Dr. Steve Ballard completes service to ECU

After a four-decade-long career in higher education and a multitude of lessons in leadership, Dr. Steve Ballard has retired from East Carolina University.

Ballard served as ECU’s seventh chancellor from 2004 to 2016. In 2017, he was named director of the Truist Leadership Center and became a professor, teaching leadership courses in the Honors College. Truist representatives, ECU faculty and staff, and former students gathered to celebrate Ballard, his leadership and life lessons at a farewell reception June 18.

Ken Chalk ’68 ’71, chair of the Truist Leadership Center board of directors, referenced a James Kouzes leadership quote to demonstrate the impact of Ballard’s leadership.

“One of my favorite quotes about leadership says, ‘If you think you’re a leader and you turn around and nobody’s following, you’re just out for a walk.’ You know how much we think of you as you see all of these people following you. That’s a good mark of leadership,” Chalk said. “[Additionally], there are many followers that you’ve also helped with their leadership journey. We celebrate your leadership and all you’ve done for ECU.”

A capstone of Ballard’s tenure includes ECU’s 2024 Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose. The classification recognizes institutions that have committed to campuswide efforts to advance leadership in pursuit of the public good.

Receiving the designation is the result of a rigorous process of self-study – co-chaired by Ballard and Dr. Dennis McCunney, director of intercultural affairs – through which ECU administrators demonstrated evidence of an extraordinary institutional commitment, investment in and accomplishment at addressing pressing issues of the societies they serve through assessment of student learning, curricular and co-curricular offerings, and faculty and staff rewards.

McCunney presented Ballard with a framed certificate and seal the university received recognizing the distinction. McCunney said the 16-18 months of work to apply was based on decades of evidence, which had been crystallized and articulated by Ballard’s vision to be the leadership university.

“We’re really proud of this and Steve was an instrumental part in the writing of this. We probably earned a few extra gray hairs in the process, but they were worth it,” McCunney said. “We’re grateful to you and your vision and all the work you put into this.”

Provost Robin Coger praised Ballard, and his wife Nancy, for their dedication to ECU. “You have been an amazing duo and an amazing team,” Coger said. She said the Ballards will never be disconnected from the university and that the good they have done for ECU will last for decades.

“What I found [when I met you] is that you have many ways that you personify love for the university,” Coger said. “It was very clear in each conversation, but the love that other people had for you was also very evident.”

With honors

The center of Ballard’s influence during the past seven years has been within the Honors College, where he held an office as director and professor.

Dr. Todd Fraley, dean of the Honors College, remembers the first feelings of intimidation having a former chancellor move in the building quickly being replaced by joy and good times.

“Luckily, for me, there are people who you cross paths with over your professional career and your personal life, who impact you in ways that you could never imagine. I think that’s who Dr. Ballard is,” Fraley said. “[ECU was] my first job coming out of graduate school, Steve Ballard was my chancellor. That was sort of my model for leadership at a university. [When] we were told Steve Ballard is moving into our office and the Honors College, that was intimidating.”

Fraley said the Honors College has been extremely lucky to have benefited from Ballard’s encouragement and leadership. As a memento of completing his time in the Honors College, Fraley presented Ballard with an Honors College medallion.

“We’ve gone from being he’s my chancellor to now we exchange text messages,” Fraley said. “As I think about that time together, and what a mentor you’ve been to me, and I know I speak for the staff, how lucky we’ve been to have you in that office.”

Fraley said it was inspiring to witness Ballard work with young people. At first, students were nervous to take his courses. The fear quickly faded, and students would be sharing stories about what they learned in the class, Fraley said.

“And then they started to pass my office altogether because they were going straight to Dr. Ballard’s office. They would walk down the hall with him after class because they valued how much he cared about them,” he said.

Among those students who learned from and built relationships with Ballard are “AJ” Hou ’24 and Dr. Josh Parker ’19.

Hou completed ECU’s Growing Organizational Leadership Development Series and the Chancellor’s Leadership Academy and knew Ballard through the Honors College. Learning from Ballard is one of her favorite memories at ECU.

“Dr. Ballard has been such an inspiring role model and mentor,” Hou said. “Dr. Ballard is a champion for his students, the best at what he does, and very much a servant leader. When I grow up, I hope to be just like him.”

Parker, a veterinarian in Charlotte, described Ballard as an example of esteem and lofty accomplishments, and yet the most humble person around.

“His leadership class [was filled] with life lessons but a specific quote stuck with me ever since. He told us, ‘When a good leader is looking for someone to blame he looks in the mirror, but when he looks for someone to praise he looks out the window,’” Parker said. “I feel truly honored to consider him a friend and to have spent time with him in and out of the classroom setting. He even was kind enough to attend my wedding.”

Ballard is proud of the work of the Truist Leadership Center during his tenure. He believed he could make a positive impact on the university serving as director. He said landing in the Honors College was perfect for his second run around the block and allowed him to “see the impact they’re making on this university.

“If you want a good day, talk to these students, they are super people,” Ballard said.

Honoring leadership

On behalf of the Truist Leadership Center board, Chalk presented Ballard with a resolution honoring his leadership and service. The declaration included recognition that Ballard demonstrated the importance of including service as an essential component of effective leadership and had mentored many constituents and colleagues to become better and stronger leaders.

“I think this summarizes our thoughts about your leadership journey here and how much you’ve meant to all of us,” Chalk said. “It’s a compliment to you, not only about leadership, but the values that you show in your leadership style throughout the university, about collaborative inclusion and making everybody a part of your team.”

In recognition of Ballard, members of the Truist Leadership Center board of directors pledged gifts toward the Nathan Greg Ballard Scholarship Endowment, established in memory of Ballard’s son.

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