Our Call
to Beneficence
Episodes
S5E1: Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman is an award-winning actor of television and film. He is also an acclaimed theater performer who won a Tony® Award for his role in The Boy From Oz. Hugh’s most recent Broadway role was in the 2022 revival of The Music Man, which co-starred Ball State instructor and fellow Tony® Award winning actor, Sutton Foster.
In this episode, Hugh talks about joining Sutton this month on one of her return visits to Ball State—and he shares his own interests in teaching. He also shares some advice he gave our theater students, and he describes the trajectory of his career from the theater stages of Australia to the film sets of Hollywood.
Duration
55:26
S4E4: Hope Churchill
Hope Churchill is a senior studying business administration in our Miller College of Business. She’s also our current student representative on the Board of Trustees. In this role, Hope serves as the voice of her peers, advocating for her fellow Ball State students and bringing their perspectives to the board.
As she prepares to graduate in May, Hope reflects on her Ball State journey and her service to our University. She shares how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced her high school and college experiences—and how more students on campus are stepping up as leaders now that the pandemic has receded.
When asked what she loves most about Ball State, Hope also shares her appreciation for the University’s distinct culture, which is shaped by the Midwestern hospitality of our faculty, staff, and students and a shared commitment to the Beneficence Pledge.
Duration
34:30
S4E7: Judge Dana Kenworthy
Dana Kenworthy has dedicated her professional career to serving the people of Indiana—in particular those who have been victims of abuse and neglect.
Currently, she serves as a judge for the second circuit of the Indiana Court of Appeals, which is the second-highest court in the state. But prior to her appointment to the Court of Appeals, Judge Kenworthy served as deputy prosecutor in Grant County, where she concentrated on cases primarily involving child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She then served as a trial judge for 12 years—from 2010 to 2022—before her appointment to the Court of Appeals. In recognition of her public service, pro bono work, and volunteer efforts, she has received the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Outstanding Prosecutor Award and the Indiana Pro Bono Commission’s Randall T. Shepard Award.
In this episode, Judge Kenworthy talks about her passion for justice and how our University’s enduring values, embodied by Beneficence, have inspired her throughout her life.
Duration
35:18
S4E6: Dr. Jeff Bird
Throughout Dr. Jeff Bird’s long and fulfilling career in medicine, he has put his patients—and the people of Muncie—first.
Dr. Bird grew up in Muncie. After completing his residency at Ball Hospital, he embarked upon a long and fulfilling career in medicine here in his hometown. As the hospital prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Dr. Bird reflects on the decades he’s spent—first as a doctor and then as an administrator—working to provide the best healthcare to the people who live and work in East Central Indiana.
Since 2017, Dr. Bird has served as the president of the East Central Indiana region for IU Health, which includes IU Health Ball Memorial and Blackford Hospitals. Prior to assuming this executive role, Dr. Bird served 14 years as the associate director of the Ball Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. Before that, he was the owner of a thriving private practice of family medicine.
Duration
36:59
SS4E5: Brandon Allmon-Jackson
During Brandon Allmon-Jackson’s major theatrical productions, he is never seen by the audiences. But as a stage manager fulfilling his dream of working on Broadway, he’s the person most responsible for making sure big acts—including The Music Man, Back to the Future, and Sunset Boulevard—go off without a hitch.
In the years since he graduated from Ball State in 2012, Brandon has applied the skills he learned in the classroom, along with his dedication and drive, to stand out in the competitive world of commercial theatre. He’s also dedicated himself to providing more opportunities for artists of color.
In this episode, Brandon talks about how the confidence he built and connections he made at his alma mater helped him advance professionally. In less than 10 years, he’s gone from stage managing regional theater and cruise ship performances to working on the biggest shows on Broadway.
Brandon also reveals why he’s grateful for his humble Southern upbringing and how, by mentoring the next generation of talent at Ball State, he’s giving back in a way that upholds the promise of Beneficence.
Duration
32:36