The Center for Innovation and Collaboration (CIC) is excited to announce its six inaugural projects for the 2026–2027 academic year—each advancing creativity, research, and community engagement in unique ways.
These projects represent a cross-section of Ball State’s colleges and programs, including the College of Sciences and Humanities; Teachers College; College of Communication, Information and Media; Honors College; Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning; Digital Corps; and the Office of Immersive Learning.
Selected through our call for proposals, four projects highlight the power of storytelling, technology, art, and design:
Indiana Writing Project Youth Digital Lab (Project Lead: Dr. Kathryn Ludwig)
This project will empower Muncie elementary and high school students to become authors and digital creators through hands-on digital publishing experiences.
Digital Transformation of the Brilliant Storytellers Test (Project Lead: Dr. Lisa DaVia Rubenstein)
This project will transform the Brilliant Storytellers Test into a scalable digital assessment using AI and natural language processing to make creativity assessment more efficient and accessible.
Alt.control Climate & Sustainability Game Jam (Project Lead: Dr. Travis Faas)
An educational series culminating in a regional game jam where participants design games and custom controllers focused on environmental themes, in partnership with Indianapolis-based organizations.
Art for the People: The Story of Muncie’s Public Art (Project Lead: Dr. Kara DuQuette)
A video storytelling collaboration highlighting Muncie’s public art, encouraging community engagement and awareness.
In addition, two internally developed initiatives from EMDD and IDIA Lab, respectively, will activate the Center in dynamic ways:
David Letterman Learning Experience (Project Lead: Dr. Jennifer Palilonis)
This initiative includes three projects: a Ball Jar multimedia exhibition, a traveling Wysor Grand Opera House exhibit for the 2027 bicentennial, and the launch of the Muncie Pop Culture Museum.
Inaugural Art Projects for the CIC (Project Lead: John Fillwalk)
This project will transform the CIC through interactive installations, projection-mapped performances, and augmented reality experiences across campus and downtown Muncie.
Together, these projects reflect CIC’s mission to make innovation visible, participatory, and impactful—on campus and in the broader community.
Stay tuned as these exciting initiatives come to life!