Redbird Buzz

Elisabeth Reed, the director of Illinois State University's Office of Sustainability, joins Redbird Buzz to share the story of her journey—from a background in architecture and fashion, to her current role leading the University's sustainability efforts. Reed shares tips for listeners wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and discusses campus sustainability initiatives, including Fix-It...

Dr. George Pruitt ’68, M.S. ’70, L.H.D. ’94, one of the longest serving collegiate presidents in the United States, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss how Illinois State launched his journey into higher education, historical moments he experienced on campus during the Civil Rights Movement, challenges he faced and accomplishments he achieved leading a university for 35 years, and how having resources,...

Dr. Sarah Gerson ’06 is a developmental psychologist at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales. In the fall of 2020, she was lead author for an internationally publicized study, published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience , which used neuroscience for the first time to investigate the impact of doll play on children. Gerson earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Illinois State Un...

University Archivist April Anderson-Zorn joins Redbird Buzz to discuss three women who made history at Illinois State University: Dr. June Rose Colby, Anna Ropp, and Dr. Patricia Chesebro. Dr. June Rose Colby (1856-1941) was the first female faculty member and third woman hired as an instructor at Illinois State Normal University. After becoming the first woman to earn a Ph. D. from the University...

Regina Smith '06 joins Redbird Buzz to discuss her new role as the inaugural head coach of the Morgan State University women's acrobatics and tumbling team. Smith and her team at Morgan State will make history during the 2023-24 season as the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) NCAA Division I program. Smith started her coaching career in 2006, and since then, she has captured mo...

Dr. Thomas Keyser, founding dean of Illinois State University's College of Engineering, shares his vision for the new college, set to launch with its first class of students in the fall of 2025. Keyser discusses his plans for educating "career ready" graduates and engaging with local industry leaders to provide College of Engineering students with invaluable real-world experience. Keyser will begi...

David Kirk, M.S. '16, sat down with Redbird Buzz to discuss his role as the director of Redbird Esports at Illinois State University and the program's success. Kirk shares his approach to growing engagement with current and future Redbirds through four pillars of the program: competitive, club, casual, and career.

Author and educational consultant Dr. Mary Manz Simon ’69 joins Redbird Buzz to share her unique path from kindergarten teacher to children’s author and educational consultant for companies like Crayola, DreamWorks, Sony, and more. Simon shares what is truly important when it comes to passion, shaping the lives of children as educators, and how learning each day ourselves makes us a better person....

Illinois State women’s basketball assistant coach Katrina Beck ’19, M.S. ’21, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss her journey from Redbird player to coach. A four-year letterwinner and starter for the Illinois State women’s basketball team from 2015-2019, Beck is in her first season as a Redbird assistant coach. Beck, who originally planned to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, talks about why she...

NBA sportscaster Katy Winge '15 reminisces about her days as a Redbird women's basketball player and busy student-athlete in this episode of Redbird Buzz . Winge reflects on how double-majoring in marketing and broadcast journalism, being a Division I athlete, and participating in extracurriculars set her up for career success. Winge is currently a host, reporter, and analyst for Altitude TV and t...

Painter and muralist Liz Flores '12 joins Redbird Buzz to talk about taking the leap into making a passion into a profession and how she used her business degree to become a successful artist. Flores shares how she had to think outside the box to find her own artistic style, how she balances her painting integrity while working with well-known brands like Lululemon and the Chicago Bulls, and where...

Tiara M. Tucker ’04, M.S. ’09, joins Redbird Buzz to share how embracing a passion can lead to many trails of success as she balances a full-time corporate career while managing her own PR boutique and non-profit dedicated to empowering professional women.

Jeff Mavros, M.S. ’06, executive director of Admissions, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss Illinois State University’s historic incoming class for fall 2022. It’s the University’s largest freshman class in 35 years and its most diverse freshman class in ISU history. The class consists of one in three students who had a high school 4.0 GPA, more than 200 new students from McLean County, and more than 2...

Keith Habersberger '09 is known for his hilarious YouTube videos, viral comedy songs, and all-around funny internet persona. But most don't know that Habersberger got his start in improv and comedy at Illinois State. Join Redbird Buzz for a conversation full of laughs and stories about Habersberger's rise to internet stardom with the Try Guys and his newest venture on tour with comedy band Lewberg...

Dr. Aondover Tarhule, vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, joins Redbird Buzz to discuss Illinois State University’s new College of Engineering. He describes why the University is starting an engineering program, how the program will be unique, and what the next steps are in the program development process. For more information about the new College of Engineering, visit IllinoisState....

Sam Alex ’07, nationally-syndicated country radio personality, host of The Sam Alex Show , and founder of Camp Broadcast, joins Redbird Buzz . Alex got his start in radio on the Illinois State University campus as a WZND staffer and public address announcer for Redbird women's soccer, and he has soared to career heights including interviewing stars on the red carpet at the Oscars .

Entrepreneur Abe Lopez-Bowen ’12 joins Redbird Buzz to discuss his experiences as a student at Illinois State and his career path after graduation. Lopez-Bowen talks about his human-focused, heart-forward approach to management and business, how former Illinois State president Dr. Larry Dietz advised him during a crucial moment of self-reflection, and how his experience as a student shaped his app...

Gold Glove-winning Redbird center fielder Ryan Cermak and Illinois State head baseball coach Steve Holm join Redbird Buzz to discuss Cermak's stellar 2022 season and the upcoming Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. Some scouts predict Cermak to be drafted in the first five rounds which would place him among the highest MLB draft picks in Redbird history.

Chris Voelz ’70, executive director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards, joins Redbird Buzz to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX and to share her experiences as a physical education major, four-sport Redbird student-athlete, and women’s athletics pioneer. Voelz is a trailblazer in the world of college athletics and has dedicated her career to advancing opportunities for women athletes...

Jim Bennett ’87, Illinois Department for Human Rights director, joins Redbird Buzz to talk about the meaningful moments and mentors at Illinois State who shaped his path to becoming an activist, a voice for civil rights, a storyteller, and a trailblazer. Bennett shares memories from his time as a student, describes the path his career has taken him on and his role in the fight for marriage equalit...

Dr. Jill Hutchison, M.S. ’69 and Dr. Linda Herman, M.S. ’72, Ed. D. ’83 join Redbird Buzz during the 50th anniversary of Title IX—legislation passed in 1972 that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities, including college athletics. Hutchison spent 28 seasons as Illinois State University’s head women’s basketball, was a four-time national president o...

Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy, 20th president of Illinois State University, joins Redbird Buzz as the podcast's first official guest. She shares her excitement for the University’s spring commencement, she discusses how her curiosity to learn led her into the field of biochemistry, and she talks about the journey she took to become the first female president of ISU. Kinzy also gives advice on the importanc...

Welcome to Redbird Buzz, a podcast produced by Illinois State University, featuring conversations—from beyond the quad—with Redbirds who share their unique stories, journeys, and contributions.