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Description
Oral history interview with Illinois State University alum Gwendolyn Renee Hoskins Tibbs, Class of 1988. The interview was conducted by Milner Library’s Digitization Center Coordinator Karmine Beecroft on October 31, 2024.
Born in Chicago and raised in the suburb of East Chicago Heights (now Ford Heights), Tibbs grew up in a close-knit family with three older brothers. She describes herself as a popular and social person and credits her upbringing with instilling in her a strong work ethic, organizational skills, and a love for learning. Her father played a pivotal role in shaping her interest in business by giving her a typewriter at the age of eight. She attended Bloom Trail High School, where she was active in the Office Education Association and served as a cheerleading captain. Encouraged by her high school counselor and the familiarity of classmates also planning to attend, Tibbs chose to enroll at Illinois State University after graduation.
At ISU, Tibbs majored in Business Administration in the College of Business, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Science degree. She was a High Potential Scholar, an achievement she attributes to her disciplined study habits and strong academic performance, even while living a socially active life in Watterson Towers. She recalls how her ability to stay focused and organized—often studying late at night after social events—enabled her to maintain a 3.0 GPA during her first semester while many peers struggled. Tibbs vividly remembers her experiences living in Watterson, including the camaraderie with fellow students and a dramatic incident in which a fellow student fell from the window of her dorm room on the 18th floor but survived.
Despite being a “cheer person” since the age of three, Tibbs chose to leave the ISU cheer squad due to inequities in travel opportunities, which led her to refocus her energy on academics and campus jobs. She held several work-study and internship positions during her time at ISU, including roles at Milner Library, in the Finance and Law department under Charles McGuire, and later in Human Resources at Diamond Star Motors through Kelly Services. Notably, she turned a summer job at Ford Motor Credit into a credited internship with the help of a supportive faculty member. Her practical experiences and academic work laid the groundwork for a successful 25-year management career at Ford Motor Credit and Ford Motor Company. Currently, she serves as a Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Pactiv Evergreen, while also working seasonally as a substitute teacher to stay engaged with local school systems and support her grandchildren’s educational pathways.
Tibbs also recounts her transformative experience studying abroad in Paris during her sophomore year, facilitated by a beloved French instructor. This trip not only broadened her worldview but also bolstered her academic confidence, particularly in foreign language studies. Socially, the 1980s campus culture she describes was shaped by pop culture icons like Prince and Michael Jackson, and while there were occasional instances of inequality, Tibbs does not recall overt racial tension on campus. Her friend group was diverse, reflecting her background attending a racially mixed high school. She emphasizes the absence of significant social or political activism among her peers during this period, framing her college years as a time of relative harmony and personal growth.
Today, Tibbs remains deeply connected to ISU through her involvement in the Black Colleagues Association (BCA) and the Illinois State University Alumni Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ISUAADEI) Committee. She is committed to philanthropy and mentorship, participating actively in Homecoming events, supporting scholarship initiatives, and mentoring younger alumni and students. Tibbs views her years at ISU as some of the best of her life, emphasizing how the university helped shape her character, discipline, and career.
Interview Date
10-31-2024
Index
- Introduction; Hoskins Tibbs’ early life and high school: 00:00-01:41
- Choosing ISU: 01:41-02:36
- Personal identity: 02:36-04:46
- Majoring in business administration; internship and career trajectory: 04:46-11:07
- First memories of ISU; upbringing and chores: 11:07-15:22
- Living in Watterson Towers: 15:22-19:09
- Notable faculty; favorite and least favorite classes; Halloween prank with cadaver hand: 19:09-23:19
- Study abroad in Paris: 23:19-26:57
- Leaving cheer team: 26:57-29:02
- Campus culture; friend group: 29:02-32:39
- Career trajectory after graduation: 32:39-35:30
- Participating in Black Colleagues Association and Alumni Association DEI Committee: 35:30-38:26
- Changes at ISU since 1988; conclusion: 38:26-40:44
Recommended Citation
Hoskins Tibbs, Gwendolyn Renee, "Interview with Gwendolyn Renee Hoskins Tibbs, Class of 1988" (1988). Alumni Oral Histories. 83.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/aoh/83
