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Volume 21 • Number 3 • Spring 2021
Raising up Redbirds
Throughout his presidency, Dr. Larry Dietz often described Illinois State as strong and stable.
It’s time to talk
Change begins with a conversation. Let’s get started.
Retail redux: Alum embraces the shift in shopping
Sandy Shelton would seem to have reason to worry. The 1990 Family and Consumer Sciences graduate has built her career in retail operations, gaining expertise in marketing, profit and loss management, and operations while overseeing millions in merchandise for some of the nation’s most successful retail chains.
Fertile ground: Ag program rooted in excellence
Illinois State’s Department of Agriculture used to attract students from family farms who grew up baling hay and showing cattle.
FirstWord
I learned invaluable life lessons as a youth on my family’s dairy farm in the southern Illinois community of DeSoto.
Man behind the mic
With the outcome of the game clear in hand, then Illinois State head women’s basketball coach Robin Pingeton sent star guard Kristi Cirone ’09 back to the scorer’s table.
Innovative teacher education initiative announced
The College of Education is excited for Teach Chicago Tomorrow, a new initiative with Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago that was announced at a recent press conference.
Mennonite program will elevate nurses’ training
Mennonite College of Nursing is launching a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) to doctor in nursing practice (DNP) program.
Physics Education program recognized as top producer of skilled teachers
The American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers honored Illinois State University as one of only seven institutions in the nation to graduate five or more highly qualified physics teachers in the 2018-2019 academic year.
Simio LLC gifts Illinois State’s College of Business $840,000 in simulation software
Real-world scenarios are being tackled by College of Business students using virtual simulation technology made available through an $840,000 grant from Simio LLC®. Management and Quantitative Methods (MQM) professor Dr. Askar Choudhury received a grant for 350 copies of Simio® Academic Edition. Choudhury uses the software when teaching undergraduate business students in an operations analytics course.
Dreams of humanity woven through mathematics
A history of mathematics course challenged students to examine how math reflected the beliefs of past civilizations and continues to reflect social and economic factors today.
Center for the Study of Education Policy receives $4.3 million grant from U.S. Department of Education
The Study of Education Policy has been awarded a two-year, $4.3 million Supporting Effective Educator Development Renewal grant by the U.S. Department of Education.
Illinois State student Naudia Williams named America’s Best College Poet
Naudia Williams named America’s Best College Poet after competing with students from across the country.
Alumni meeting set
Alumni are invited to the Alumni Association annual meeting at 9:30 a.m. on June 19.
Homecoming 100: Royalty nominations sought
Plans are underway for Homecoming 2021: 100 Years happening October 11-17.
Digital option exists for magazine delivery
In an effort to be more fiscally and environmentally responsible, Illinois State is working to reduce the number of printed copies of the University’s magazine, State.
Where are they now? Drs. Jeanne and Charles Morris
It might have been difficult to locate Dr. Jeanne Morris and Dr. Charles Morris after they retired in 1995.
‘We will play anybody’
As the phone rang inside the Illinois State women’s basketball offices in the early afternoon of December 9, Director of Operations Katie Bolkema, M.S. ’16, braced for a call she had both sent and received plenty of times throughout the early part of the makeshift college hoops season.
Where are they now? Cathy (Olson) George ’85
Cathy (Olson) George ’85 still has her name scattered all over school and conference record books, even though her playing days ended nearly four decades ago.
Kyle Brennan selected to lead Illinois State Athletics as new AD
Illinois State University President Larry Dietz announced the appointment of Kyle Brennan as the Redbirds’ Director of Athletics Wednesday, December 23.
Redbird Trivia
How well do you know Redbird sports history?
Collins is finalist for basketball Hall of Fame
Illinois State men’s basketball legend Doug Collins ’73 was named a first-time finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, going straight to the “direct elect” part of the ballot.
Gymnastics in top 25 for overall team GPA
The gymnastics team ranked in the top 25 academically of all collegiate gymnastics programs last school year.
Then and Now: Student Fitness Center
Compare recreational facilities of yesteryear to today’s Student Fitness Center.
A Day in the Life: Learning and teaching during COVID-19
The 2020-2021 academic year will be remembered as a time when flexibility and patience were essential to fulfilling the University’s mission.
Pause for applause
Pause to applaud these accomplished Illinois State University alumni.
Octogenarians share secret to aging with energy
Redbirds Don and Florence Magee, age 87 and 85 respectively, have been married 61 years. They are more in love than when they first met and feel physically healthier than ever.
Redbird Legacy: Three generations of the Hayes family have attended ISU
When Edward Hayes ’55 graduated as valedictorian, he never expected to find himself back at the school in the principal’s office. But that’s what happened, decades later when he became principal of Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School.
Class Notes
Keep up with what fellow alumni are doing by reading our class notes for the spring 2021 alumni magazine issue.
In Memory
In memory of Illinois State University alumni, faculty, and staff who have passed away.
Thanks to You: Fund established to honor Dr. Fred Roberts
Charlotte Roberts ensured that the legacy of her brother, Politics and Government Professor Dr. Fred Roberts, lives on at Illinois State following his death on February 26, 2019.
