BSU President Welcome Video
Description of the video:
[Beginning of Transcript]
[Video: Ball State University red color background]
[Words appear: BALL STATE UNIVERSITY with Ball State University logo]
[Words appear: WE FLY]
[Words appear: Ball State University logo]
[Words appear: Geoffrey S. Mearns]
[Words appear: President, Ball State University]
[Video: The camera transitions to Ball State University president, Geoffrey S. Mearns, in front of a dark curtain facing to the camera.] Geoffrey speaks: Hello I'm Jeff burns and I have the good fortune to serve as the president of Ball State University. Our university has a long history of supporting undergraduate research in the sciences and in supporting the educational aspirations of our underrepresented students.
[Words disappear: Geoffrey S. Mearns]
[Words disappear: President, Ball State University]
Geoffrey speaks: That is why we are proud to be among the colleges and universities participating in the Indiana Lewis Stokes Alliance for minority participation over the course of his 30-year career. Congressman Stokes was a champion for many people but for minorities especially and I had the pleasure of knowing congressman Stokes. During the years I lived and worked in Cleveland, he was my congressman and he was a graduate of the law school where I was the Dean. I remember him as a determined yet humble civil servant who cared deeply for our country. Congressman Stokes knew that higher education was the gateway to a successful career and to a meaningful life. He felt that everyone should have the chance to succeed and that is why I believe he would be proud of the work that we are doing to increase the number of minority students earning STEM degrees at Ball State. Through the efforts of numerous faculty and staff, we are pleased with our first year of progress in the program and I want to thank the National Science Foundation for making this funding possible. The grant has supported several community building initiatives among our underrepresented STEM students including a new peer mentorship program for incoming STEM freshmen and a faculty mentor research program for upperclassmen that provides opportunities for professional development, and we will continue to provide the academic support the resources and the programming needed for this important program as Ball State has a shared commitment with our Indiana partners in reaching its goal to build a stronger and more diverse stem workforce. Together we aim to return the investment Lewis Stokes has made to our nation. Thank you very much.
[Video: The camera transitions to Ball State University red color background]
[Words appear: BALL STATE UNIVERSITY with Ball State University logo]
[Words appear: WE FLY]
[Words appear: Ball State University logo]
[End of Transcript]