Beverley Pitts needed some artwork.
When Blaine Brownell left his stint as president of Ball State University, he took the decorations with him.
Of course, the office wasn't empty. The wood-paneled desk was still there, papers neatly divided into piles, as were the red curtains with gray stripes. He had left the brown-leather couch and two armchairs decorated in Ball State colors. The three Oriental rugs adorning the wood floors were not touched. The paintings on the walls, however, were from Brownell's personal collection and left when he did.
So when Pitts began her move into the president's office, she called the Center for Media Design. They sent her a painting by the Department of Journalism's associate professor Alfredo Marin-Carle, which, coincidentally, is the same painting that hangs in her provost's office.
The painting, though, offers some sense of continuity to Pitts, who, until another president is selected and hired, will have two offices.
"We're still figuring it out," Pitts said. "I'm trying to keep my presidential duties in the president's office and my academic duties in the provost's office. "
Balance is becoming an increasingly important element in Pitts' life. She has retained many of her provost duties, including meeting with the deans of each college, and has also assumed the responsibilities of the president. For instance, just yesterday, Pitts sent a semiannual report to the Lilly Endowment regarding the $20 million iCommunication grant that she helped write as provost. But as acting president, she has been familiarizing herself with the office, preparing for the Mid-Atlantic Conference president's meeting and the Board of Trustees meeting today.
"She's always been very professional, very well-prepared and always ready to go the extra mile," Board of Trustees president Tom DeWeese said.
Sometimes literally. Pitts traveled to Indianapolis on Wednesday to meet with legislators on behalf of the university.
"I need to be a strong spokeswoman for the university, with both the legislation and business communities," Pitts said.
Pitts said that it's important that the community and the state know that Ball State's goals have not changed. The direction in which Brownell began to lead the university will stay its course, she said.
"We don't want anyone to think that the university has stopped doing the good work we've been doing," Pitts said. "It's very important that we carry the message that we aren't changing our mission, we're finding a president who fits that mission."
Pitts is not involved in the search for a new president. She instead is focusing on transitioning to her new job.
"We've been converting this week," Pitts said. "I'm transitioning very smoothly; I worked with the president so closely before he left."
Pitts said that Brownell had a strong commitment to Ball State and that his strong interest in international education would undoubtedly be one of his legacies. The university will continue to pursue international education, she said.
"He is a great colleague and a good personal friend," Pitts said. "His new job is a great opportunity that really matches his skills and interests."
Pitts' own skills and interests reside more in the field of journalism. She has been a professor of journalism at this university since 1991 and even taught an introductory journalism graduate course last semester. Pitts said that she will always consider herself a faculty member.
"I don't ever forget why we're here," Pitts said. "I care very much about the students and what happens to them academically."
Pitts has also worked for the Washington, D.C.-based National Football League Players Association, where she developed a scholarship program and designed research projects. Some of that research she brought with her to Ball State, where she collaborated with Department of Journalism professor Mark Popovich.
Pitts' other research activities have focused on the news-writing process. In 1989 she developed a news-writing model that was published in numerous journals. In 1997, she and three colleagues published a textbook based on her model.
"To me, it was the epitome of what it means to be a good faculty member, scholar and teacher," Pitts said. "We used research to improve teaching."
In addition to her duties on campus, Pitts is actively involved in community activities. For instance, she serves on the Board of Directors for both the Delaware County Community Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce of Delaware County, to name just a few organizations.
"I think it's very important for the university's senior staff to be engaged in the community," Pitts said. "We are a part of the community, and it's important that we be visible."
Pitts has no idea how long she'll be performing two jobs, but she's not counting the days.
"We're thinking this arrangement will be for a relatively short period of time," Pitts said. "I think we'll all know when the search committee is getting close to choosing someone and their target date of July 1 is reasonable."
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