Jenny Haley
Learning Center Director
Dr. Jenny Haley has dedicated more than twenty-five years to advancing student success at Ball State University, where she currently serves as Director of the Learning Center. In this role, she oversees a centralized center that delivers academic support services including tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, embedded tutoring, and testing accommodations. Over the course of her career, she has led the development of innovative programs such as satellite drop-in tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, peer academic coaching, and a highly successful embedded tutoring model that places tutors directly in the classroom. Her leadership is grounded in a collaborative, student-centered philosophy that prioritizes belonging, confidence-building, and the development of lifelong learning strategies.
Dr. Haley’s work is distinguished by a strong commitment to data-informed decision-making, assessment, and institutional impact. She has designed comprehensive systems for tracking student engagement, learning outcomes, and program effectiveness, including the Learning Center’s annual report and assessment map. Her collaboration with Institutional Research has demonstrated clear connections between Learning Center participation and improved retention and graduation outcomes. An active scholar and presenter, she has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and delivers multiple presentations each year at national and international conferences for organizations such as the International College Learning Center Association, the College Reading and Learning Association, the Association for the Coaching and Tutoring Profession, and KOTESOL in Seoul, South Korea. Her research focuses on peer tutor training and relationship-based academic support, with an emphasis on fostering belonging as a foundation for academic risk-taking.
Beyond her institutional role, Dr. Haley is a national leader in the field of learning assistance. She has served as President of the International College Learning Center Association and currently chairs the Council of Learning Assistance and Developmental Education Associations, where she advances collaboration and policy across the profession. She also serves as Chair of the Learning Center Leadership Certification program, mentoring professionals and advancing standards across the field.
Dr. Haley is a three-time Ball State alumna, earning a bachelor’s degree in legal administration, a master’s degree in secondary education, and a Ph.D. in English composition and rhetoric. Her connection to the university is deeply personal: her father was a Ball State graduate and educator for more than sixty years, and her son is also a Ball State graduate and current staff member. She remains actively engaged in her community through her involvement with Smash Cancer and is a published author of historical and contemporary fiction and young adult fantasy.
Across her career, Dr. Haley has combined compassionate, relationship-centered practice with rigorous assessment and national leadership to strengthen meaningful learning outcomes for students. Her work reflects a commitment to creating learning environments where students feel a sense of belonging and grow into confident, reflective, self-directed learners.