Barbara “Barb” Malany is an ambassador of goodwill in all she does. She is a businesswoman, teacher, civic leader, mother and humanitarian.
Barb was one of the first women in the Rotary Club of Springfield, and gives of herself in her role as a Rotarian. Rotary is a service club that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary’s motto is: “Service Above Self.” Those who have crossed paths with Barb know that she lives this wholeheartedly.
In 1963, Barb and her husband, Lee, became foster parents on a moment’s notice. She was an English teacher in the vocational program at Urbana High School when a student was picked up by the police. The officer wanted to call the boy’s parents or take the teen home. The young man didn’t have either, so he asked, “Can you call my teacher, Barb?” Barb says, “We took him in, and got licensed to be foster parents the next day.”
She learned that the young man had never had anyone take an interest in him and his life. With Barb and her husband’s nurturing guidance, he grew up to become a U.S. Marine and is now a successful adult. Barb says that she had never known of a child who didn’t have anyone care about him. She vowed to be the “person who listens and cares, and pays attention” to the lives of others. She has the opportunity to practice this daily as her family’s home has been home to a total of 16 foster youth over the years.
Barb’s family also hosts exchange students. They have opened their home to 25 exchange students from various countries over the years, and 44 students have come to them through an Illinois state government internship program.
One such student was Dr. Chad Anderson, who is currently the public health administrator for the Christian County Health Department in Taylorville. He stayed with Barb’s family and four other teen boys who were there at the time. Anderson was in the last semester of his senior year of high school when he was chosen to be an intern with a senator. He enjoyed his time with the Malanys and has kept in touch with them ever since; he says he wouldn’t be where he is today without Barb and Lee.
The Malanys are currently hosting a female Rotary youth exchange student from Taiwan, who is a senior at Springfield High School.
Barb says that being a Rotarian has helped her to continue hosting students and understand what they need while living in a foreign country.
“Being part of Rotary has helped me with hosting my exchange students and paying attention to what they go through,” Barb says.
In 2023, Barb was awarded Rotary International’s Service Above Self Award. This is described as the highest honor bestowed upon individual Rotary members recognizing those who demonstrate exemplary humanitarian services and live the motto. Only 150 Rotarians worldwide receive this selective award each year. Barb was recognized for her continuous love and support to the youth in Rotary District 6460.
In addition to the many other young people living in the Malanys’ home, they also raised three biological children.
Barb’s husband and Romina Trujillo Agostini, a former Rotary youth exchange student from Venezuela, nominated her to be recognized as a one of this year’s Women of Influence. Agostini wrote that Barb’s “incredible service to the community and developing youth” qualifies her to be a Women of Influence. “She has shaped countless young lives for the better.” On Barb’s Facebook page Agostini responded to a shoutout Barb made by posting, “I love being your kid.”
Springfield has been home to Barb for 50 years. At this time of life, she still keeps her schedule filled with any number of activities. She still loves teaching and is a substitute teacher at Southeast High School. She practices yoga, lifts weights, plays the piano and goes through the ACT study guide.
Barb emphasizes that sincerely paying attention to people is an invaluable act of kindness and connection. She says that women are nurturers who listen and love and sometimes have to push and pull “someone to bring them back up with you.”
This article appears in Women of Influence 2026.