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You're Invited! Public History Program's 30th Anniversary Celebration

Contributed by: Sandi Garcia
Published: Thursday, 19 October 2017 5:00 PM

Tomorrow, October 20th, the Department of History is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of our Public History Program and you're invited!

The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Cardinal Hall B, Student Center.

Please feel free to join us for any part of the day, as your schedule permits. There is no advance registration, and the event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The Public History Concentration in the History Major prepares you to interact with the community, both in person and online, in a variety of settings—from museums and national parks to the archives of a major corporation. The 30th Anniversary Celebration is a great opportunity to learn how this major could open career opportunities!
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RESEARCH WEEK HONOREE PRESENTATIONS

Contributed by: Jessie Roark
Published: Thursday, 19 October 2017 4:00 PM

RESEARCH WEEK HONOREE PRESENTATIONS

**ALL EVENTS AT 3:00 PM, BRACKEN LIBRARY 104**

Come hear your colleagues discuss their externally funded work and offer their insights into developing successful proposals.

· Tuesday, Oct 24: Janay Sander, Department of Educational Psychology

Come hear Janay Sander and her co-investigator, Ruth Jefferson (Department of Special Education) discuss the process of applying for and then implementing an externally funded project that includes real-world research questions, community-university partnerships, immersive learning, and high quality research methods all in one project.

· Wednesday, Oct 25: Cathy Whaley, Director, Northeast Indiana Area Health Education Center (NEI-AHEC)

Come hear Cathy Whaley discuss the programs and funding strategies for AHEC. The purpose of the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program is to develop and enhance education and training networks within communities, academic institutions, and community-based organizations. The Northeast Indiana AHEC is one of more than 250 Centers across the United States and is financially supported by federal, state, and local funds.

· Thursday, Oct 26: Eric (VJ) Rubenstein, Department of Biology

Like humans, all cells must take out the trash. When cells switch from taking out the trash to hoarding it, mayhem - in the form of disease - ensues. In his presentation, VJ Rubenstein will discuss his federally funded investigation of cellular waste management.
**This event will conclude at 3:50pm to accommodate those with 4:00 obligations

· Friday, Oct 27: Creative Endeavor of the Year Lecture

Christopher Flook (Department of Telecommunications) will discuss his work, which resulted in this significant University award.

Please note: Scott Trappe's Researcher of the Year lecture, previously scheduled for Research Week, has been postponed until spring semester.

**ALL EVENTS AT 3:00 PM, BRACKEN LIBRARY 104**

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A Graduate Course on Categorical Data Analysis Using R

Contributed by: Jun Xu
Published: Monday, 16 October 2017 1:00 PM

SOC684: Advanced Sociological Data Analysis
Modern Regression Analysis Using R

Dr. Jun Xu
17.15-20.00 M
Spring 2018

Why did someone vote for one particular presidential candidate instead of another? How likely does a student from disadvantaged background graduate from college? How to predict the number of clinic visits that a middle-class Caucasian female usually has in a year? What predicts people having poor health? Between black and silver cars, which color sells better and who is more likely to buy silver? What is the most likely commuting strategy that a typical New Yorker takes to get to the workplace? Why would Canadians live a healthier and longer life than Americans? Are people living in an area with a higher level of PM2.5 (fine particle) in the air or radon in the lower level of their residence more likely to have heart/lung disease than those living in areas with better air quality?

All these fascinating questions can be addressed using categorical and limited (non-continuous) dependent variable models, including binary (logit and probit), ordered (ordered logit and probit), multinomial (multinomial logistic), count (Poisson and negative binomial), and survival regression models. For the past few decades, there has been a tremendous outgrowth of these models, largely attributable to significant advances in computational capabilities. Since models covered in this course are non-linear in nature, interpretations are usually less straightforward than those in classical general linear models. This course focuses on conceptual understanding and post-estimation of these models. As such, we will employ textual, tabular, and graphical approaches, focusing largely on the interpretation and presentation of results. Computer exercises primarily using R offer experience with the use of such substantive post-estimation analysis. Students taking this course should have a solid understanding of regression models for continuous dependent variables and should be comfortable with a software package using syntax files. In addition to covering traditional frequentist statistical framework for estimation (i.e., maximum likelihood estimation), this course incorporates discussions of applied Bayesian statistics, the most up-to-date, and yet once-ostracized statistical paradigm/philosophy. Together with some basic discussions of Bayesian methods, this course primarily covers techniques about how to DO Bayesian data analysis of the models aforementioned using BUGS-like software (BUGS, JAGS, and Stan).

The instructor of this course, Dr. Jun Xu, is a professor of sociology at Ball State University. As a statistically-minded sociologist, Dr. Xu has published works on applied statistical techniques or substantive works using these techniques, including a co-authored book on ordered regression models forthcoming at Taylor & Francis and several papers on categorical data analysis. He is also the author or co-author of several software components using R or Stata. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Xu at jxu@bsu.edu or 765-285-4488.

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Lead a Field Study in Italy

Contributed by: Dom Caristi
Published: Wednesday, 11 October 2017 7:30 AM

Do you have an interest in taking students to Italy on a field study? Learn more.

Honors College Lecture October 30

Contributed by: Coralee Young
Published: Monday, 09 October 2017 10:00 AM

This once-monthly lecture series welcomes students and faculty to come together and explore a current topic of interest to the Honors College community. All persons within the Ball State University community are welcome to attend and participate. Join us on Monday, October 30, at 4PM in AJ 175 for a discussion with Dr. Jason Powell, Assistant Professor of Honors Humanities, about “The Art of Existence: John Dos Passos and the Lost Generation.”

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Call For Papers- World Conference on Transformative Education

Contributed by: Cresta Hancock
Published: Monday, 11 September 2017 1:00 PM

The Global Institute for Transformative Education and The School Project Foundation- in conjunction with the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology- are organizing a World Conference on Transformative Education in Kakamega, Kenya, on July 26 - 28, 2018 under the theme: "Rethinking, Curriculum, Pedagogy and Research in Africa."

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Black Women Writers Needed for Research!

Contributed by: Linh Littleford
Published: Saturday, 26 August 2017 10:00 PM

Ball State University IRB Approval #: 1088011-1

Have you ever experienced subtle slights that are offensive or insensitive towards you as a Black woman? I am interested in interviewing Black women who use writing as a coping strategy when dealing with microaggressive experiences. Research has linked racial microaggressions to negative psychological and physical health (Lewis & Neville, 2015; Nadal et al., 2015; Wong et al., 2013). My goal for this study is to identify ways to decrease the detrimental effects gendered racial microaggressions on Black women. If you are a Black woman, a writer, are 18 years or older, and you are willing to share your experiences with me during a one-on-one interview (approximately 1.5-2 hours), please contact Alexcia M. Kilgore at amkilgore@bsu.edu.

Warm regards,

Alexcia M. Kilgore

Cognitive & Social Processes Master's Candidate

President of Black Graduate Student Association

Ball State University | 2018

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Live-streamed Opportunities for Your Online Students

Contributed by: Nancy Prater
Published: Friday, 25 August 2017 11:30 AM

Several live-streamed presentations will help Ball State online students focus on academic, career, and interpersonal development. Learn more.

Submissions Being Accepted for Celestial Musings: Poems Inspired by the Night Sky

Contributed by: Dayna Thompson
Published: Friday, 07 July 2017 2:00 PM

Submissions are now being accepted for "Celestial Musings: Poems Inspired by the Night Sky". Submit up to three poems with a line limit of 32 lines each. The poems do not have to be entirely about the night sky, but the more the poems relate to the stars, constellations or the moon, the better the chance for publication.
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Storytelling: The Must-Have Career Skill

Contributed by: Cathy Day
Published: Sunday, 23 April 2017 8:00 PM

We live in such a noisy world, so many voices trying to get our attention.

But who captures our attention?

That’s easy: whoever tells the best story.

Storytelling is the new must-have skill in business, advertising, marketing, and public relations. Even Forbes agrees.

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Celebrate and workshop creative writing at the Writers' Community!

Contributed by: Eva Snider
Published: Thursday, 16 February 2017 3:00 PM

Calling all creative writers! Real life can be overwhelming and sometimes we need a break. For anyone who enjoys community and creative writing, there is the Ball State Writers' Community. Join us on every Monday at 8:00 PM in RB 295 to share your current work, listen to others share their work, give feedback, and receive feedback. Come to one of our meetings to escape reality for an hour by getting the creative juices flowing with a writing prompt, and sharing ideas with people who are just as passionate about creative writing as you are! Learn more.