Bernie Kohn graduated from Ball State University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media in 1982. He is currently News Director at Bloomberg Industry Group. Here are Three Things To Know about Bernie:
1. For Bernie, Ball State “provided the foundation for discovering who I was and what was important:” “Ball State fired my passion for journalism that began in high school, and let me forge a personal identity free of old cliques, expectations, and biases. I was looking for a journalism program that was on the rise, rather than coasting on an outdated reputation, and that really wanted me there. Doc Ingelhart, the department chair then, looked my parents in the eye and told me he would take care of me, and that was that.”
2. Ball State created several lasting memories for Bernie, which is why it’s important for alumni to reinvest in the success of current and future students: “I have several favorite Ball State memories. Being named editor of the Daily News. Road-tripping to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the men's basketball team's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, where I can still remember Ray McCallum alone along the baseline for the game winning shot he never got to take. Getting an A on my Constitutional Law final. Winning the intramural tennis tournament twice. And three of my closest friends to this day are the guys I met my very first day in Wagoner Complex.”
3. Bernie’s advice for future students to help them have a fulfilling career and meaningful lives? “All of us are placed on this Earth for a purpose. Go with your passion. Don't major in something because someone else expected it for you, or because it pays a lot. Pursue the life you aspire to, bring others along the way with you, and never forget those who made it possible.”