Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry

05/21/2026

Listen to our last podcast in the Better Together series! Click below or visit the Ball State Public Media YouTube page! 🎙️🫶

"Minds in Motion with Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett"

Co-hosts Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett discuss juvenile mental health and the criminal justice system, and the staggering increase in the intersection of the two since the COVID-19 pandemic. They are joined by Dr. Janay Sander, a professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State University, whose research focuses on evidence-based interventions and the educational and mental health needs of youth who fall into the juvenile justice system.

Credits:
Scriptwriters – Madison Cox, Laighla Beck, Isaiah Decker Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Hosts – Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett.

Minds in Motion with Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett:Co-hosts Aar...

05/14/2026

Check out the third podcast in the Better Together series! Click below or visit the Ball State Public Media YouTube page. 🎙️🚓

"Human Side of the Law with Abigail Richard and Grant Berry"

Co-hosts Abigail Richard and Grant Berry take a close look at how police officers and social workers collaborate to better serve the Muncie community, and bring to light the difficulties and potential benefits of the collaboration between the two professions. Later, they are joined by Dr. Sally Archer-Jones and Ashley Snyder, two social workers with the Muncie Police Department, who shed light on how this collaboration leads to a more productive and humane response to community needs.

Credits:
Scriptwriters – Gunnar Miller, Abigail Richard
Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Stephanie Wiechmann, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Hosts – Abigail Richard and Grant Berry.

Human Side of the Law with Abigail Richard and Grant Berry:Co-hosts Abigail Richard and Grant Berry take a close look at how police officers and social worke...

05/13/2026

The second podcast from the students of Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's VBC project is here! Listen to it by clicking below or go to the Ball State Public Media's YouTube channel. 🎙️👂

"Better Together with Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon"

Co-hosts Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon visit the Whitely neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana, to explore the Adopt-A-Cop program and its community-building effects on both the police department and families. Later, they sit down with Arin Phillips of the Muncie Police Department and Frank Scott of the Whitely Community Council to discuss their experiences and long-term goals for the program.

Credits:
Scriptwriters – Kayla Siggers, Cassidy Purvis, Shiana Schwartz
Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Stephanie Wiechmann, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Hosts – Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon.

Co-hosts Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon visit the Whitely neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana, to explore the Adopt-A-Cop program and its community-building e...

05/12/2026

In case you missed the first podcast from students of Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's VBC project, check it out here! 🎙️⬇️

"Behind Closed Doors with Alexandria Gulachek"
Host Alexandria Gulachek sits down with Tracina Greenleaf of the YWCA of Central Indiana to discuss human trafficking and its effects on marginalized communities, and to gain perspective on the realities behind one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world. The two explore the vital role everyday citizens and nonprofits can play in helping survivors heal and rebuild, while breaking cycles of exploitation and creating pathways to recovery.

Credits:
Research – Natalie Looper, Lindsey Snyder
Scriptwriters – Alexandria Gulachek, Libby Crouch
Direction – J.R. Jamison, Angie Grimes, Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon
Audio Engineering & Production – Andrew Montavon
Host – Alexandria Gulachek.

2 likes. "Behind Closed Doors: Fighting Human Trafficking"

04/28/2026

Listen to the other student podcasts from Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's Virginia B. Ball Center's project on the Ball State Public Media YouTube channel! 🔗🎙️👂

▪️"Minds in Motion with Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett" - Co-hosts Aaron Swango and Dillon Willett discuss juvenile mental health and the criminal justice system, and the staggering increase in the intersection of the two since the COVID-19 pandemic. They are joined by Dr. Janay Sander, a professor of Educational Psychology at Ball State University, whose research focuses on evidence-based interventions and the educational and mental health needs of youth who fall into the juvenile justice system.

▪️"Better Together with Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon" - Co-hosts Derrianna Austin and Andrea Dixon visit the Whitely neighborhood in Muncie, Indiana, to explore the Adopt-A-Cop program and its community-building effects on both the police department and families. Later, they sit down with Arin Phillips of the Muncie Police Department, and Frank Scott of the Whitely Community Council, to discuss their experiences and long-term goals for the program.

▪️"Human Side of the Law with Abigail Richard and Grant Berry" - Co-hosts Abigail Richard and Grant Berry take a close look at how police officers and social workers collaborate to better serve the Muncie community, and bring to light the difficulties and potential benefits of the collaboration between the two professions. Later, they are joined by Dr. Sally Archer-Jones and Ashley Snyder, two social workers with the Muncie Police Department, who shed light on how this collaboration leads to a more productive and humane response to community needs.

04/26/2026

Don't forget to tune in to Indiana Public Radio at 6:30pm to listen to one of Dr. Kiesha Warren-Gordon's Virginia B. Ball Center student projects, a podcast called "Behind Closed Doors with Alexandria Gulachek". 🎙️🚓

Host Alexandria Gulachek sits down with Tracina Greenleaf of the YWCA of Central Indiana to discuss human trafficking and its effects on marginalized communities, and to gain perspective on the realities behind one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world. The two explore the vital role everyday citizens and nonprofits can play in helping survivors heal and rebuild, while breaking cycles of exploitation and creating pathways to recovery.

04/24/2026

In the Fall of 2014, Dr. Beth Messner and her Virginia B. Ball Center seminar students created the Freedom Bus.

The Freedom Bus, a museum on wheels, is a powerful and immersive look at African American history-from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade to the Civil Rights Movement-told through both national voices and deeply rooted local stories.

We are thrilled that the Freedom Bus continues to live on and educate the Muncie community and beyond! Visit the Freedom Bus at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens today!

🇺🇸🚌 Learn more about the Freedom Bus by clicking the link in the comments.

Ball State Communication students are working to bring public attention back to an attraction after its post-pandemic return.

03/19/2026

Each January, collectors from across the country gather to swap and sell antique canning jars at the largest convention of its kind in Muncie, Indiana. "The ...

03/16/2026

Welcome to the Ball State Public Media YouTube channel, home of Ball State PBS and Indiana Public Radio! Ball State Public Media serves the East Central Indiana region, including Muncie, Anderson, Marion and more. We bring you incredible programming from PBS, world and national news from NPR, and we...

02/13/2026

Visit "The Underground Railroad: Journey to Freedom" exhibit at the Vivian V. Conley and Hurley C. Goodall Jr. Multicultural Center from February 16-20, 2026!

Proud to see this VBC seminar from Spring 2023 with Dr. Beth Messner and students on display! 🎉🫶

02/12/2026