Claire Troyer-Pascavis ’13, MBA ’15, reminisces fondly about how Illinois State University has shaped her life. As a child growing up in Normal, she often attended the annual Homecoming parade and rode her bike around campus.
“I grew up right near ISU,” said Troyer-Pascavis. “It was always the university I wanted to go to.”
Troyer-Pascavis earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park administration and a master’s degree in business administration from Illinois State. She is now the CEO of Designs Plus Events, her own event and wedding planning company in Phoenix.
At Illinois State, Troyer-Pascavis said she gained more than two degrees. She also developed lasting connections and friendships and is still in contact with many Redbirds, including professors.
A friend Troyer-Pascavis often spent her time studying with was Tyler Pascavis, who she had met prior to Illinois State; but their friendship blossomed and strengthened during their college years.
Dr. Tyler Pascavis ’16 grew up in Bloomington and studied molecular and cellular biology. Hoping to become a physician, Pascavis conducted research and volunteered at the PATH Crisis Center. And he often found himself studying and playing the occasional board game with his friend—Claire Troyer.
“Our time at ISU definitely made us grow a deeper friendship and turned it into what it is now,” Troyer-Pascavis said.
After Pascavis graduated, he moved to Arizona to attend the University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix. At that point, Troyer-Pascavis said she and Pascavis realized they were meant to be together as more than friends. She moved to Arizona, and the two married within a few weeks of Pascavis starting medical school.
Troyer-Pascavis started her own business and Pascavis works as a resident physician for a three-year family medicine residency program.
“I do everything from delivering babies to prenatal care to some hospice and end-of-life care to pretty much everything in between,” Pascavis said.
On top of the 60 to 80-hour weeks he works as a resident physician, Pascavis serves as the director of operations for Designs Plus Events. He is responsible for video editing, project management, and business operations. Pascavis said he hopes to combine all his skills to one day open his own medical practice.
Pascavis and Troyer-Pascavis agreed that they wouldn’t be where they are today if not for their time at Illinois State.
“Some of the flexibility and opportunities that ISU provided were unexpected at times and allowed me to be able to grow,” said Pascavis. “Between different volunteer opportunities, research opportunities─sometimes things that you wouldn’t get at some of the other universities out there─all allowed me to expand my horizons and grow.”
The couple visits family in Illinois a few times a year, and whenever they’re back, they always try to stop by their college home—to reminisce about their ISU days and to see what’s changed on campus. Troyer-Pascavis and Pascavis come from a long line of Redbirds, as both sets of their parents, Troyer-Pascavis’ grandfather, and Pascavis’ great grandfather, all attended Illinois State.
“We loved our ISU years, and we are both thankful to forever be Redbirds,” said Troyer-Pascavis.
