My BU Experience with Roberta Parks

Roberta (Blackwell) Parks ’79 got a late start on her college journey, but her love of learning at Bradley continues to this day.

When I started at Bradley in 1977, I had been out of high school for several years and I was married with two children. I always knew I would finish college but not everyone else in my life felt as confident as I did about that! I was referred to as
“an older returning student.” Such a lovely title! 

I can remember coming for registration the first time. Class offerings that were full were projected on a wall in Neumiller Chapel, so it was not an easy, seamless process by any means. That is when I met my advisor for the first time, Dr. Fred Fry in the College of Business (I was majoring in business specifically to work for a not-for-profit organization).  Registration was a frustrating experience and while, at the time, I didn’t think he was much help, Dr. Fry became one of my favorite professors and remains a friend today.

I wasn’t involved in student organizations to any significant extent, because whenever I was on campus, we were paying a babysitter to be at home with the kids. I occasionally brought the kids to class, and while most professors were understanding, not all of them were! There were two other “older returning students” in the College of Business at the time—Marge King (now Semmens)
and Jana Minor. The three of us stuck together and had a lot of fun. 

We were all transfer students and we had to petition the university to receive honors at graduation because we didn’t have enough credit hours at Bradley the semester before graduation. We had to get signed statements from our professors as to what grades we were anticipated to get in the final semester before they would let us wear the summa cum laude cords at commencement. 

Professors that had a significant impact on me were Dr. Kal Goldberg (who later served on my Board at the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce when I was the President of the Chamber) and Dr. Dick Hartmann. They were both supportive
of us “older students,” and Kal let me bring my kids to class.   

I live in Peoria and I’m still learning at Bradley through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). I’m at Bradley regularly, keeping up with campus news and engaging in fun, informative sessions. My thanks to the people at the University who decided it was a good idea for Continuing Education to apply
to the Osher Institute.