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Connie Dyar

Interior Design Program Coordinator
Family and Consumer Sciences
Office
TUR Turner Hall 143
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Biography

Connie Dyar is an Assistant Professor of Interior Design and Program Coordinator at Illinois State University. Upon being appointed Program Coordinator, she reviewed and revised the Interior and Environmental Design program for its first CIDA process and site visit in 2001. She holds a Master's Degree in Housing and Environmental Design, and has worked in residential and commercial design for more than 15 years. Over the years Ms. Dyar has been affiliated with many professional organizations, including the American Society of Interior Designers, National Fire Protection Association, International Interior Design Association, Interior Design Educators Council, and the Illinois Interior Design Coalition. Professional appointments include Chair of the ASID Central Illinois Association, Board Member of the Illinois Chapter ASID Nominating Committee, and Vice President of the Illinois Interior Design Coalition. Through the IIDC, she has devoted many hours to legislative activities that protect the professional practice of interior design. She currently is serving as Administrator for the IDEC Academy for which she was awarded the Outstanding IDEC Service designation. Her work related to building codes and standards has been presented at National Fire Protection Association international meetings and published in Fire Technology and the Journal of Architectural and Planning Research. Her professional work has included office design for McKnight Publishing, Eastland Medical Plaza, tenant space development and restaurant designs of the Winkler Building for Peoria River Front Development Project and retail design concepts for Promenade Mall with Cullen Properties. Most recently she served as the IDEC Academy Chair for which she planned, directed and implemented the first Teaching Symposium for the Interior Design Educators Council.

Current Courses

299.004Independent Honor Study

499.004Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

287.004Independent Study

400.004Independent Study

376.001Interior Design IV: Studio

376.002Interior Design IV: Studio

476.001Interior Design IV: Studio

476.002Interior Design IV: Studio

300.001Professional Leadership in Interior Design

498.004Professional Practice: Family And Consumer Sciences

398.001Professional Practice: Interior Design

291.004Undergraduate Teaching Experiences In Family And Consumer Sciences

346.001Environmental Lighting Design

346.002Environmental Lighting Design

446.001Environmental Lighting Design

446.002Environmental Lighting Design

499.004Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

400.004Independent Study

376.002Interior Design IV: Studio

476.002Interior Design IV: Studio

491.004Internship: Seminar In College Teaching In Family & Consumer

498.004Professional Practice: Family And Consumer Sciences

398.004Professional Practice: Interior Design

424.004Selected Problems In Family And Consumer Sciences

291.004Undergraduate Teaching Experiences In Family And Consumer Sciences

MS Housing and Environmental Design

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

BS Housing and Environmental Design

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

Other Interior Design

Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL

Leadership Initiative Certificate

Illinois State University
2017

IDEC Service Award

Interior Design Educators Council
2017

IDEC Service Award

Interior Design Educators Council
2015

2014 Steelcase NEXT Design Competition (student)

Steelcase
2014

NEWH Sustainable Design Competition (student)

Network of Executive Women in Hospitality/The Hospitality Network
2014

Faculty Appreciation Award

Red Tassel Chapter of Mortar Board
2013

IDEC Service Award

Interior Design Educators Council
2013

Faculty Appreciation Award

Red Tassel Chapter of Mortar Board
2002

Phyllis Memken Outstanding Teacher Award

Department of Fmaily and Consumer Sciences
2000

Illinois State University Research Initiative Award

Illinois State University
1996

Book Review

Dyar, C. A review of: Environmental Psychology for Design. Environmental Psychology for Design. Fairchild Publishing (2009)

Conference Proceeding

Dyar, C., Lippert, L., Jarvis, P., Friberg, J., Schmeeckle, M., & VanderNoordaa, W. Funding for Civic Engagement in the Classroom: The Community Engagement Learning Grant Program. Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology, Illinois State University (2013): page 76.
Dyar, C., Fetsco, L., Gam, H., & Ma, Y. Influence of Student’s Attitude and Knowledge in On-Campus Student Housing. Interior Design Educators Council 2013 (2013): pages 458-459.
Dyar, C., Schuster, D., & Carmany, J. Freecycling Your Way Out the Design Library. IDEC Midwest Regional Conference Papers (2009)
Dyar, C., & Carlson, E. Nightclubs: Examining Means of Egress to Determine Life Safety Code Compliance in a Case Study. Americas Fire & Security Expo International Conference Papers (2006)
Dyar, C., Koenig, R., & Memken, J. Prairie Crossing: A case study of a conservation community and the viability of future communities incorporating a conservation approach. American Association of Housing Educators Conference Papers (1999)

Journal Article

Whelan, E., Dyar, C., Edwards, K., Altenburger, E., Fonseca Pereira, G., & Johnson, B. Anticipated satisfaction of technologies in the homes & lives of older adults to prolong independence. Online Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine (2023)
Xiu, D., Dyar, C., & Fonseca Pereira, G. Multigenerational living style is back? An awareness for interior Designers. Dana E. Vaux (EDs). IDEC Exchange A Forum for Interior Design Education. 1.Spring (2023): 13-14.
DePaul, A., Dyar, C., Banning, J., & Runner, R. The characteristics of a university capital construction documents archive library.. Planning for Higher Education 41.1 (2012): 159-177.
Wilson, M., & Dyar, C. Designing a Concept Restaurant: A Collaborative Project. Journal of Student Centered Learning 2.3 (2005)
Dyar, C., & Boser, R. Compliance with building codes and standards for commercial vinyl wallcoverings. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research 18.2 (2001): 148-155.

Presentations

Analyzing strategies for teaching building codes. IDEC Midwest Regional Conference. Interior Design Educator Council. (2022)
Let’s make toast!. IDEC Midwest Regional Conference. Interior Design Educators Council. (2022)
Anticipated Satisfaction of Technologies in the Homes & Lives of Older Adults to Prolong Independence. IDEC National Fall Symposium. Interior Design Educators Council. (2021)
Senior Co-Housing Dementia Care Facility; A Qualitative Study. IDEC National Fall Symposium. Interior Design Educators Council. (2021)
Securing, implementing and surviving a design studio remodel through innovative visioning.. Teach to Reach: Strategies for the New Realities. Interior Design Educators Council. (2020)
Developing an Assessment Framework: Measuring Digital Literacy of Interior Design Students in a Digital Drawing Course. IDEC Midwest Conference; Forging Ahead. Interior Design Eduactors Council. (2019)
Evidence Based Design Approach to Hotel Design for the Business Traveler. 2019 INTERIOR DESIGN EDUCATORS COUNCIL. IDEC. (2019)
Evidence Base Design Approach to Hotel Design for the Business Traveler. Interior Design Educators Council Annual Meeting. IDEC. (2018)
It’s Not a Doll House! Use of 3-D Printing in Professional in Interior Design Models. Making Community. Interior Design Educators Council 2018 Midwest Regional Conference. (2018)
Use of 3-D Printing in Professional Interior Design Models. Space, Event & Movement. Interior Design Educators Council South Regional Conference. (2018)

Grants & Contracts

Day of Celebration of Inclusive Intergenerational Environments. CAST Grant for Innovation in Diversity. Illinois State university. Illinois State University. (2024)
CAST Presentation Travel Grant. College of Applied Science and Technology. Illinois State University. (2017)
Agreement for Services for Professional Workshop. FCS Department Request for Funding. Illinois State University. (2013)
FBC Advanced Module Presentations – Indoor Environmental Quality. Design Arts Seminar INC.. Other. (2006)
Home study: FUBC Advanced Module – FBC/Residential. Design Arts Seminar INC.. Other. (2006)