Jo Ann M. Gora

Infobox University Chancellor
name = Jo Ann M. Gora

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caption =
order =
university = Ball State University
term_start = 2004
term_end = Present
birth_date =
birth_place = New York
death_date =
death_place =
predecessor = Blaine A. Brownell
successor = Incumbent
alma_mater =
residence =
profession =
religion =
salary =
spouse = Roy Budd
children = Jesse Gora
Tiffany Budd (Stepdaughter)
website =
footnotes =|

Dr. Jo Ann M. Gora is the 14th President of Ball State University as well as a chancellor of the University of Massachusetts, and the provost and vice-president for academic affairs at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Gora, a native New Yorker, is married to Roy Budd, and has a son and step-daughter. Budd works in the area of workforce and economic development, her son, Jesse Gora is a clinical psychologist in Salt Lake City, UT, and her stepdaughter, Tiffany Budd, works for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. [ [http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,22325--,00.html "Jo Ann M. Gora appointed 14th president of Ball State University." (Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved March 15, 2008.]

Background

Education

Gora earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Vassar College, and master's and doctorate's degrees in sociology from Rutgers University.

University of Massachusetts

Gora served as chancellor in August 2001 and helped expand its honors college as well as dedicated herself to the growth of the campus and its students. She was responsible for also raising admission standards, increasing community outreach, as well as rewiring the campus to include increased bandwidth. She stated in her inaugural speech that she was committed to the construction of residence halls as well as the external perspective of University of Massachusetts. [ [http://www.umb.edu/news/2002news/reporter/october/gora.html "Jo Ann Gora Is Inaugurated as Sixth Chancellor on September 27." (The UMass Website)] , Retrieved March 15, 2008.] This helped lead the way for her presidency at Ball State University.

Old Dominion University in Virginia

Gora served as provost and vice-president for academic affairs. In 1995, President James V. Koch of Old Dominion University, took a leave of absence for a semester, leaving Gora as the university's acting president. At that time in Virginia, Gora became the first female president of a doctoral institution in Virginia. [ [http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp941209/12090617.htm "PROVOST TO LEAD ODU WHILE KOCH IS ON LEAVE JO ANN GORA WILL BE THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF A VA. DOCTORAL INSTITUTION." (THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Website)] , Retrieved March 15, 2008.] In addition to being the first female president, she influenced the rise in university admission standards, expanded their honors college, and developed a state-wide distance learning program.

Publications

*"The New Female Criminal: Empirical Reality or Social Myth?"
*"Emergency Squad Volunteers: Professionalism in Unpaid Work"

Ball State University

Gora currently serves as the president of Ball State University. She was appointed by the Ball State University Board of Trustees in May of 2004, beginning her presidency in August of that year. Upon her inauguration at Ball State Gora forwent a traditional ceremony and used the money to establish a scholarship fund.

Effect on Ball State University

*Made Ball State a "smoke-free campus" with designated secluded smoking areas.
*Has been involved in over $320 million dollars of completed or current construction to change the face of Ball State. [ [http://www.bsu.edu/president/article/0,,21484--,00.html "Jo Ann M. Gora biographical Information" (Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved March 14, 2008.]
**Music Instruction Building (2004)
**McKinley Safety Improvement Project Phase 1 & 2
**Ball State University: Indianapolis Center (2006)
**Bookmark Cafe in Bracken Library (2007)
**Scheumann Stadium Renovation (2007)
**David Letterman Communication and Media Building (2007)
**Park Hall (2007)
**North Residence Hall, a $35.6 million, 206,000 square foot facility to house 600 students at the northeast edge of campus, at New York and Neely avenues. (Started 2008 with schedule opening for 2010 Fall semester) [ [http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,191060-13303-58905,00.html "North Residence Hall" (Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved July 7, 2008.]
**Renovation of the Student Center in two phases costing $19 million to completely remodel the first floor, provide wheelchair access to the main entrance and to update mechanical systems. (Started 2008 with scheduled completion date of January 2010) [ [http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,190635-13303-58917,00.html "Student Center" (Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved July 7, 2008.]
**DeHority Hall $20.2 million renovation into new Honors College residence hall(Started 2008 with scheduled completion date of June 2009) [ [http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,191057-13303-58945,00.html "DeHority Hall" (Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved July 7, 2008.]
**Student Recreation and Wellness Facility, $40 million in renovations and new construction adding five additional gymnasiums, a rock-climbing wall, indoor 1/8 mile track and facilities for indoor soccer, baseball and rugby. (Started 2008 with scheduled 2010 completion date) [ [http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,191055-13303-58942,00.html "Student Recreation and Wellness Facility" (Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved July 7, 2008.]
**Renovation of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball mansion on Riverside Avenue at a cost of $1.2 million from a residential structure into new offices and classrooms to house the Honors College, removal of tennis courts and driveway and conversion of the detached garage structure into a classroom for 40 students. (Started 2008 with schedule completion during 2009 Spring semester) [ [http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,191050-13303-58946,00.html "Honors College" (Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved July 7, 2008.]

Awards and Honors

*The Indiana Commission for Women named Gora a 2005 Torchbearer, the highest honor given to women by the state of Indiana. [ [http://www.bsu.edu/alumni/article/0,1384,223103-14998-38168,00.html "Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora Receives 2005 Torchbearer Award"(Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved March 16, 2008.]
*In 2006, the Coalition of Women's Organizations of Delaware County honored Gora with the Vivian Conley Award for her dedication for community contributions. [ [http://www.bsu.edu/bbc/article/0,2338,121481-9563-45849,00.html "Gora honored for community contributions"(Ball State University Website)] , Retrieved March 16, 2008.]
*Indianapolis Business Journal named her one of the 19 most influential women in Indiana. [ [http://media.www.bsudailynews.com/media/storage/paper849/news/2007/11/15/News/Gora-Receives.Honor.In.Indy.Newspaper-3102950.shtml "Gora receives honor in Indy newspaper"(Ball State Daily News Website)] , Retrieved March 15, 2008.]
*Gora received the Walter S. Blackburn Award in 2006 because of her work promoting the Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning Indianapolis Center.

ee also

* List of Ball State University Presidents

References