By BSU Marketing and Communications—
MUNCIE, IN– Actors and producers David and Christina Arquette are spending two weeks on the campus of Ball State University this Fall semester as the first Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Visiting Experts in Residence for Media.
Formerly the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Endowed Chair in Telecommunications program, the Visiting Expert in Residence for Media initiative in the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM) brings media industry experts to campus to provide meaningful insights to students in and out of the classroom.
“We are excited to welcome David and Christina Arquette back to our campus as our University’s first Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Visiting Experts in Residence for Media,” said Suzy Smith, department chair of the Department of Media and associate professor of Media at Ball State. “We are grateful for David and Christina’s continued engagement with our University, their expertise, and look forward to another vibrant, valuable experience for our students, faculty, and staff.”
The Arquettes’ time on campus as Visiting Experts in Residence for Media is being split into two different weeks; they spent their first week leading the program Sept. 25-29, and will return to the Muncie, Ind., campus for another full week of programming in November.
The program marks a return to campus for David Arquette, who on April 10 was a featured speaker as part of the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series. During that visit, Mr. Arquette also interacted with Ball State students and faculty through various workshop activities.
Mr. Arquette’s acting career spans over three decades, appearing in such films as the “Scream” franchise, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Airheads,” and “Never Been Kissed.” He has also stepped into the role of producer and director for a number of films and television series.
Mr. Arquette’s 2020 documentary “You Cannot Kill David Arquette” details his “rocky return” as a professional wrestler after winning a highly controversial WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 2000.
In 2021, Mr. Arquette acquired the rights to Bozo the Clown, fulfilling a childhood dream. Since then, he has worked with clowns, artists, and nonprofit organizations to form a clown collective dedicated to spreading love, inclusivity, and pure joy around the globe. A lifelong fan of the iconic painter Bob Ross—who filmed his famous show, “The Joy of Painting,” in Muncie and on the Ball State campus—Mr. Arquette is also a recognized Certified Ross Instructor®.
“Christina and I are grateful for the opportunity to return to Ball State’s beautiful campus as the first Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Visiting Experts in Residence for Media,” Mr. Arquette said. “It’s also an honor to continue to carry the torch at the beloved alma mater and former home of the great David Letterman, whom I understand was quite the average student at Ball State.”
A former correspondent and anchor with “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider,” Ms. Arquette’s film and TV credits as a producer/executive producer include “They Call Me Magic,” “The First Step Act,” and “God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines.”
“It’s a thrill to be on Ball State’s campus with David to meet with students and to make an impact on the future leaders of the media and entertainment industries,” Ms. Arquette said. “We look forward to returning to Ball State in November to continue this fulfilling work.”
Ball State’s Visiting Experts in Residence for Media is sponsored by the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation.
About Ball State
Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State University is one of Indiana’s premier universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s 20,000 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world. The 790-acre campus is large enough to accommodate first-rate facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports, but our welcoming and inclusive campus is small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State’s ambitious goals for our second century.
