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Description
Oral history interview with Illinois State University alum Daniel Pierson, Class of 1981. The interview was conducted by Milner Library’s Digitization Center Coordinator Karmine Beecroft on December 13, 2024.
Born and raised in Chicago, Pierson attended Lindblom High School, a college preparatory institution that helped shape his aspirations for higher education. He was drawn to ISU after visiting the campus and feeling welcomed by its community. Though also accepted at the University of Illinois, Pierson selected ISU due to its proximity to family, its strong accounting program, and the presence of several peers from his high school.
At ISU, Pierson majored in accounting and minored in business information systems, which would later define his professional path. He was influenced by his uncle, who had recently become a CPA, and by a formative experience in high school through the Boy Scouts Explorers program, where he was introduced to the accounting field. His affinity for problem-solving and programming led him to excel in early computing courses. A pivotal mentor was Dr. Gerry McKean, who taught multiple courses in information systems and recommended Pierson for his first job. These academic experiences, particularly in programming, equipped Pierson with skills that would carry him through a long career in technology, and later in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
To support himself financially, Pierson worked full-time throughout much of his college career, including in the Water Department of the Town of Normal. This required him to adjust his academic schedule and attend classes in the evenings, often in his work uniform. He notes that this balance of work and study was critical to his success, providing financial independence and practical experience.
Pierson lived in Wilkins Hall and another now-demolished dorm before moving off campus. His roommates—friends from high school—were also ISU students, and together they explored fraternity life. Pierson ultimately joined Omega Psi Phi in 1976, drawn to its legacy, values, and community impact. His fraternity involvement had a lasting impact on him, fostering leadership skills, providing networking, and instilling in him a strong commitment to service. Omega Psi Phi connected members to the local community through mentorship and volunteer work at the Western Avenue Community Center and holiday outreach efforts, experiences that helped Pierson build long-term ties to Bloomington-Normal.
Active in multiple student organizations, Pierson participated in the Accounting Society and the student chapter of the Data Processing Association. The latter proved particularly influential; his involvement led to a job at GTE (later Verizon) through connections with professional members of the organization. This early exposure to the tech field prompted him to pivot from accounting to a long-term career in information systems and technology, which eventually evolved into his current DEI work as an associate director at Eli Lilly.
Socially and culturally, Pierson recalls the 1970s and early 1980s as a time of transformation at ISU, particularly for Black students. He was part of a growing population of African American students who benefited from affirmative action and sought to make their presence and needs visible on campus. This included advocating for culturally appropriate products and services in local stores, especially Black haircare items, and creating stronger networks among students of color. While ISU was situated in a predominantly white, small-town environment, Pierson describes the atmosphere as supportive and professional, with many students and faculty focused on academic and personal growth.
Pierson fondly remembers participating in campus life, including attending concerts featuring artists like Elton John, Yes, and Sly and the Family Stone and ISU basketball games at Horton Field House. He recalls Milner Library as his academic sanctuary and preferred study space—likening its quiet hum to the modern ambiance of a Starbucks—and emphasizes the importance of peer study groups and collaborative learning.
Following graduation, Pierson remained connected to ISU and the Bloomington-Normal area. Many members of his family relocated to the town, and he continued to live and work there until relocating to Indianapolis in 1982. He became deeply involved in alumni activities and was instrumental in the founding and re-chartering of the ISU Black Colleagues Association (BCA). Motivated by a desire to give back and to support future generations, Pierson moved from member to treasurer to president of BCA. Under his leadership, BCA has dramatically increased its scholarship funding—now awarding approximately $40,000 annually—while also launching impactful initiatives like the 360 Mentoring Program, which fosters reciprocal learning relationships between alumni and current students.
Pierson’s tenure as president has emphasized two key goals: increasing alumni engagement and expanding revenue to support students. He has worked to establish partnerships across campus, including with the Black Student Union, the Multicultural Center, and the Umoja Black Graduation Recognition Ceremony, and has strengthened ties with ISU leadership, including the president and academic departments. BCA has also partnered with other affinity groups and hosted regional events, including recruitment outreach in Chicago. Pierson envisions a future in which BCA grows its endowment, secures major gifts from alumni, and emulates the structures and successes of other large university alumni associations.
Reflecting on his time at ISU, Pierson expresses gratitude for the academic, personal, and professional opportunities the university provided. He credits ISU with preparing him for a successful career and life of service, and he continues to return to campus several times a year. He views his student years not as a period of trial, but as a foundation for growth and community connection. Pierson closes by advocating for more alumni, especially Black alumni, to share their stories and preserve a fuller, more representative history of ISU.
Interview Date
12-13-2024
Index
00:01 – Introduction Karmine Beecroft introduces themself and Daniel Pierson. Pierson shares his current roles as president of ISU's Black Colleagues Association and Associate Director of DEI at Eli Lilly.
01:01 – Early Life and Family Pierson discusses growing up in Chicago, his close-knit family, and attending Lindblom High School.
01:51 – Decision to Attend ISU He explains how he chose Illinois State over University of Illinois after visiting and falling in love with the campus and people.
03:45 – First Impressions of ISU Pierson reflects on ISU’s small-town setting and how it offered him space for professional and personal growth.
04:51 – Identity and Core Values He describes his dedication to community service, shaped through work and fraternity involvement.
05:52 – Interest in Accounting Inspired by his uncle and strong math background, Pierson describes his early experience with accounting through a Boy Scouts Explorers program.
07:27 – Maintaining Friendships He keeps in touch with four fellow accounting students from ISU, meeting annually at Homecoming.
07:52 – Student Housing Describes living in Wilkins Hall and a now-demolished dorm on Main Street before moving off campus.
08:47 – Roommate Experience His college roommates were high school friends; they graduated together and joined different fraternities.
10:03 – Joining Omega Psi Phi Provides history of the fraternity and his reasons for joining. Describes fraternity life, leadership, and community service.
13:03 – Fraternity Service Projects Details mentoring at the Western Avenue Community Center and holiday service projects in Bloomington-Normal.
14:10 – Favorite Classes and Professors Pierson highlights programming classes and Professor Gerry McKean, who recommended him for his first job.
17:00 – Academic Rigor He reflects on the difficulty of accounting and the critical thinking required for multiple-choice exams.
20:51 – Other Student Organizations Discusses his involvement in the Accounting Society and the Data Processing Association, which led to a job at GTE.
22:09 – Networking and Mentorship Stresses the importance of networking, professor relationships, and peer encouragement in college success.
23:45 – Working Through College Shares his experience working full-time as a water meter reader, attending classes in the evening, and gaining professors’ respect.
25:07 – Technology on Campus Recalls using mainframes and workstations for programming assignments before the personal computing era.
26:52 – Study and Social Spaces Milner Library was his preferred study location. He describes his appreciation for ambient noise environments.
29:38 – Campus Sports He attended basketball games at Horton Field House in the late 1970s and enjoyed ISU’s strong teams.
31:51 – Campus Mascot and Tri-Towers Recalls student participation in game-day culture and using Tri-Towers facilities for recreational basketball.
33:11 – Campus Events and Civil Rights Era Context Mentions May Day, notable concerts, and societal changes impacting African American student enrollment and advocacy at ISU.
36:01 – Addressing Cultural Needs Describes student advocacy for haircare and culturally relevant products in the Bloomington-Normal area.
38:01 – Broader Impact of Student Advocacy Highlights how student demands benefited multiple minority groups and created positive campus-community change.
39:28 – Mentors and Influential Peers Describes intergenerational mentorship within his fraternity and how peers supported each other academically and professionally.
41:59 – Off-Campus Life and Socializing Pierson lived in Normal and later Bloomington, DJed and hosted social events, and stayed active in the local community.
46:14 – Community Ties and Family Migration Many family members moved to Bloomington-Normal; ISU and the town became central in his life story.
46:53 – Campus Environment for Black Students Describes a largely supportive environment, with challenges met through community and personal focus on professional goals.
49:38 – Historical Awareness Mentions awareness of incidents like Kent State and the 1969 ISU flagpole incident as part of broader civil rights history.
51:37 – Founding the Black Colleagues Association (BCA) Explains his role in chartering BCA, its mission to support students, and initial scholarship initiatives.
53:36 – Leadership in BCA Describes his leadership path from treasurer to president and efforts to expand BCA’s impact through scholarships and mentorship.
55:31 – 360 Mentoring Program Details the launch of the BCA’s mentoring initiative and its reciprocal learning approach between alumni and students.
57:48 – Campus and Alumni Engagement Discusses BCA’s partnerships with Black Student Union, the Multicultural Center, Umoja Graduation, and athletics.
59:28 – Broader Alumni Engagement Explains strategies to increase alumni participation, including regional outreach, recruitment events, and partnerships.
1:01:52 – Time Management and Service Ethic Pierson shares how purpose drives his involvement in many organizations, including Omega Psi Phi and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
1:04:33 – Future Hopes for BCA He outlines goals to increase funding and donor engagement, expand scholarships, and emulate successful alumni associations.
1:06:28 – Cross-Group Collaborations Mentions joint initiatives with Hispanic alumni and broader ISU affinity groups to build a united community.
1:09:25 – Changes at ISU Since Graduation Reflects on campus development, academic expansion, and university leadership’s increasing outreach to alumni.
1:12:22 – Reflections and Gratitude Would not change his ISU experience; working through school gave him purpose, skills, and lifelong connections.
1:15:41 – Final Thoughts and Call for More Stories Encourages other alumni to participate in oral history to ensure a wide range of perspectives are preserved.
Recommended Citation
Pierson, Daniel, "Interview with Daniel Pierson, Class of 1981" (1981). Alumni Oral Histories. 85.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/aoh/85
