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In an 8th grade National Honor Society event, Kelly (Kyle) Kidd ’16 proudly declared that she wanted to work in orthopedics and play Division I volleyball when she grew up. Now, years later, Kidd has made both dreams a reality. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduate spent her collegiate experience preparing for a career as a physician assistant (PA) in orthopedics while simultaneously competing as a member of the Butler women’s volleyball team.

Steven Williams II spent much of his childhood questioning if football was the sport for him. With a father who played football at North Carolina Central and a mother who loved basketball, athletics surrounded him—but Williams gravitated toward artistic hobbies.

Chase Metcalf didn’t follow the typical path of a collegiate tennis player. While many of her peers picked up a racket at a young age, she didn’t start until she was 10, hitting balls recreationally at a park. By 13, she joined a club and began competing more seriously while also traveling for soccer. In high school, she was told she had to make a choice between her two sports—and tennis prevailed.

Butler University has launched Boldly Butler, a new strategic direction and comprehensive campaign that builds on the success of Butler Beyond. The initiative reaffirms Butler’s mission to “boldly innovate and broadly educate”—preparing students for meaningful lives and professional success while strengthening the University’s impact in Central Indiana and beyond.

Imagine if your college experience spanned across continents. Studying conservation after experiencing the beauty of Sri Lanka’s Horton Plains National Park. Living in the international business hub of Sydney, Australia, as you study global supply chain management. Practicing your Spanish over a home-cooked meal with your host family in Merida, Mexico. Butler didn’t just imagine a global degree—it made it a reality.

Butler University is reimagining access to higher education through two new initiatives: Founder’s College and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Both aim to open doors for students while meeting urgent community needs in healthcare and beyond.

It’s hard to believe, but the Butler University Live Mascot Program has been going strong for 25 years. Since Butler Blue I’s debut in 2000, four Bulldogs have proudly carried the mantle of “Blue,” each leaving their own paw print on the University’s history.

In this issue of Butler Magazine, we explore how Butler University blends innovation with tradition through initiatives like the transformative Gateway Project, supported by a recent $9 million gift from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. These efforts underscore Butler’s commitment to academic excellence, athletics, arts, and access, ensuring a vibrant community that enriches both current students and alumni alike.

Junior Lilly Scholar Michael Hannon reflects on his experience at BU.

Dr. Mira ‘Assaf awarded a Folger Shakespeare Library Long-Term Fellowship.

Butler’s Domestic Study Away program.

From Butler to Eli Lilly: Paola Ariza-Storch ’23.