Illinois State University's Alumni Magazine

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Arlan Helgeson (1:05:25) . Arlan Helgeson, a historian who joined the social sciences faculty in 1951 and was appointed dean of the graduate school in 1962 by President Robert Bone, then served as interim vice president for academic affairs, talks about his role in or close knowledge of the 1964 name change, the building of Schroeder Hall and Milner Library, the presidencies of Bone, Braden, Berlo, and Budig, the mapping of the direction of the university in the 1960s and '70s, and people including Percy Julian and Warren Harden, as well as why he became known for his "corny" poetry.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Barbara Blunk (1:27:11) . Barbara Blunk, lab school and Illinois State grad and daughter of former Metcalf Principal Elden A. Lichty, talks about the campus in the '50s and '60s — Vet Village, Donald McHenry, Cecilia Lauby, and Big Four Dances - and her knowledge of University High School from her nearly three decades of teaching business courses there.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Cecilia Lauby (0:43:20) . Cecilia Lauby, later Lauby-Ryan, whom President Fairchild hired soon after WWII, and who set up the off-campus student teaching program and supervised it for many years until her retirement, talks about the changes she saw during her tenure, when the University grew from 2,000 to 20,000 students and changed its name and mission.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Charles Morris (1:30:00) . In Charles Morris's 1966-95 Illinois State career, he experienced being "the only one or the first one" several times, from being the only African-American faculty member in his department to being the first African-American administrator, then vice president at the University. He said he finally witnessed the tipping point at which minority representation became much more prevalent.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Dave Wiant (1:22:05) . Dave Wiant joined ISNU in 1958 as the institution's first personnel director. In his interview he gives close-up details of the name change to ISU and the rapid growth that followed, including the long-term effect that had on state funding. He also describes leadership styles and personalities of the presidents under whom he served.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

David Strand (1:46:48) . The 15th president of the Illinois State, from 1995-1999, David Strand moved the institution ahead in its development as a multipurpose university. He had served in various top administrative posts before becoming president. Strand, well known as an advocate for diversity, also increased the state funding base and grant activity, and oversaw the establishment of Illinois State's first Board of Trustees as well as the integration of Mennonite College of Nursing into the campus.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Dixie Mills (1:28:06) . When Dixie Mills came to Illinois State as a finance faculty member in 1980, the College of Business was in its formative stage. The themes of her 1997-2007 tenure as dean included technology, strategic planning, and team governance. Mills' focus on corporate relationships and fund-raising were closely tied to the new College of Business building, which opened in 2005.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Francis Irvin (1:26:07) . Soon after Francis Irvin graduated from Illinois State Normal University with an elementary education degree in 1942, he went off to fight in World War II, after which he used the G.I. Bill to earn a graduate degree at Columbia University. Irvin, who taught in New York City before returning to teach elementary school in Heyworth until 1985, talks about the Progressive Education movement, helping found the ISU-McLean County Reading Teachers Association, and his ideas about what makes a good teacher.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Herman Brockman (1:00:53) . One of the first two Distinguished Professors at Illinois State, Herman Brockman, specializing in genetics, who joined the Department of Biological Sciences in 1962 when the University had 5,000 students and one year after President Robert Bone and highly influential Department Chairperson R. Omar Rilett gained approval for the biology Ph.D. program, talks about the development and growth of the department and the University over nearly half a century.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

J. Randy Winter (1:15:31) . Agriculture professor and former Department Chairperson Randy Winter was instrumental in the 2002 relocation of the university farm to Lexington and also renovation of and relocation of the department to the Ropp Ag Building. Winter describes how his department is on the cutting edge, addressing consumer-oriented agriculture, the green industry, and renewable energy.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Jeanne Morris (0:51:39) . Jeanne Morris was a faculty member in early childhood education from 1967-95 in the roles of non-tenure-track to tenure-track, director of a program, and assistant department chairperson. She talks about what it was like to come to the community and University as an African-American in the 1960s as opposed to today. She comments on the importance of Greek life to African-American students.

Jim and Barbara Meek (0:53:01) . Jim and Barbara Meek are part of a family of educators and builders of universities. Jim's grandfather was David Felmley, president of ISNU from 1900-1930. Barbara's sister also married the grandson of a college president, and Jim and Barbara's son-in-law was an interim college president. Felmley-Dickerson Co., started by President Felmley's son and later headed by Jim, constructed many of the buildings on Illinois State's campus. Jim and Barbara have insights and illuminating anecdotes about President David Felmley.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Jo Ann Rayfield (1:02:23) . History Professor Emerita and University Archivist Jo Ann Rayfield echoes the sentiments of many of the interviewees when she concludes her interview with, "But I love this place. I just love Illinois State." Her interview takes us from her years growing up in South Alabama through her three-decade career in the History Department, and beyond. She gives candid assessments of events and personalities of those years.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Lloyd Watkins (1:02:58) . The 13th president of the University, Lloyd Watkins came to Normal in 1977 from the presidency of West Texas State. Watkins had to deal with serious budget cuts from the state during his presidency. He counts among his proudest achievements raising admission standards and establishing the Presidential Scholars Program.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Paul Baker (1:17:00) . A Distinguished Professor who joined the faculty in 1965 and was a founding member of the Sociology Department, Paul Baker talks about the organization of the newly named Illinois State University into colleges, his work on a blueprint for the University's future, his revolutionary curricular innovations in the '60s and '70s, and campus unrest over the Vietnam War and racial issues.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007

Virgina Owen (0:48:00) . Virginia Owen's career with the institution began with an undergraduate degree and concluded with an 11-year deanship of the University's largest college, the College of Arts and Sciences. She talks about lobbying as a student for the ISNU to ISU name change, her years as an economics professor, and the challenges and successes of her years as dean.