Barb Dallinger ’81, M.S. ’01, an Illinois State University alum, retiree, and leader of the University’s LGBTQA+ Alumni Network, sits down with Redbird Buzz to share experiences from her time as a student, her 30-year career as an employee on campus, and as a leader and advocate for the University’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Dallinger graduated from Illinois State with a degree in music and worked in a variety of roles at ISU. She spent the most time on campus as associate director of events and catering in Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality. Dallinger recounts her experience as an undergrad student and the harassment she endured because of her sexual orientation. She became a “champion” for future LGBTQA+ Redbirds and strived to create safe spaces on campus, most notably through her role as an advisor for the registered student organization PRIDE.
Dallinger also shares fond memories of her time as an employee on campus and provides insight into what it was like serving as the Braden Auditorium manager in the Bone Student Center and working with famous musicians—from Sara Evans to George Jones—who performed there. She also teases content from her forthcoming book about her time at Illinois State.
Redbird Buzz is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Transcripts of each episode are available online at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Podcast.
