On the eve of commencement, university and community leaders gathered at the Ball State University Museum of Art for the dedication of Jo Ann M. Gora's presidential portrait.

The life-size oil painting was completed by Hoosier artist Doug Daniel. The Greenwood, Ind., artist has established a national reputation for his masterful portraits and award-winning realist still life and landscape work. And his list of clients includes university presidents, business leaders and celebrities.

"This is truly an honor to have my portrait join these of my predecessors," Gora said. "I would like to thank Doug Daniel for his outstanding work and the representatives of the Walter E. and Mary C. Beyer Portrait Trust Fund for extending their graciousness to Ball State and to all of Indiana's colleges and universities."

For nearly 20 years, the Walter E. and Mary C. Beyer Portrait Trust Fund has been paying for presidential portraits. The fund was established by W. Earl Beyer, who, upon his death, combined two of his great loves — the love for his parents and his dedication to art.

In 1979, the fund commissioned its first painting — of then-Ball State president John Pruis, who attended Friday's unveiling. Since that time, the trust fund has offered all other accredited colleges and universities in Indiana — in alphabetical order — an opportunity to accept such a portrait.

The process has come full circle, and Ball State came up in the queue again. In June 2005, Thomas E. Cunningham, the attorney charged with representing the fund, contacted Gora to extend the offer to fund a portrait of her.

Sadly, while Daniel worked on the painting, Cunningham passed away and was unable to see his efforts come to fruition.

"But I think I speak for everyone here — and hopefully for Thomas as well — in saying that Doug Daniel has made the Beyers and Ball State University very proud by beautifully capturing the true essence of our president, Jo Ann Gora," said Thomas DeWeese, president of the Board of Trustees, during the ceremony.

The painting will be displayed in Bracken Library along with the portraits of Ball State's preceding presidents.