President's Medallion Recipients 2026
Dr. Ed Carroll
Dr. Ed Carroll is a respected educator and academic leader whose 34 year career at Heartland Community College has shaped generations of students in Bloomington-Normal. A Distinguished Professor of History, he has taught U.S. History and Western Civilization while pioneering curriculum updates, online instruction, and statewide articulation efforts. He helped establish Heartland’s Honors Program and served as a founding president of the faculty union. Upon his retirement he honored with Professor Emeritus status in 2020.
Dr. Carroll is best remembered by his students for helping them bridge the gap between large concepts and the everyday life of the people who historically lived them. In nearly every setting, Dr Carroll worked to bring in contextual work from biographical writings to case studies of the average person so students could see what the times meant and how they could relate to the people in them. Even in retirement, Ed continues to serve Heartland and its students as a tutor. His students include those in the HALO program, and other specialized learning opportunities at the College.
Dr. Carroll has also held key leadership roles in regional historical organizations, including serving as Board Chair of the Heritage Association of McLean County, President of the David Davis Mansion Foundation, and Vice Chair of the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
He completed his bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral coursework at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in U.S. Social History and Immigrant Family economic development.
Dr. Carroll has also held key leadership roles in regional historical organizations, including serving as Board Chair of the Heritage Association of McLean County, President of the David Davis Mansion Foundation, and Vice Chair of the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
He completed his bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral coursework at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in U.S. Social History and Immigrant Family economic development.
Bob Dobski
Bob Dobski is a longtime Bloomington-Normal business leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose impact spans decades. Born and raised in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, he grew up working in his family's grocery chain, Edmund’s Foods. After the decline of small grocers, Dobski and his brothers moved into McDonald’s franchising, launching their first location in Farmington, Missouri, in 1982.
Bob and his wife Julie relocated to Bloomington-Normal in 1989, eventually expanding their McDonald’s franchise operations to 13 restaurants across McLean and Ford Counties. He became deeply embedded in the community, serving as President of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and supporting organizations including the Salvation Army’s Safe Harbor, The Baby Fold, Rotary, and many others.
A longtime supporter of Illinois State University, Dobski served on the ISU Foundation Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees. His leadership and philanthropy were recognized when he and Julie were named the 2013 Philanthropists of the Year by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.
Even after retiring their McDonald’s franchises in 2017, Dobski continued his entrepreneurial work by opening Rob Dob’s Restaurant & Bar in 2019, which has since become a community hub.
In 2024, Bob and Julie were honored as McLean County History Makers for their lifetime of service. In 2026, Illinois State University named the CEFCU Arena Concourse after the couple in recognition of their significant support of Redbird Athletics.
Bob and his wife Julie relocated to Bloomington-Normal in 1989, eventually expanding their McDonald’s franchise operations to 13 restaurants across McLean and Ford Counties. He became deeply embedded in the community, serving as President of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and supporting organizations including the Salvation Army’s Safe Harbor, The Baby Fold, Rotary, and many others.
A longtime supporter of Illinois State University, Dobski served on the ISU Foundation Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees. His leadership and philanthropy were recognized when he and Julie were named the 2013 Philanthropists of the Year by the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.
Even after retiring their McDonald’s franchises in 2017, Dobski continued his entrepreneurial work by opening Rob Dob’s Restaurant & Bar in 2019, which has since become a community hub.
In 2024, Bob and Julie were honored as McLean County History Makers for their lifetime of service. In 2026, Illinois State University named the CEFCU Arena Concourse after the couple in recognition of their significant support of Redbird Athletics.
Dodie Dunson
Dodie Dunson, Sr. is a longtime Bloomington-Normal community leader, mentor, and former basketball standout. A 1978 Bloomington High School graduate, Dunson was a star athlete who went on to play basketball at Parkland College, studying recreation leadership.
Dunson has been a community organizer since his youth. While still in junior high, he organized and led a youth basketball league for five different housing developments. He was tasked with overseeing the men’s basketball league for the community while a freshman in high school because of the respect he had garnered among so many both for his ability, as well as commitment to the community.
Dunson has been a community organizer since his youth. While still in junior high, he organized and led a youth basketball league for five different housing developments. He was tasked with overseeing the men’s basketball league for the community while a freshman in high school because of the respect he had garnered among so many both for his ability, as well as commitment to the community.
Life steered him to social work. After making an impact in Los Angeles, he returned to his hometown and started a career of 44 years serving youth in Bloomington-Normal, including his long-standing role as Director of Family Engagement at the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal. He has also served as Director of the Lawrence Irving Community Center, working closely with at-risk youth and supporting their academic success. In 2019, Dunson was named Normal’s Citizen of the Year in recognition of his impact on generations of youth.
Dunson has been a guiding force for so many individuals, helping to stem gang violence in numerous communities, organizing and strategizing positive youth engagement outside of athletics for a variety of young people, and serving as a mentor at key life moments for so many.
Meta Mickens-Baker
Meta Mickens-Baker is a seasoned HR leader, long-time community servant, and advocate for youth and education in Bloomington-Normal. She serves as a Human Resources Manager at State Farm Insurance Companies, specializing in talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, and employee relations.
In her professional role, Meta has helped thousands of high school and college graduates find their pathways to successful careers at State Farm. As a recruiter, she is celebrated for helping people unlock their full potential and see what they are capable of, while also serving as a mentor for individuals at various stages of their personal journey.
Mickens-Baker dedicated 17 years to the McLean County Unit 5 School Board, serving at one time as its chair - the first woman of color to be elected to the body. She was an early champion of the Promise Council program that helped connect caring community members and organizations to key schools across the community. She has also contributed to the Unit 5 Educational Foundation Board and continues to empower youth through NAACP ACT-SO, with which she has volunteered for over a decade.
She has been recognized with a variety of awards including Virgina Tech’s Influential Black Alumni Award, the Bloomington Martin Luther King Jr. Award, the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, and the Multicultural Leadership Program Servant Leadership Award. Her work as a mentor has also been celebrated by a variety of regional and national organizations.
Drs. Charlotte and Joe Talkington
Drs. Charlotte and Joe Talkington are a distinguished faculty couple whose decades of service to Illinois State University have shaped opportunities for generations of students. As longtime members of the College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST), they dedicated their careers to empowering learners through mentorship and educational access.
Dr. Charlotte Talkington, an ISU alum, joined the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) faculty in 1968 and taught for more than 25 years. She became known for statewide teacher workshops, curriculum leadership, and creating multiple endowed funds supporting FCS students and faculty. As a current resident at Westminster Village, Charlotte is the manager of the resale shop and chair of the Beautification Committee. She spearheaded Westminister’s recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation as the first retirement center in Illinois, and the third in the nation, to be designated as a Tree Campus Health Center.
Dr. Charlotte Talkington, an ISU alum, joined the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) faculty in 1968 and taught for more than 25 years. She became known for statewide teacher workshops, curriculum leadership, and creating multiple endowed funds supporting FCS students and faculty. As a current resident at Westminster Village, Charlotte is the manager of the resale shop and chair of the Beautification Committee. She spearheaded Westminister’s recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation as the first retirement center in Illinois, and the third in the nation, to be designated as a Tree Campus Health Center.
Dr. Joe Talkington served at the University for more than 29 years as a professor and department chair in Technology, retiring in 1991. Afterward, he founded Star Uniforms, and worked to support those entering the health care field. He has been a community advocate for the College since its inception and, created one of the first scholarships awarded to a Heartland student by a private donor.
Together, the Talkingtons have established several scholarship funds, at both Heartland Community College and ISU, including the Star for Nursing Education Endowed Scholarship, and the Talkington Family Endowed Scholarship. Their philanthropy reflects their belief that education transforms lives, and that true impact comes from opening doors for others.
Together, the Talkingtons have established several scholarship funds, at both Heartland Community College and ISU, including the Star for Nursing Education Endowed Scholarship, and the Talkington Family Endowed Scholarship. Their philanthropy reflects their belief that education transforms lives, and that true impact comes from opening doors for others.