President Aondover Tarhule is pleased to announce that Rachel Caracci has accepted the position of director of presidential and trustee events, effective May 8, 2024. She replaces Julie Barnhill, who recently retired from Illinois State after 34 years of service.
“We are excited to welcome Rachel back to Illinois State University,” Tarhule said. “As an alum with more than 17 years of previous service working in the Office of Admissions and the Graduate School, I am confident she will infuse her valuable Redbird experience and dedication into this new role.”
Caracci most recently served as a strategic advertising specialist at Lee Enterprises / Pantagraph Media. Prior to that position, she served at Illinois State University’s Graduate School as the associate director of admissions, recruitment, and marketing from 2018-2023, and in various roles in the Office of Admissions from 2006-2018, including assistant director of visitor experience and associate director of admissions.
“I am thrilled to make my way back to Illinois State and serve as the next director,” Caracci said. “I look forward to creating lasting, memorable presidential and trustee events and continuing the legacy Julie worked so hard to build.”
During her previous time at Illinois State, Caracci was a member of the Transfer Council; a committee chair for the International Strategic Plan; and the awards chair for the Administrative/Professional (A/P) Council. She also received the A/P Esprit De Corps Award in 2020, and the A/P Distinguished Service Award in 2022. Active in her community, Caracci currently serves as a McLean County District Unit 5 Foundation Board member.
Caracci holds both a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and an MBA from Illinois State.
