Dave Ferguson is Dean of Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning (CAP). Prior to this role, he served one year as Interim Dean and two years as CAP’s Associate Dean. His leadership at the college level has focused on new initiatives such as the Firm-In-Residence collaboration with SmithGroup, expanding alumni outreach, encouraging interdisciplinary efforts including the integration of Construction Management and Interior Design into the college, and strengthening CAP’s Indianapolis presence.

Integrating the worlds of design, digital innovation/smart cities, and sustainability in research and in the classroom.

Dave Ferguson led the founding of Ball State’s Center for Media Design, a research, development and project deployment institute focused on digital media applications in education and business. Under Dave's leadership, the Center for Media Design and campus partners developed, since 2003, in excess of 800 research and development projects by staff, faculty, students and digital media industry leaders. The Center was the recipient and administrative unit for over $60 million in grants and other funding. These efforts also contributed to graduate and undergraduate programs in interdisciplinary digital media studies. CMD became a catalyst on campus for real-world applications leading to recognition such as student Academy Awards, the Intel Wireless Campus of the Year award, the MIRA Award for Education Contribution to Technology, and the New Media Consortium National Center of Excellence award.As the head of the Emerging Media Initiative at Ball State, Dave led a comprehensive effort to reshape how universities work across internal boundaries and with industry and government to develop new educational and commercial models that take advantage of the power of emerging media. Dave has been a part of the university faculty and administration for more than 20 years. He was recognized as Outstanding Administrator at Ball State for 2010. Off campus, he has been President of the International Digital Media and Arts Association and served on the boards of a variety of other non-profits. His background includes experience as Lead Designer and Director of Marketing for private practice design firms. As a professor in Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning, Dave has focused on design, business practices, sustainable communities and computer applications. He serves on professional boards and advisory groups that focus on digital marketing, digital education, sustainable cities and quality of life.