1. Meetour chair:
Dr. JohnnyV.Sparksjoinsthe BSU Departmentof JournalismfromCentral MichiganUniversity(CMU),
where he servedasassociate professorof advertisinginthe Departmentof Journalism.Dr.Sparkswas
alsothe directorof CMU’s Centerfor Innovation,Collaboration&Engagement.
Dr. SparksfirstvisitedBSU’sDepartmentof Journalismin2013 and came away,he said,greatly
impressedwiththe department’swealthof resourcesforadvancingthe studyof journalism,public
relations,advertisingandemergingmedia.Eversince thatvisit,he added,“Ihave dreamedof managing
Cardinal-caliberresources.AtBSU,journalismfacultyandstudentsare limitedonlybythe boundsof
theirimagination.BSUpossessesthe potential toleadthe nationinjournalisminnovationand
education.”
Dr. Sparksviewsthe chairpersonpositionasa “rare andimmediate”opportunitytoempowerBSU
students,facultyandstaff.He believesourdepartment’s“exceptional technological resources”and
“premiereducationalfacilities”canserve tovastlyenrichthe fieldof communication,therebyimproving
livesatBall State and beyond.
“Storiesbettertold,”he said,“promote livesbetterlived.Ihope toinspire alumni,studentsandfaculty
to believeinthe powerof stories –stories toldinthe contextof professionaljournalism,advertising,
publicrelationsandemergingmedia.”
Such storytelling,Dr.Sparksbelieves,helps“tobuildabetterworld.”Assuch,he is committedtoact as
a championof the Cardinal cause,therebysharingandpromotingthe storiesandstorytellersof BSU
journalism.
The Ball State Departmentof Journalismisproudtowelcome Dr.Sparksintothe ongoingnarrative of
our department.