Redbird Buzz

In this special crossover episode of Redbird Buzz and the School of Communication's COM-versations, Alicia Bettes '94 shares the story of her professional journey that started on the campus of Illinois State University.

Bettes was inducted into the Illinois State University Broadcast Hall of Fame this month and was on campus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of TV-10, Illinois State's student television newscast.

Hosts Rachel Kobus '09, M.S. '11, and Julie Navickas '07, M.S. '10, M.S. '18, chat with Bettes about balancing her work at both TV-10 and WZND as a student, how the television industry has changed in her 30-year career, and how her degree from the School of Communication set her up for success as a television reporter, producer, executive producer, media relations manager, communications instructor, and assistant news director.

Tune in to hear Bettes reflect on her path to her current position as the executive producer of national news for Spectrum News and her advice to current Redbird students.

President Aondover Tarhule was appointed the 21st president of Illinois State University on March 18 and, in this episode of Redbird Buzz, he shares what the first few weeks of his presidency have looked like, details of the path he took to get to this point, and how he hopes to create a legacy at the University.

Dr. Tarhule arrived at Illinois State in August of 2020 to serve as vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, was appointed interim president in February of 2023, and is now leading the University in his new role as permanent president. Tarhule, a first-generation college student, holds a Ph.D. in geography and has more than 27 years of experience in higher education in both academic and administrative roles.

Tune into this episode to learn more about Tarhule's childhood in rural Nigeria, the role his father played in his education and professional trajectory, and the story behind the many hats he wears (both literally and figuratively) on campus. You can also read more about Tarhule in this May's State magazine.

Kelly Rhoades ’14 is making her big league debut this spring as an assistant athletic trainer for the Detroit Tigers.

In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Rhoades shares her journey from Illinois State University’s athletic training program to nearly a decade, primarily in Minor League Baseball (MiLB), with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Now, she is beginning her first Major League Baseball (MLB) role with the Tigers.

Originally from Poplar Grove, Rhoades made history by becoming the first female athletic trainer in Arizona Diamondbacks history when she was hired in 2016. Since then, Rhoades has been promoted from working with Rookie Ball, to Class A, to serving as a medical coordinator. Last November, she joined the Tigers and is making her MLB debut when Detroit opens the 2024 season at the Chicago White Sox March 28, a homecoming of sorts for the northern Illinois native.

Dr. Katherine Ellison, professor and chair of English at Illinois State University, is an expert in 17th- and 18th-century British Literature and Culture. In this episode of Redbird Buzz, we attempt to decipher another area of Ellison’s scholarly work: the history of secret writings, or cryptography. Ellison is featured in the spring 2024 Redbird Scholar magazine.

James Mercer ’91 is no stranger to the fast-paced world of sports management, and that's certainly the case in his current role as commercial director for Envision Racing's Formula E team.

Formula E is the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's (FIA's) single-seat car racing series, which uses only electric vehicles. Mercer got his start in sports at Illinois State University as a men's tennis student-athlete and history major, which led him to roles as a player agent and in professional tennis, rugby, and motorsports organizations.

In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Mercer shares why he came to Illinois State sight unseen, how landing his dream job right out of college changed his perspective, and how Formula E and its commitment to sustainability is helping change the narrative around electric vehicles, and motorsports, for the positive.

Illinois State University alum Bunmi Akinnusotu, M.S. '06, is no stranger to the intricacies of foreign policy. From her childhood as a first-generation American listening to her Nigerian family discuss world politics and cultures, to her experience as a graduate student working with Illinois State's Stevenson Center and AmeriCorps, Akinnusotu has a passion for studying and understanding cultures and affecting policy on a global level.

Akinnusotu's career has spanned nonprofits, government agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and higher education. Her current role as the director of city innovation for the Aspen Institute is a culmination of her career and education as she works to engage urban policymakers both here in the United States and around the world.

In this episode, Akinnusotu discusses how significant impacts can be made both on a global and individual level, shares why she launched her own podcast, and speaks about what she learned through her work with the Stevenson Center at Illinois State.

University Galleries at Illinois State University is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, and chief curator and two-time Redbird alum Kendra Paitz, MBA ’06, M.A. ’11, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss the history of the galleries and plans for the future.

Paitz came to Illinois State in the mid-2000s to pursue a master's degree and fell in love with her work at University Galleries, working her way to her current role as chief curator. She oversees a team that is dedicated to providing art exhibitions that are free to the public, engaging with campus and community partners, and contributing to art education for local youth.

Tune into this episode to hear about the history of University Galleries, Paitz's personal journey and commitment to University Galleries' mission, and for information on what's in store in 2024 and beyond. And don't miss out on attending the Alumni Spectacular exhibit, open January 16-February 20, which showcases 250+ Redbird alumni artists' work.

Dr. R. David Edmunds is a well-known and trusted expert in Native American ethnohistory. Originally from Blue Mound—about 15 miles southwest of Decatur—Edmunds earned a master’s degree from Illinois State University in 1966 while teaching at Bloomington High School. He later earned an honorary degree from Illinois State in 2002 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012.

Throughout the past 50 years, Edmunds has held professorships at the University of Wyoming, TCU, California Berkely, UCLA, Indiana University, and the University of Texas at Dallas—and he’s published 10 scholarly books and more than 100 academic articles. He’s also contributed to Native American docuseries projects for PBS and the History Chanel, and he is featured in the fall 2023 State magazine. In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Edmunds discusses his role as a Native American scholar and advocate.

World-renowned glass artist, sculptor, and designer Robert DuGrenier, M.F.A. ’70, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss how his ending up at Illinois State was one of the first steps to career success in the art world. DuGrenier, a 2018 Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame inductee, came to Illinois State as a graduate student, sight unseen, after being recruited while studying at the Hornsey College of Art in London.

DuGrenier's works have included the creation of high-end installations for museums and architectural projects, glass chandeliers and pieces for private residences and hotels, and even the 1/12th scale model of the flame for the Statue of Liberty, from which the French artisans sculpted the new flame.

Tune in to this episode to hear how DuGrenier's work has helped to advance the science of hermit crabs, about his impact on Nickelodeon and the Kids' Choice Awards, and how he's revitalizing his small Vermont hometown through farmers markets and community pizza nights.

Dr. Jana Albrecht, M.S. ’06, Ph.D. ’20, Illinois State University’s associate vice president for enrollment management, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss another historic incoming class for fall 2023—the University’s largest in 36 years. The class includes 4,147 freshmen, a 4% increase in new freshmen. Total enrollment also increased 1.5% to 20,989.

This year’s incoming freshmen class averaged a high school GPA of 3.64 on a 4.0 scale, and more than 1,000 students earned 4.0 or better. Illinois State’s student body is becoming more diverse as well; approximately 41% of this year’s freshman class come from traditionally underrepresented groups, while 32% of the total student population comes from traditionally underrepresented groups.

In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Albrecht discusses Illinois State’s continued enrollment success, praises alumni for their role recruiting new Redbirds, and talks about potential areas for future growth at the University.