Our Team

The Digital Corps is comprised of various disciplines that come together as a team to produce innovative solutions for Ball State University partners. Each one plays a unique role and offers a different perspective at the Digital Corps.

Students Staff

Our Staff

The Digital Corps’ primary goal is supporting the academic interests of Ball State University as a contributing partner to the Office of Information Technology. Our staff is composed of industry professionals who are committed to helping students execute these goals. They’re here to carryout the Digital Corps’ overall mission.

Our students and staff collaborate on projects daily both in project meetings and throughout our office. They guide students to create solution-driven products and support students in training. Most importantly, they ensure all of our products are the best of the best before they reach the hands of our partners.

A group of nine impressive-looking individuals who exude empathy and talent.
  • Hunter Wallace

    Development Team Lead

    Hunter Wallace leads the Development Team at the Digital Corps. He graduated from Ball State with a B.S. in Computer Science in 2021. Upon graduation, he worked for a robotics startup company specializing in installations and robot packaging, and a corporate software engineering firm specializing in Salesforce programming. Then, in May 2023, he finally found his way to the Digital Corps! His hands-on experience in the robotics industry and his knowledge of corporate life allows him to teach students the necessary development tools and soft skills needed to succeed post-graduation. Hunter’s goal at the Digital Corps is to create an environment where coding is both fun and accessible while also cultivating a welcoming environment and community.

  • Elle Kreamer

    Video Producer

    Elle Kreamer joined the Digital Corps in 2023 as a video producer for the Lifetime Learning initiative. She holds two B.A. degrees in Journalism and Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Indiana University. In her previous experience, Elle was a managing editor of Current in Zionsville, and an assistant video editor and production assistant with Scofield Digital Storytelling and Ferguson Advertising. With her storytelling expertise, she pieces together moving parts of the Lifetime Learning Initiative, while also instructing students at the Digital Corps. Elle has a passion for freelance photography, and one of her inspirations is environmental photojournalism from National Geographic. Elle’s main goal while working at Digital Corps is to streamline the workflow between the Lifetime Learning Initiative and our project teams.

  • Kallen Brooks

    Video Team Lead

    Kallen Brooks leads the Video Team at the Digital Corps. He oversees every video project and Video Team member, striving to incorporate teachings that best equip them with industry knowledge. He also creates a fun and welcoming culture where the students feel loved and appreciated. Kallen received his B.S. in Photography from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2019. Before joining the Digital Corps, Kallen was a freelance videographer and photographer, taught 8th grade math, and served as the Director of Videography at Indiana Wesleyan. Kallen’s background as a teacher and experience as a videographer allows him to guide the Video Team, support them, and help them reach their full potential.

  • Maggie Lewis

    Communication Team Lead

    Maggie Lewis leads the Digital Corps Communication Team and works on special communication projects for Information Technology. With her strong communication skills, her biggest objective is to create confidence in students' writing and motivate them to find their future careers. She was first hired at the Digital Corps in 2018 as an undergraduate student on the communication team. After two years of gaining experience in the marketing field, Maggie returned in March of 2023 as the first ever Communication Lead at the Digital Corps. She has a background in creating content for social media, websites and overseeing members within the workplace. Maggie’s experience in coaching soccer has transferred over to her position at the Digital Corps and brings great leadership skills when working with students.

  • Brandon Smith

    Executive Director of the Digital Corps

    Brandon Smith leads by facilitating student/staff interactions and bringing awareness of the Digital Corps to Ball State University partners. With his expectation that the Digital Corps will deliver products at the highest level of professionalism, Brandon approves all projects before they are sent to our partners. Brandon’s educational background includes a B.A. in Telecommunications Production from Ball State University and an M.A in Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and Mass Media from Temple University. He gained professional experience with the Walt Disney Company, then Ball State University Electronic Field Trips—a unique partnership between the University, museums, and parks around the country to create video content for grade school students. In 2009, he accepted a position with the ever-growing Digital Corps.

  • Krista Finley

    Project Manager

    Krista Finley organizes and keeps track of each Digital Corps project and oversees and trains the Project Management Team. She received her B.A. in Telecommunications from Ball State. Before joining the Digital Corps, she worked as an Account Executive for MediaFuel in Fishers, Indiana. With extensive project management experience in agency settings, Krista is able to lead students and staff through each project until its completion and serve as a resource for students who are facing roadblocks or need help managing their workloads.

  • Riley Paulsen

    ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

    Riley Paulsen helps manage overall organization strategy and co-leads the Design Team. He aims to help Digital Corps students build confidence through self-reliance and mastery of both creative and technical concepts. He has been working at the Digital Corps since his undergraduate years, transitioning from a student worker to a staff member in 2011. As one of the first student workers of the Digital Corps, he helps maintain the original mission: to create innovative work around campus with technology. Riley holds a MPA from Ball State, as well as undergrad degrees in Journalism Graphics and in Graphics Art Management. He is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Animate, with over 15 years of freelance experience in full-stack website design and development.

  • Josh Shaffer

    DESIGNER

    Josh Shaffer serves as a co-leader of the Design Team and works as a designer for Ball State University’s Academic Project Support Office. He guides students by providing design critiques and professional advice. By bringing a non-traditional approach to design, Josh challenges students to produce high-quality and unique work. After more than 10 years of freelance experience in illustration, graphic design, and front-end web development, Josh completed his B.F.A. in Visual Communications at Ball State University. After working with the Digital Corps as an undergraduate, Josh was hired as a staff member in 2016.

  • Stuart Sipahigil

    SENIOR STRATEGIST FOR ENTERPRISE USER ENGAGEMENT

    Stuart Sipahigil is the original founder of the User Experience Team at the Digital Corps in 2015 and he was the UX Team lead through 2017. He returned to that role in 2022—a role to which he brings over 20 years of industry experience in UX and interaction design. His goal is to help Digital Corps students better understand and define end user goals and requirements before seeking solutions. Stuart has a B.S. in Environmental Design from Ball State, to which he credits his flexibility as a designer in industries ranging from electrical grid power transformers to software applications and Fortune 500 company websites.

Common Skills Across all Disciplines

Critical Thinking

Our students begin each project with careful planning and ideation. We’re always thinking about new ways to create opportunities for our University partners.

Problem-Solving

From initial brainstorming to project completion, Digital Corps students find unique solutions for our clients. We’re equipped with the skills and technologies to execute the best possible plan.

Collaboration

With our combined knowledge of six disciplines, we work together to create polished deliverables. Digital Corps students push each other to succeed, all while learning as a cohesive team.

Our Creative Disciplines

  • Communication

    The Communication Team is responsible for content, promotional elements, and engagement strategy at the Digital Corps. Students write copy and assist with promotion for partners and the Digital Corps. They work closely with other creative teams to tell brands’ stories through innovation.

    • Copywriting
    • Marketing and strategic planning
    • Content management
  • Design

    The Design Team is responsible for implementing the artistic vision for projects. They work with our partners to build brands through promotional assets and follow design processes to create websites and application layouts.

    • Visual ideation
    • Aesthetics
    • Prototyping
  • Development

    The Development Team is responsible for turning designs and other content into functional websites and applications. Students work closely with software and database development. They also experiment with new technologies such as the Hololens and augmented reality (AR).

    • Logical thinking
    • Problem analysis
    • Detail-oriented
  • Project Management

    The Project Management Team organizes the daily operations of the office. Their leadership keeps projects focused and moving forward. In order to do this, the team schedules and leads project meetings, creates timelines, and updates our virtual project management app.

    • Leadership
    • Timeline Development
    • Staff/Student Liaison
  • User Experience

    The User Experience Team collaborates with other creative teams to ensure all projects are accessible and optimal for users. They use research, testing, and analytic plans to provide insights for other Digital Corps members and partners.

    • User-oriented thinking
    • Usability testing and evaluation
    • Analytical research
  • Video

    The Video Team combines their knowledge of storytelling with high-end video production experience to create professional-quality videos. They use industry standard equipment to light, mic, and shoot content that tells stories throughout the Ball State community and beyond.

    • Visual storytelling
    • Hands-on video production
    • Planning

Working at the Digital Corps will allow you to grow...

  • As a Student

    We have the chance to get ahead in our craft by earning software certifications, training with industry-standard equipment, and working on real-world projects. There are also opportunities to develop soft skills through a workshop series by our professional staff.

  • As a Professional

    Our professional work environment allows us to gain invaluable industry skills, all while enjoying the comfort of Ball State’s campus. At the Digital Corps, you are surrounded by collaborative team members and knowledgeable staff to help you learn and enhance your résumé.

  • As an Individual

    Working with diverse people, ideas, and disciplines helps us grow beyond the office and the classroom. The Digital Corps promotes personal wellbeing and encourages students to practice work-life balance.