Colleen Steffen is the best instructor I have ever had. She is passionate about journalism and is sincere and helpful to students both in and out of the classroom.
M
Mackenzie Diggs
8 years ago
If there is anything where the students voices should matter, it's this.
A
Allyson Edmonds
8 years ago
HOW DARE YALL FIRE COLLEEN! She’s the best teacher in the journalism department. Y’all need to be firing PHIL BREMEN.
L
LaTaysia Wilson
8 years ago
Colleen is one of the most influential professors I’ve ever met at Ball State. Colleen’s teaching is simply organic. I don’t think you can ever replace something as pure, strong and impactful as her particular gift at this university. She makes you feel like you could accomplish anything no matter how difficult the task was, and she is always there to help. Although I am a recent graduate, she has still been available for advice and I truly respect her for this.
I believe Colleen’s drive and passion for journalism is what makes her students feel empowered to become any journalist they want to be. She gracefully pushes her students to think of ways to make any story out of something more newsworthy, and that’s the type of guidance the CCIM department needs if they want their students to continue succeeding. Not renewing Colleen’s contract would be a big loss for the university, the students and its CCIM programs.
D
Daniel Brount
8 years ago
While I worked on the Daily News, I wasn't a journalism major, so I was hesitant to take the BSU at the Fair course. But Colleen encouraged me to give it a shot, and she couldn't have been more helpful. She made me feel like I belonged in the course, and I learned a lot from her throughout the project. It's rare to encounter such a genuine professor with so much optimism and passion for her subject and students.
T
Taylor Irby
8 years ago
Colleen instilled in me an absolute need to connect to my community, find the wonderful and weird in the ordinary, and to never stop looking for stories I cared about. She single-handedly taught me how to write features as a photo track major. Which has been invaluable to my career in many ways. She was an important part of my college career, and I've learned something every time I've spoken with her. I wouldn't be the journalist I am today without BSU at the Fair, which she ran.
A
Andrew Mishler
8 years ago
As a recent graduate, Colleen sticks out as a professor who is truly memorable in her leadership, guidance, and caring attitude toward her students. I always knew that Colleen, just like Ryan Sparrow, truly wanted her students to succeed and to see them improve as they grew through the department. This is a rare quality not just among the Ball State Journalism Department but the university as a whole. She's been an immense help to many students in her time at Ball State and is truly one of the most outstanding professors in the department. That's why it's so astonishing to see that her contract will not be renewed. To be frank, this is a decision that puts a black mark on the Ball State Journalism Department to me moving forward. It shows me that leadership is either too incompetent to keep professors that students love and appreciate, or it is just unwilling to keep them at all. In the end it feels like a theft from future students in CCIM who could have learned from Colleen, and it diminishes the quality of a Ball State Journalism degree. The Journalism Department should immediately renew her contract and issue an apology to current students and alumni for making such a horrible mistake.
B
Brittany Watson
8 years ago
Featured
Colleen taught a few of my first-ever journalism classes, and I can confidently say her and her red pan are a large reason I am where I am today. Losing this beloved and formative mentor is a huge blow for all CCIM students - past, present and future.
E
Emily Sabens
8 years ago
Walking into my first-ever journalism class, I was terrified. I had no idea what the class was going to be about, and I certainly had no idea who my professor was. But all of those fears melted away once I met my kind, energetic professor who so clearly cared about her students. Colleen has guided me and inspired me since that very first day in NEWS105. After having her in three classes, along with working with her in SPJ, she has helped me to not only become a better journalist, but to become a better person, as well. I truly believe our journalism department would not be the same without Colleen. It makes me so sad knowing that future students might not get the chance to know this inspirational, caring professor who has made such a profound impact on my college career.
K
Katie McPherson
8 years ago
Colleen was one of my professors in my undergrad. Without her passion for writing, I think I would have lost my own after a bit. I still think of her from time to time, and I graduated BSU in 2015.
E
Emily Maag
8 years ago
Colleen Steffen is an invaluable asset to the Ball State community. I only had her for a five week course during my freshman year, but it was one of the few courses I feel genuinely benefited me both professionally and personally. I changed my major following my freshman year, and it is not an exaggeration that one of the biggest downsides of switching out of journalism was knowing I wouldn't have Colleen as an instructor again. She's intelligent and compassionate, and the relationship she, as well as the rest of her family, have with everyone in CCIM is truly so special. Ball State is doing themselves and students an immeasurable disservice by not renewing her contract.
D
Dan Hale
8 years ago
If my daughter says she's a good instructor then I believe it.
E
Emily Cox
8 years ago
Colleen has inspired & pushed me to be where I am today. Without her, I would not be nearly as confident in my writing or myself as a person. I had a teacher who once said “students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Colleen exemplifies this. Her guidance as a mentor has meant just as much to me as her teaching, which is the best of the best. It is rare to find a professor who cares so deeply about everything they do and makes that evident. Without Colleen, I would not have studied abroad in Italy, a decision that changed my life for the better. It breaks my heart to think future students may not know her. Ball State is better because of her.
L
Leslie Gartrell
8 years ago
Colleen Steffen is an inspiration and a joy. She's one of the best instructors I've ever had, and my undergraduate education would not have been the same without her.
A
Ashley Dye
8 years ago
Colleen Steffen is a hardworking educator who clearly cares about her students and fosters an environment for them to put in the work to succeed. Many of my fellow alumni credit their growth as reporters, and people, to her courses and her mentorship. One clear case is the immersive learning she and Ryan Sparrow have tirelessly worked on to provide for students to work hard covering the Olympics. That experience helped open professional doors for many of those students. Colleen is the kind of instructor who exemplifies what CCIM strives for and whom the college should be proud to employ. It's deeply disappointing to see her contract was not renewed. Please reconsider robbing future Cardinals of her guidance.
J
Jillian Wilschke
8 years ago
Seeing Colleen leave the department would be a huge loss for the education of our students. While I have not not had her in class, I have only heard positive things from her students and I know that she has impacted so many on this campus. Her expertise and knowledge is irreplaceable, and students deserve to be able to learn from her. I met Colleen as a junior in high school when I attended the BSU Journalism Workshops. Knowing that the department had educators like her was one reason that I came to Ball State. She has consistently been a positive face in and around the department and has such an impact on so many in the college.
E
Emily Brungard
8 years ago
Featured
Colleen Steffen has never taught any of my classes, but every time I see her on campus or in the community, she greets me like we're old friends. The department, college and university need more educators like her. Current and future students deserve an education from someone like Colleen.
1
1
1
Colleen Steffen is the best instructor I have ever had. She is passionate about journalism and is sincere and helpful to students both in and out of the classroom.
If there is anything where the students voices should matter, it's this.
HOW DARE YALL FIRE COLLEEN! She’s the best teacher in the journalism department. Y’all need to be firing PHIL BREMEN.
Colleen is one of the most influential professors I’ve ever met at Ball State. Colleen’s teaching is simply organic. I don’t think you can ever replace something as pure, strong and impactful as her particular gift at this university. She makes you feel like you could accomplish anything no matter how difficult the task was, and she is always there to help. Although I am a recent graduate, she has still been available for advice and I truly respect her for this. I believe Colleen’s drive and passion for journalism is what makes her students feel empowered to become any journalist they want to be. She gracefully pushes her students to think of ways to make any story out of something more newsworthy, and that’s the type of guidance the CCIM department needs if they want their students to continue succeeding. Not renewing Colleen’s contract would be a big loss for the university, the students and its CCIM programs.
While I worked on the Daily News, I wasn't a journalism major, so I was hesitant to take the BSU at the Fair course. But Colleen encouraged me to give it a shot, and she couldn't have been more helpful. She made me feel like I belonged in the course, and I learned a lot from her throughout the project. It's rare to encounter such a genuine professor with so much optimism and passion for her subject and students.
Colleen instilled in me an absolute need to connect to my community, find the wonderful and weird in the ordinary, and to never stop looking for stories I cared about. She single-handedly taught me how to write features as a photo track major. Which has been invaluable to my career in many ways. She was an important part of my college career, and I've learned something every time I've spoken with her. I wouldn't be the journalist I am today without BSU at the Fair, which she ran.
As a recent graduate, Colleen sticks out as a professor who is truly memorable in her leadership, guidance, and caring attitude toward her students. I always knew that Colleen, just like Ryan Sparrow, truly wanted her students to succeed and to see them improve as they grew through the department. This is a rare quality not just among the Ball State Journalism Department but the university as a whole. She's been an immense help to many students in her time at Ball State and is truly one of the most outstanding professors in the department. That's why it's so astonishing to see that her contract will not be renewed. To be frank, this is a decision that puts a black mark on the Ball State Journalism Department to me moving forward. It shows me that leadership is either too incompetent to keep professors that students love and appreciate, or it is just unwilling to keep them at all. In the end it feels like a theft from future students in CCIM who could have learned from Colleen, and it diminishes the quality of a Ball State Journalism degree. The Journalism Department should immediately renew her contract and issue an apology to current students and alumni for making such a horrible mistake.
Colleen taught a few of my first-ever journalism classes, and I can confidently say her and her red pan are a large reason I am where I am today. Losing this beloved and formative mentor is a huge blow for all CCIM students - past, present and future.
Walking into my first-ever journalism class, I was terrified. I had no idea what the class was going to be about, and I certainly had no idea who my professor was. But all of those fears melted away once I met my kind, energetic professor who so clearly cared about her students. Colleen has guided me and inspired me since that very first day in NEWS105. After having her in three classes, along with working with her in SPJ, she has helped me to not only become a better journalist, but to become a better person, as well. I truly believe our journalism department would not be the same without Colleen. It makes me so sad knowing that future students might not get the chance to know this inspirational, caring professor who has made such a profound impact on my college career.
Colleen was one of my professors in my undergrad. Without her passion for writing, I think I would have lost my own after a bit. I still think of her from time to time, and I graduated BSU in 2015.
Colleen Steffen is an invaluable asset to the Ball State community. I only had her for a five week course during my freshman year, but it was one of the few courses I feel genuinely benefited me both professionally and personally. I changed my major following my freshman year, and it is not an exaggeration that one of the biggest downsides of switching out of journalism was knowing I wouldn't have Colleen as an instructor again. She's intelligent and compassionate, and the relationship she, as well as the rest of her family, have with everyone in CCIM is truly so special. Ball State is doing themselves and students an immeasurable disservice by not renewing her contract.
If my daughter says she's a good instructor then I believe it.
Colleen has inspired & pushed me to be where I am today. Without her, I would not be nearly as confident in my writing or myself as a person. I had a teacher who once said “students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Colleen exemplifies this. Her guidance as a mentor has meant just as much to me as her teaching, which is the best of the best. It is rare to find a professor who cares so deeply about everything they do and makes that evident. Without Colleen, I would not have studied abroad in Italy, a decision that changed my life for the better. It breaks my heart to think future students may not know her. Ball State is better because of her.
Colleen Steffen is an inspiration and a joy. She's one of the best instructors I've ever had, and my undergraduate education would not have been the same without her.
Colleen Steffen is a hardworking educator who clearly cares about her students and fosters an environment for them to put in the work to succeed. Many of my fellow alumni credit their growth as reporters, and people, to her courses and her mentorship. One clear case is the immersive learning she and Ryan Sparrow have tirelessly worked on to provide for students to work hard covering the Olympics. That experience helped open professional doors for many of those students. Colleen is the kind of instructor who exemplifies what CCIM strives for and whom the college should be proud to employ. It's deeply disappointing to see her contract was not renewed. Please reconsider robbing future Cardinals of her guidance.
Seeing Colleen leave the department would be a huge loss for the education of our students. While I have not not had her in class, I have only heard positive things from her students and I know that she has impacted so many on this campus. Her expertise and knowledge is irreplaceable, and students deserve to be able to learn from her. I met Colleen as a junior in high school when I attended the BSU Journalism Workshops. Knowing that the department had educators like her was one reason that I came to Ball State. She has consistently been a positive face in and around the department and has such an impact on so many in the college.
Colleen Steffen has never taught any of my classes, but every time I see her on campus or in the community, she greets me like we're old friends. The department, college and university need more educators like her. Current and future students deserve an education from someone like Colleen.