Connie G. Dyar is the Interior Design Program Coordinator at Illinois State University. She holds a master’s degree Interior and Environmental Design and has worked in residential and commercial design for over 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 Illinois Interior Design Coalition, she has devoted many hours to legislative activities that protect the professional practice of interior design. She has served as Administrator and Chair for the IDEC Academy for which she was awarded the Outstanding IDEC Service designation. As Chair of the IDEC Academy organized and led the Academy in holding the first IDEC Teaching Symposium in March 2016. 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. Ms. Dyar’s current research spans design practices in a global context, emerging technology and designing for special populations. Her professional work has included office design for McKnight Publishing, Eastland Medical Plaza, tenant space development and restaurant design of the Winkler Building for Peoria River Front Development Project, Chuck Harley Davidson, and retail design concepts for Promenade Mall with Cullen Properties.
