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.
Political science alum Dan Hubbard '07 learned his first guitar chord in high school. By the time he graduated from Illinois State University, he had already released three albums.
Hubbard's soulful and effortless sound spans multiple genres, from indie and Americana to R&B and pop. Those who listen to his albums will sense themes of love, loss, family, and the rollercoaster of life.
In this episode, listeners learn where his inspiration comes from, how political science courses can shape a song, and hear a live performance of one of his latest songs.
22 Sept 2026
Andrew Francois ’11
Andrew François ’11 is a violist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. A native of Kankakee, François began playing the violin at age 10, and stringed instruments have been a part of his life ever since.
As an undergraduate student at Illinois State University, François majored in band and orchestra instruction and performance, and he served as a teaching assistant and private instructor for the String Project—an impactful community program celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
François went on to earn a master’s degree at Indiana University and was in the inaugural class of fellows with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Resident Fellows program. He then performed with the New World Symphony Orchestra in Miami before joining the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 2019.
In this episode of Redbird Buzz, François shares what it’s like to be a professional violist and how Illinois State prepared him for a career in music.
15 Sept 2026
Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement Jillian Nelson
Jillian Nelson stepped into the newly created role of assistant vice president for Alumni and Donor Engagement in September 2026. This appointment represents an exciting evolution for University Advancement at Illinois State, bringing alumni engagement, annual giving, and donor stewardship together under a unified vision to build deeper, lifelong relationships across the entire Redbird community.
Nelson sat down with Redbird Buzz to share her excitement about the newly merged unit and its future goals, along with more about her background, her leadership philosophy, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the Office of Alumni and Donor Engagement operates.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
2,045,385
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
82
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
60
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