John R. Emens was born on October 10, 1901, on a small farm near Prattville, Michigan. At the beginning of his career he started out as a principal of Defer Junior High School in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan in 1920. Three years later he became the principal of East Detroit High School. During his time as president he started many new colleges at Ball State University: * Architecture * Business * Fine Arts * Education * Science * Humanities Also during his presidency many new buildings were constructed, including: John R. Emens died on October 25, 1976 in Muncie.