Past Featured Alumni
Maya (Balakrishna) Shenoy, ’73, M.S. ’78
Speech Pathology, College of Arts and Sciences
Volunteer fund-raiser
Charlotte, North Carolina
“My experience at Illinois State gave me an excellent education and foundation that made me what I am today. My fondest memories are the great lifelong friendships cultivated at ISU and in Bloomington-Normal.”
Maya (Balakrishna) Shenoy began her career as an audiologist at Mennonite Hospital and then served as Administrative Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for the Mennonite Hospital. In Bloomington, she was the President of the American Heart Association, started the Stroke Club and was President of the Occupational Developmental Center. After moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1985, she decided to further dedicate her life to volunteer work in order to make a difference in the issues most important to her.
Shenoy emphasizes the difference between having the time and using the time to help others. Her personal motto is, “Community, Compassion, and Commitment.” As a volunteer fund-raiser, she has raised more than $2 million for nonprofit organizations. Shenoy also has dedicated countless hours to serve many organizations, serving in Charlotte as President of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, American Cancer Society and Mecklenburg County Medical Society Alliance. Until recently she also served as National Trustee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America. She has proudly served as a member of the Illinois State University Foundation Board of Directors since 2002. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America honored Shenoy by naming her the 2002 National Woman of the Year. In addition, Shenoy uses her talent as a jewelry designer and artist to help raise money for charitable causes.
