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First Merchants Executive Appointed To Ball State Board Of Trustees

By Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR News | Published on in Ball State, Education, Local News
(Photo: City of Muncie provided)

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has named a First Merchants Corporation executive to fill an open seat on the Ball State University Board of Trustees.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Mark Hardwick (Photo: Next Muncie)

Mark Hardwick has served as First Merchant’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer since 2016 and has worked at the company since 1997.  He holds both bachelors and masters degrees from Ball State.

Among his local commitments is a place on the Next Muncie leadership team.  The group of local leaders want to grow the city and increase its reputation in Indiana and beyond.

Hardwick played basketball for Ball State and he’s included in the 1989-1990 men’s team inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame for its appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16.

Hardwick will replace two-term trustee Tom Bracken, who announced Friday that he didn’t want to be reappointed to the board.  Bracken didn’t graduate from Ball State and had recently moved out of Indiana.  The spot had historically been held by a descendant of the Ball family, the university’s namesake.

Read More: Ball State Trustee Bracken Is Leaving University Governing Board

The governor also reappointed trustee Matt Momper to another term.  Both Hardwick and Momper will serve through 2023.