State editor Susan Blystone ready to write next chapter

Susan Marquardt Blystone ’84, M.S. ’03, could not have predicted that her decision in middle school to be a journalist would result in a 27-year editorial career at Illinois State University. For the past quarter century, she served as editor of State, ISU’s alumni magazine.

Blystone retired in June after working more than 30 years in higher education and nearly a decade as a newspaper reporter. She covered Illinois State as part of the higher education beat that she developed at The Pantagraph, Bloomington-Normal’s local newspaper.

Appears In




Illinois State: Summer 2022

She left that position to serve as the first public relations and marketing employee at Heartland Community College in Normal shortly after it was founded. In 1995, she joined a new office established at ISU by then President Thomas Wallace to create quality publications with a consistent message. The unit evolved into University Marketing and Communications, with Blystone playing a leadership role as the office fulfilled its mission to help ISU reach external audiences.

“The range of work has been challenging and rewarding,” said Blystone, who completed her undergraduate degree in communications and a master’s in English studies. “It has been such a privilege to promote my alma mater, making others aware of Illinois State’s excellence and needs.”

Blystone has tackled projects ranging from annual reports, corporate asks, the Admissions viewbook, and materials for two capital campaigns. She has served under seven presidents and authored two books while at ISU. Where are all the Redbirds? is a children’s book done in partnership with ISU graphic designer Mike Mahle. Blystone also wrote The Keepers of the Flame to commemorate Mennonite College of Nursing’s centennial celebration.

She dedicated most of her energy to feature writing and the alumni magazine, which she guided as it developed from a tabloid to a full-color publication. Each issue reaches approximately 160,000 alumni.

“Telling the stories of our fascinating alumni, faculty initiatives, and stellar students has been the best part of my work,” Blystone said. “I have been blessed by the opportunities and will forever remain a proud Redbird.”