Speakers: Geoffrey S. Mearns, President, Ball State University
Describe the importance of career services on your campus.
Geoffrey S. Mearns: So, hello, this is Geoff Mearns. I serve as the President at Ball State University. And the first question was to describe the importance of career services. So here at Ball State, our mission, our commitment to our students, is to help them have fulfilling careers and to lead meaningful lives. And career services plays an important pathway from the academic experiences that our students receive in the classroom and in the laboratories and in immersive learning projects out in the community. Career services connects those academic experiences to career opportunities for our students. And for all of our students, particularly those students who need our support, intentional programming to help them build social capital.
How do you support the career services office?
Geoffrey S. Mearns: So in my role as the president here at Ball State, I think my role is as a connector and a promoter of the important work that our career services staff does. I help them connect with potential employers. I help promote their services with our students, and I celebrate their success and their impact with the members of the General Assembly and other thought leaders here in the state of Indiana. The work they're doing is so important to the success of our institution. And I want to promote the work that they do to help get them the resources and support that they need to extend their impact.
What does receiving this award mean to you and to Ball State University?
Geoffrey S. Mearns: So this award is very special to me and to all of our campus partners, particularly those in career services. It's really an affirmation and a recognition of the dedication and creativity of our career services staff. It is an affirmation of the impact that they're having on the lives and careers of our students. And I'm grateful for their work and very proud to receive this award on their behalf.
