Meet President Daniel W. Ball
July 1, 2000, marked the beginning of a new era at Lander University, the Ball era.
That's the day Dr. Daniel W. Ball began his tenure as the university's 12th president. Personable
with an easygoing manner, he immediately began getting to know his faculty and staff, his board
members and the friends and supporters of Lander University.
Who is this man who comes to Lander from Southern Arkansas University, where he was vice
president for Academic Affairs, and what are his perceptions of Lander and higher education?
Ball earned his doctorate in science education from the University of Northern Colorado in
Greeley in 1972, his master of arts in teaching in biological sciences from Duke University, 1968,
and his bachelor's in biology from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, now Truman
State University, 1965.
He moved up through the ranks, beginning as a high school biology and chemistry teacher in
Missouri, teaching in the Department of Science Education at the University of Northern Colorado
and then serving as professor of biology and science education at Ball State University. He spent
seven years as head of Northeast Missouri State's Division of Education and served four years as
dean of the College of Education at Idaho State University in Pocatello. His seven years at
Southern Arkansas were spent as vice president for Academic Affairs.
Ball brings a broad breadth of experience to his new position as president of Lander. His
classroom experience earned him the Outstanding Young Professor Award at Ball State. His skills as
a grants writer and solicitor resulted in his being selected as project director for numerous
National Science Foundation grants. As an educator and administrator, he has presented many papers
at national meetings of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and he has
been a consultant to the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands on science curriculum.
Add to his professional experience some 10 years as a youth baseball coach (he and his wife,
Marjorie, have two sons, both now grown), his 20 years as a member of Rotary International and his
service to various community organizations, and a picture of Dr. Daniel Ball begins to emerge.
In making the decision to come to Lander, Ball says he was attracted by what he describes as “
the strength” of the people who serve Lander.
“The faculty and staff, the Lander Board of Trustees, the alumni and The Lander Foundation
members, they all provide very, very strong leadership to this institution,” says Ball, “and their
love for Lander is unquestioned.”
From Ball's perspective, the people who support Lander are committed to four things: quality,
students, the Greenwood community, and the arts and sciences.
“These commitments are what attracted me to Lander,” says Ball. “These commitments and these
people are Lander's strengths. They will help me meet the challenges that lie ahead.”
