assess learning outcomes in University Libraries. Amy shares assessment results broadly, and she uses the information to continually improve future library plans and services.

Amy is reflecting fondly on this year’s recognition. She recently shared that,

At University Libraries, assessment has been a team process, and the process has been instrumental in helping us share our value and enrich our understanding of where we can have the greatest impact for the communities we serve.

Equity in Assessment: Dr. Kazumi Matsumoto

This award recognizes an individual, program, or unit for creating a more culturally responsive learning environment at Ball State. The recipient disaggregates data to examine whether any groups of students need to be better supported and/or empowers students as partners in the assessment process. Kazumi Matsumoto serves as Associate Professor of Japanese in the Department of Modern Languages and Classics housed in the College of Sciences and Humanities.

Kazumi ensures the department’s assessment practices are equitable, data-informed, and aligned with institutional goals. She focuses on meticulously understanding and addressing the needs and abilities of diverse student populations in her department. Kazumi develops tools to investigate the dynamic interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic factors in learner’s linguistic and cultural achievements. Her data identifies strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum, paving the way for future revisions and enhancements.

When asked about the power of assessment in her work, Kazumi shared that,

Assessment is a significant tool for strengthening our program and enhancing student learning in our department. Through continuous evaluation, we can identify areas for improvement and effectively support student success in our programs.

Distinction in Assessment: Carla Flores

This award recognizes an individual, program, or unit for making significant contributions to promote a culture of assessment at Ball State. The individual, program, or unit has achieved meritorious distinction by modeling sustained, effective use of assessment processes to make substantial and positive changes. Carla Flores serves as Associate Lecturer of Management in the Miller College of Business.

As an active member of her college’s Assurance of Learning (AoL) Committee for nearly a decade, Carla cultivates enthusiasm for assessment among her colleagues. She facilitates annual AoL events that celebrate effective teaching and learning, encourage collaboration and data sharing, help close the assessment loop, and ultimately improve student learning and success. As an active member of the University Assessment Committee (UA), Carla volunteered to conduct an analysis of Ball State’s program assessment reporting by examining rubrics containing UAC feedback. Her quantitative and qualitative analysis provided the UAC with ways in which Ball State can build on its strengths and continually improve program assessment and reporting. Carla’s 10-page report is available on the website here.

Carla was taken aback by this year’s recognition, sharing,

The Excellence in Assessment recognition is unexpected and very much appreciated. Thanks to you and the selection committee for this honor!

Congratulations to each of the 2025 Excellence in Assessment recipients!

Consider a Colleague for Next Year’s Recognition! 

Ball State’s University Assessment Committee (UAC) recognizes individuals, programs, or units for extraordinary contributions to Ball State’s culture of assessment through ongoing efforts in the classroom, on committees, and/or in projects that have broad benefits and lead to improvement. Programs, units, and individuals are eligible to be nominated for one of the four categories (Innovation in Assessment, Collaboration in Assessment, Equity in Assessment, and Distinction in Assessment).

To learn more about the process and nominate a colleague for next year’s recognition, visit the Program Assessments landing page linked here. Thank you for joining us in celebrating this year’s recipients!