Ball State University has reorganized leadership in its School of Extended Education and its Building Better Communities (BBC) initiative to focus on new opportunities in the areas of digital education and economic development.

Joanna Wallace has been named dean of the School of Extended Education after serving as associate dean since 2000. She succeeds Frank Sabatine, who will retain the title of associate vice president for economic development and community engagement. His new role will allow him to focus on pushing forward the university's campuswide initiative to spur the state's economy.

Wallace believes the School of Extended Education is entering a transformative era due to digital communication systems that allow students to access higher education offerings from virtually any location in an online format and at times convenient to the individual.

"I am looking forward to building Ball State's academic programs via the Internet, creating a national model though the use of various emerging media platforms," said Wallace, who has been in several leadership positions in the School of Extended Education, including serving as assistant dean from 1992-97. "I am also looking forward to working with the university's academic departments as they transition additional programs and certificates to this format in the future." 

Since joining the university in 1979, Wallace has also served as an instructor of marketing and management, director of the Better Business Bureau, director of the master of business administration program, director of the Center for Organizational Resources, director of the Correctional Education Program and a frequent facilitator of strategic planning for business and nonprofit organizations. She received her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Ball State.

New BBC focus

By focusing on the university's BBC initiative, Sabatine believes Ball State's faculty and students will play a critical role in Indiana's economy.

BBC spurs economic development and quality-of-life advancement in Indiana by extending Ball State's strengths in applied research and immersive learning to community projects across the state.

"The Building Better Communities initiative at Ball State is one of the top priorities of the university," Sabatine said. "In addition to taking faculty out to help communities sustain themselves in a troubled economy, the program has added an immersive learning component. By involving students under the direction of a faculty member, the university has the opportunity to increase its services to more communities in our state."

Sabatine was named dean of the School of Extended Education in 2000 and has served Ball State in numerous positions since joining the university in 1985. During his career, Sabatine has served as governor's liaison to the Community College of Indiana, the commissioner of the Indiana State Board of Tax Commissioners and the business development director of the Indiana Department of Commerce.

By Marc Ransford, Media Relations Manager