Officials of Ball State University have dedicated a classroom at the Miller College of Business to the Indiana Bankers Association. The dedication took place during a ceremony Oct. 28 in the Whitinger Business Building with the unveiling of the IBA logo. The ceremony was livestreamed by the University.
The room dedication celebrates the successful partnership between Ball State and the Indiana Bankers Association in initiating a minor in banking at the University. Presenters at the ceremony were: Dr. Stephen P. Ferris, Bryan Dean of the Miller College of Business; Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills, Ball State Provost; and Amber Van Til, President and CEO of the Indiana Bankers Association.
Attending the event were several members of the banking community: Michael S. Zahn, First Federal Savings Bank, Huntington; Garry D. Kleer, First Bank Richmond; David W. Heeter, Northwest Bank in Muncie; and Mark K. Hardwick and Jamie Matthews, First Merchants Bank, Muncie. In addition to Van Til, IBA representatives were: Rod Lasley, EVP Operations & Member Services; and Eric J. Augustus, VP-Government Relations. Zahn and Kleer are in rotation to serve as future chairs of the IBA, and Heeter served as IBA chairman in 2014.
The creation of the minor in banking at Miller College of Business is intended to open career opportunities for the next generation of professionals. The vision to establish collegiate banking studies in Indiana was launched under the leadership of Clay W. Ewing, German American Bank, during his term as 2018 chairman of the IBA. This initiative supports the Next-Gen Bankers pillar of the IBA’s strategic plan.
The Miller College of Business is a hub for entrepreneurial innovation in technology-rich settings, and a catalyst for meaningful research and industry partnerships. The college delivers innovative and high-quality academic programs that provide students with the knowledge, skills, and experience to become competent professionals and impactful leaders.
