Ball State University has named Mark Liebling as its inaugural Vice President for People and Culture, effective June 2. Mr. Liebling will serve on President Geoffrey S. Mearns’ Cabinet and lead the newly established Division of People and Culture, which will become operational July 1.
The creation of the new division marks a significant organizational step for the University, positioning Ball State to better support its faculty and staff by modernizing human resources services and aligning them more strategically with the University’s long-term goals.
“For several years, we have worked with intentionality to enhance the employee experience at Ball State,” said President Mearns. “Mark’s appointment—and the creation of this new division—represent our continued commitment to that priority. Mark is a thoughtful, values-driven leader. I have confidence in his ability to lead this important work on behalf of our faculty and staff.”
Since August 2024, Mr. Liebling has served as interim associate vice president for people and culture. During this time, he has led the implementation of Workday, a new cloud-based system that streamlines key operations such as hiring, payroll, and benefits. He also led the delivery of a divisional strategic alignment plan, helped guide key leadership transitions, and advised the Board of Trustees and campus leaders on long-range talent and operational planning.
“I am grateful to President Mearns and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to continue serving Ball State in this new capacity,” Mr. Liebling said. “During my time here, I’ve been inspired by the professionalism and dedication of our People and Culture team, and I’m proud of the foundation we’ve built together. I look forward to continuing our work to improve the employee experience and to support the strategic goals of our University.”
Mr. Liebling brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education and global business. At Northwestern Michigan College, he served as associate vice president of human resources, where he led efforts in organizational restructuring, labor negotiations, compensation and benefits design, and employee engagement.
Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Mastercard, and The Walt Disney Company. His work spanned North America and Asia and included talent acquisition, executive coaching, HR systems implementation, and organizational change management. Across every role, he has built high-performing teams and introduced scalable systems that improved operations and strengthened workplace culture.
Mr. Liebling earned a Master of Science in labor and industrial relations and a Bachelor of Science in multidisciplinary social sciences, both from Michigan State University.
Ball State’s Division of People and Culture provides services across a range of areas, including benefits and payroll operations, employee and labor relations, learning and development, work-life events, and accessibility resources. More information about the division is available at the People and Culture website.