Prof. Ball currently serves as dean of the University of Michigan School of Education, where she is also the William H. Payne Collegiate Professor and an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor. Her research focuses on mathematics instruction, and on interventions designed to improve its quality and effectiveness.

Ball has authored or co-authored over 150 publications and has lectured and made numerous major presentations around the world. Her research has been recognized with several awards and honors, and she has served on several national and international commissions and panels focused on policy initiatives and the improvement of education, including the National Mathematics Advisory Panel and the National Board for Education Sciences. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Education.