The Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL) is proud to introduce the 2025 Democracy Fellows—an exceptional group of students committed to advancing civic engagement, public service, and democracy at Ball State University
This group of undergraduate and graduate students bring a shared commitment to civic responsibility and community leadership. Throughout the year, the Democracy Fellows are leading voter education initiatives, participating in civic research, supporting outreach for upcoming elections, and organizing campus-wide programs such as Ball State’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Last week, the 2025 Democracy Fellows traveled to the Indiana Statehouse where they met with state legislators, observed committee hearings, and engaged with civic leaders about policymaking and leadership.
The 2025 Democracy Fellows:
- Chloe Voskuhl (MBA, Artificial Intelligence): Political Science and Peace Studies alumna; served as President of Model European Union and now works full-time in Teacher Education Services.
- Dickson Ekabe (Ph.D., Educational Psychology): Focused on student motivation and academic outcomes; graduate assistant in Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies; active in education policy research.
- Afton Vanek (Junior, Art History): Global scholar and community volunteer; studied abroad in South Korea and Mexico; serves as VP of Membership Development for the Panhellenic Association.
- Diamond Coleman (Senior, Psychology): Vice President of Let’s Talk About It and Secretary for BSU’s NAACP chapter; active in voter registration, academic research, and youth leadership.
- Younique Jones (Senior, Political Science, Pre-Law): President of the Black Student Association; interned with the Indiana General Assembly; active in DEI leadership and international student support.
- Caleb Trinoskey (Freshman, Political Science & Economics): Honors student and Whitinger Scholar; involved in SGA, the Debate Team, and research programs like the Teacher-Scholar Program.
- Femi Folorunsho (Graduate, Media): Researching misinformation, AI, and civic media literacy; active in public discourse and student advocacy.
- Natalie Walker (Freshman, Urban Planning): SGA senator and chair of Community and Environmental Affairs; involved in Honors College media and local civic organizations like Strong Towns Muncie.
- Max Wilkinson (Junior, Sociology, Pre-Law): Leader in Residence Life and academic organizations; researching public health and civic institutions; served as an election judge.
- Gracie Hamilton (Sophomore, Political Science & Legal Studies): Active in SGA and the Honors College Peer Mentor Program; aspires to a career in international law and diplomacy.
- Shaina Miller (Junior, Political Science, Pre-Law): Whitinger Scholar and incoming SGA Vice President; President of Kappa Delta and civic leader with the League of Women Voters.
These fellows exemplify Ball State’s mission to empower students for lives of meaningful engagement and leadership.
Learn more about the 2025 Democracy Fellows and view photos from the Statehouse visit here.
To learn more about the Democracy Fellows, collaborate on a campus voter information events, or connect with the CECL team, please contact Dr. David J. Roof at djroof@bsu.edu or 217-721-6741.