Redbird Buzz

Illinois State University
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Join us for conversations from beyond the quad with Illinois State University Redbirds who are creating buzz—on campus, in the community, and across the globe. Each episode, we speak with Redbirds about their unique stories, journeys, and contributions.

  1. Sharon Ponder-Ballard ’86

    قبل ٣ أيام

    Sharon Ponder-Ballard ’86

    For Illinois State University alum Sharon Ponder-Ballard ’86, education has always been about opening doors. Inspired by a mother who believed that "reading was freedom," Ponder-Ballard has dedicated her career to ensuring every student has access to books, opportunity, and the support they need to thrive. A Golden Apple Award winner and the most recent recipient of the Illinois State Alumni Association's Maitland Commitment to Education Award, Ponder-Ballard has spent decades serving students in Chicago Public Schools and beyond. From building classroom libraries when school librarians were lost to budget cuts, to bringing thousands of books to schools recovering from Hurricane Katrina, to developing innovative curriculum that connects literacy, restorative justice, and environmental awareness, her work demonstrates what happens when compassion and purpose come together in the classroom. On this episode of Redbird Buzz, Ponder-Ballard reflects on the lessons she learned at Illinois State, how empathy plays a role in building classroom libraries, and why she continues to advocate for educational equity every day. It's an inspiring conversation about the transformative power of reading, the importance of meeting students where they are, and how one passionate teacher can create opportunities that last a lifetime.

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  2. Brandon Holtz ’10

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    Brandon Holtz ’10

    Illinois State University College of Business alum Brandon Holtz ’10 is a former Redbird men's basketball player who won the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in September 2025, earning a spot in the 2026 Master’s and the U.S. Open Golf Championship, while working as a realtor in Bloomington-Normal.

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  3. Dr. Bob Navarro ’91, M.S. ’93, Ph.D. ’02

    ٢ يونيو

    Dr. Bob Navarro ’91, M.S. ’93, Ph.D. ’02

    Dr. Bob Navarro ’91, M.S. ’93, Ph.D. ’02, serves as CEO of Heritage Corridor Destinations, where he oversees attractions and programs along Illinois and Michigan Canal towns, the Starved Rock area, and the first 100 miles of Route 66. During this episode of Redbird Buzz, Navarro discusses planning for the “Mother Road’s” 100th anniversary celebration during summer 2026. Established in 1926, Route 66 spans 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, passing through Normal along the way. Navarro, a member of the Illinois State University Board of Trustees since 2019, started his career at Illinois State in University Housing before heading north to handle guest experiences at the DuPage Children's Museum. He then served as director of housing services at U.S Equities Reality, where he worked to open the 18-story University Center that houses students from Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University in the Chicago loop. Navarro earned three degrees from Illinois State including, a bachelor’s in history, a master’s in kinesiology and recreation, and a doctorate in educational administration and foundations. He is a founding member of Illinois State University’s Latinx Alumni Network and is a former chairman of the Illinois Council of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

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  4. Erica Lauren Maholmes, M.F.A. ’22

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    Erica Lauren Maholmes, M.F.A. ’22

    Erica Lauren Maholmes, M.F.A. ’22, did not originally envision herself doing behind-the-scenes work in theater, but through her experience in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts and School of Theatre, Dance, and Film, she discovered a passion for lighting design. Maholmes' work as a lighting designer and master electrician has taken her to stages across the country, including Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Alley Theatre, and Trinity Repertory Company. She made her Broadway debut in 2024 as an associate lighting designer for The Notebook. Maholmes has also worked within the theatre industry to end racial inequities and create opportunities for lighting designers who are people of color. Maholmes was named the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumni award winner by the Illinois State University Alumni Association. Tune into this episode of Redbird Buzz to hear how Maholmes's experience at Illinois State shaped her approach to stage lighting and design, how the lighting in a stage play can evoke emotions and reactions from the audience, and what's next for her as she continues working in the world of North American theatre.

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  5. Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs

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    Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs

    Dr. Jeri Beggs was named Illinois State University's director of Athletics in March 2025 after serving as the interim AD since May 2023. Beggs is Illinois State's 13th director of Athletics in the NCAA Division I era and the first woman to hold the position. She joins Redbird Buzz to discuss the path she has taken and her vision for the future of Illinois State Athletics. In this episode, Beggs details how her 21 years in Illinois State's College of Business as a professor of marketing and her role as faculty athletics representative prepared her for her current leadership position, and she shares what she hopes to accomplish as AD. Beggs also discusses her vision for Redbird Athletics amidst a rapidly evolving landscape in college athletics, with name, image, and likeness (NIL), the transfer portal, legal battles, and conference realignment greatly impacting mid-major institutions across the country. Despite the challenges facing Beggs, her staff, and Redbird student-athletes, she shares the many wins, both on the playing field and in the classroom, that the department has achieved under her leadership, along with the opportunities ahead for Illinois State Athletics.

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  6. Vivian Kong Doctora ’96

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    Vivian Kong Doctora ’96

    Vivian Kong Doctora ’96 is a community builder who connects people and culture through food. In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Kong Doctora discusses her many entrepreneurial ventures, including a steam bun business (Bao Destination), instructional cooking courses, and a partnership in a revolving sushi bar. She also shares how her culture and family traditions have inspired her food-centered businesses. Kong Doctora is featured in the spring 2025 State magazine.

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  7. Assistant Professor of Video Ruth Burke

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    Assistant Professor of Video Ruth Burke

    Ruth Burke, an assistant professor of video in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University, is an interdisciplinary artist who collaborates with animals in her creative practice. In this episode of Redbird Buzz, Burke discusses her project “Re-Integration of Mixed-Power Systems in Agroecological Intensification,” in which she is utilizing her team of oxen, Clark and Sparky, to establish two pollinator plots and two pollinator-friendly earthworks in McLean County. Burke’s project is funded by a nearly $50,000, two-year grant from North Central Region SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education). Burke is featured in the spring 2025 Redbird Scholar magazine.

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  8. University Archivist April Anderson-Zorn discusses history-making women during World War I

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    University Archivist April Anderson-Zorn discusses history-making women during World War I

    Illinois State University Archivist April Anderson-Zorn returns to Redbird Buzz following a semester-long sabbatical spent researching the role of women from Illinois State Normal University in World War I. In this episode, she shares the story of a handful of history-making women and their experiences on the frontlines, helping to rebuild war-torn areas of Europe following the war, and what their lives looked like once they returned home. Tune into this episode to learn about impressive Redbird women like Ellen Babbitt, who used her education background and fundamentals of pedagogy from her time at ISNU to teach hundreds of thousands of Europeans about best health practices and how to treat their sick children in a post-war world. You'll also hear about women like Alice Smith, who joined the Army Nurse Corps and served in mobile hospitals on the frontlines during World War I, then returned home to become a renowned landscape architect.

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Join us for conversations from beyond the quad with Illinois State University Redbirds who are creating buzz—on campus, in the community, and across the globe. Each episode, we speak with Redbirds about their unique stories, journeys, and contributions.

المعلومات

  • صناع العمل
    Illinois State University
  • سنوات النشاط
    ٢٠٢٢ - ٢٠٢٦
  • الحلقات
    ٦٥
  • التقييم
    ملائم
  • حقوق النشر
    © Illinois State University
  • موقع البرنامج على الويب
    Redbird Buzz