Since Jo Ann Gora became Ball State's 14th president in August 2004, she has led the development of the university's Education Redefined strategic plan, the cornerstone of which is making immersive learning opportunities available to every Ball State student. The strategic plan also forms the basis of the university's capital campaign, Ball State Bold, which concluded in June 2011 and topped its $200 million goal by more than $10 million.
Since her arrival, Ball State has been in the midst of an unprecedented era of campus improvement. For the eight-year period ending in 2012, the university is spending approximately $418 million on major construction and renovation projects. President Gora also has led Ball State's sustainability efforts, including its geothermal energy project, the largest of its kind in the country. In 2009, she earned the Mira Trailblazer Award from TechPoint for her significant and lasting contributions to technology innovation in Indiana.
President Gora is a member of the American Council on Education's Board of Directors. She is a member of the Association of Governing Boards’ Council of Presidents and is on the advisory committee of the Association’s executive search arm. She was a charter member of
The New York Times/Chronicle of Higher Education cabinet. She chairs the Mid-American Conference Presidents' Council and co-chairs the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, where she previously chaired the governance committee.