By Ball State Communications—
MUNCIE, IN — On Friday, the Ball State University Board of Trustees reappointed Dave Heeter, ’83, to the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees.
Mr. Heeter has served on the MCS Board of Trustees since the start of Ball State’s partnership with the district, which began in 2018 when the Indiana General Assembly authorized the University to assume responsibility for MCS. Since then, the district has made significant improvements in enrollment, financial stability, and teacher compensation and retention.
“We are proud of the continued success that has resulted from our University’s partnership with Muncie Community Schools,” said Rick Hall, chair of the Ball State Board of Trustees. “Dave Heeter has played a critical role since the beginning of this historic collaboration. As we continue this important work, maintaining the leadership and experience of our MCS Board members is essential. We are grateful for Dave’s commitment to MCS and to our University, and we look forward to even more positive outcomes for our city schools moving forward.”
Mr. Heeter is a retired executive vice president of Northwest Bank and previously served as president and CEO of MutualFirst Financial, Inc. and MutualBank. A longtime advocate for the Muncie community, Mr. Heeter is a graduate of Ball State’s Miller College of Business and has served on the Ball State University Foundation Board of Directors since 2014. He currently serves as chair-elect of the Foundation Board.
“I am grateful to Dave and the entire MCS team for their commitment to students,” Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearnssaid. “Our partnership with Muncie Community Schools is making a clear difference.”
In other business Friday, the Board of Trustees approved the budget and scope for an $8.8 million project to construct new clubhouses for Ball State’s baseball and softball teams. Each clubhouse will be approximately 6,000 gross square feet and located adjacent to their respective home dugouts at Shebek Stadium and the Ball State Softball Stadium.
Funded through a combination of philanthropic support and University reserves, the new facilities will feature locker rooms for student-athletes, team meeting areas, restrooms, showers, athlete lounges and nutrition spaces, equipment rooms, coaches’ locker rooms, satellite training and physical therapy rooms, and other support spaces.
The architectural design work is being led by MSA Design, and construction is anticipated to begin in Fall 2025, with completion targeted for Summer 2026.
“Today is a great day for Ball State softball and baseball as we provide these two successful programs with a competition site venue for their respective clubhouses,” said Jeff Mitchell, Ball State’s director of athletics. “This project will help softball and baseball enjoy sustainable success.”
Upon Friday’s approval by the Board, the University will pursue necessary state approvals and continue project planning, with a final design to be presented to the Board at a later date.
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 campus is small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University. We Fly!
