Program Coordinator for Wellness Management, Ball State University

Jane Ellery

Jane’s work focuses on the intersection of Place, Health, and Engagement. After two decades of work in prevention-related roles, she began shifting away from pathogenic interventions designed to keep people from getting sick to salutogenic initiatives that encourage people to live life to its fullest. Jane enjoys exploring wellness concepts and the ideas and philosophies of Halbert Dunn (physician), Aaron Antonovsky (sociologist), Holly White (urbanist), and Elinor Ostrom (political scientist), to name a few. As Program Coordinator for Wellness Management at Ball State, Jane regularly discusses and debates this diverse body of knowledge with curious and energetic graduate students, who continuously challenge her to think differently and more creatively. In her search for new and unique options for meaningful change, Jane joined the Placemaking Movement. Placemaking democratizes change and involves everyday people in the co-production of solutions. In addition to her academic work, Jane holds an appointment as Senior Fellow with Project for Public Spaces, and she serves as the President of Sustainable Muncie Corporation.