President Emeritus Dr. Larry H. Dietz and Marlene Dietz were honored for their longtime dedication to Illinois State on August 26, 2022, with the unveiling of the Dr. Larry and Marlene Dietz Welcome Desk. The welcome desk is located within the Bone Student Center, which was renovated during Dietz’s presidency.
“It is very fitting that the welcome desk in this space is named for Larry and Marlene Dietz, as they are very gracious and welcoming people, and have been wonderful ambassadors of Illinois State University,” said Illinois State University President Terri Goss Kinzy, Ph.D.
Larry Dietz joined Illinois State University in 2011 as vice president for Student Affairs. He became the University’s 19th president in 2014 and served in that role until his retirement in 2021. Many milestones were achieved during the Dietz administration, and his time was highlighted by the development of a new cybersecurity degree, the planning and approvals for a College of Engineering, and funding secured for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts during a historic fundraising campaign that raised more than $180 million. Dietz’s student-first, values-based leadership undergirded his presidency and commitment to the University.
As first lady, Marlene Dietz enriched the campus with her warm presence and servant leadership. She actively took part in fundraising and friend-raising events with a tireless commitment to the Redbird community.
Larry and Marlene Dietz spoke at the gathering, expressing gratitude for the honor.
“We are so very grateful to be recognized in this way. It was an absolute privilege to lead Illinois State University and we could not have done it without the support of so many faculty, staff, and friends,” said Larry Dietz.
Gifts from Illinois State’s Foundation board of directors enabled the welcome desk naming, which was approved by the Board of Trustees on October 15, 2021. Foundation Board Chair Eric Burwell ’90 noted Dietz’s accomplishments, including his leadership during Redbirds Rising: The Campaign for Illinois State, and the 2015–2017 State of Illinois budget impasse.
Burwell said he hopes the introduction of the Dietz Welcome Desk will complement the Bone Student Center as Illinois State’s “living room.”
“The Dr. Larry H. and Marlene Dietz Welcome Desk is an excellent addition to Illinois State’s campus and will honor the long-lasting contributions of the Dietz family for years to come,” said Burwell. “With this project, the Foundation Board demonstrates its ongoing gratitude for the Dietzes’ permanent impact on Illinois State.”
