Ball State University issued the following announcement on Nov. 20.

James Acton, who has more than 25 years of experience in alumni relations, will become the next president of the Ball State University Alumni Association, effective December 3. He will also serve as the Ball State University Foundation’s vice president of alumni engagement.

A lifelong Hoosier, Acton was born in Seymour and attended high school in Columbus. He began working in alumni relations straight out of college with Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity in Indianapolis, followed by 12 years of progressive experience at Valparaiso University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.a

Before accepting his position at Ball State, he served eight years at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, most recently as associate vice president of alumni and giving programs.

In each role throughout his career, Acton has developed a culture of planning, innovation, and metric-driven evaluation, said Jake Logan, Ball State University Foundation president and vice president for University Advancement.

“Jamie is well prepared for this key leadership role,” Logan said. “He has broad experience in many aspects of alumni relations, which will allow him to hit the ground running. He is the right leader to continue to build upon the Ball State Alumni Association’s incredible momentum.”

Logan thanked Debbie Linegar, ’92, for doing an exceptional job serving as interim associate vice president of alumni engagement and president of the Ball State Alumni Association during the nationwide candidate search process.

Ball State Alumni Council Vice Chair Mike Earley, ’78, who served on the executive search committee, said the process for finding the right person to step into this leadership position was thorough. The group considered a number of outstanding candidates with impressive experience, he said, and Acton stood out.

“Jamie is a proven leader who clearly understands the importance of maintaining a vibrant alumni association,” Earley said. “We look forward to working with him and introducing him to our loyal alumni.”

The University’s Alumni Association cultivates lasting relationships with more than 197,000 alumni worldwide. It supports Ball State by fostering lifelong relationships between and among alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends by sponsoring social, educational, philanthropic, and service-oriented programs.

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