Do What You Love (and Love What You Do)
Gabe Connell MBA ’01 first had the idea to start a pizza business as an undergrad marketing student in Bloomington, Indiana, where he and his girlfriend (now wife) often shared a pie at their favorite local shop.
Community Calling
At one of Outreach Indiana’s program centers serving homeless youth and young adults in Indianapolis, Volunteer Experience Manager Jennifer Ebner watched a Butler student help a young person prepare for a job interview—brushing and styling their hair.
Find the Why
Krissi Edgington ’05 has always been a challenger. So it wasn’t a surprise to many when she left her career as a sports marketing executive to become an entrepreneur. “I’m a curious kind of troublemaker, and I always say I’m an advocate of ‘why,’” Edgington says. “I think ‘why’ gets a bad rap. A lot…
College … Before College
When Emerson Baran ’29 first envisioned her life in college, she realized most of her expectations came from movies and shows like Gilmore Girls. As a first-generation student, her future felt unclear; she wasn’t sure what campus life was truly like or which major might be right for her.
From the President
Universities are often measured by rankings, programs, or facilities. Those things matter, but over time, I have come to believe our true impact is found in something more enduring: the people we shape and the communities they influence. I am reminded of that in my conversations with Butler students. Not long ago, a student shared…
Fueling a Dream
For Demico Southern ’28, owning a business means a shot at stability—a chance to set his own schedule, do things his way, and earn an income through work that he truly enjoys. That’s why, in August 2025, Southern launched his own family food truck while still attending Software Engineering classes as a sophomore at Butler…
Calling All Bulldogs
The Butler Ambassador program, a new initiative led by the University’s Community Engagement office, invites alumni, parents, and friends to stay connected and advance Butler’s mission—no matter where they live.
More Than Medicine
While volunteering at the Near West Free Clinic (NWFC)—a no-cost, student-run clinic serving Indianapolis’ underserved westside—a first-year Butler PA student noticed slight discoloration on a patient’s neck. Though the routine visit was for knee pain, her observation led to a diagnosis of seriously uncontrolled diabetes. “If it wasn’t for the student actually thinking through a…
More Than the Game
Long before she was balancing college softball, science labs, and a color-coded planner full of to-do lists, Makena Alexander ’27 was a kid running around local ballfields in Frankton, Indiana. What first started as Pee Wee Baseball soon transitioned to a softball league at the age of six—and then a travel league at the age…
The Art of Care
In cities with major medical schools and teaching hospitals— like Indianapolis—professional actors are increasingly stepping into exam rooms instead of rehearsal halls. When they’re not on stage or on set, many are working as simulated patients, portraying individuals with specific symptoms, histories, and emotions so future medical professionals can practice real-world care. “Patient simulation sounds…
Blue’s Views
Support from my student interns has been an invaluable part of the success of the Butler Blue Live Mascot Program. For over 15 years, they have kept me and my predecessors in a state of controlled chaos—getting us where we need to go, seeing who we need to see, and giving us snacks along the…
The Way
When Cybil Stillson ’26 was deciding where to go to college, she had three important criteria in mind: staying in her home state of Indiana; pursuing a degree that would prepare her for a career in sports media; and competing in the sport she loves against the top players in the country. Though Butler wasn’t…
All Good Dawgs Come Home
After more than a decade climbing the NBA coaching ranks, Ron Nored ’12 is returning to the program where he helped author one of college basketball’s most memorable runs. Nored was the steady floor general behind back-to-back national championship game appearances under Brad Stevens, and now comes back to Hinkle Fieldhouse with a résumé shaped…
Tight Knit
You may think the shift from speech-language pathology to owning a small business is a big jump, but to Ali Dillingham ’03, owner of A Yarn Market in Carmel, Indiana, the similarities far outnumber the differences. “With my background in speech therapy, I saw the benefits of knitting for anxiety, ADHD, and for preventing dementia.…
Two Colleges. New Names. More Impact.
As the fields of healthcare and education continue to evolve, Butler is reimagining and expanding its academic offerings to meet the needs of the community and to ensure students graduate with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in these dynamic industries. Reflecting this commitment, effective June 1, the College of Education will be renamed…