Southern Illinois University Carbondale has named Dr. Qingfeng Ge the inaugural Gower Distinguished Director of the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences, establishing the first named directorship in the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences.

Announced during the 20th anniversary celebration of the Gower Fellows Program Annual Symposium in September, the appointment recognizes the longstanding generosity of Dr. Bob and Beth Gower to SIU Chemistry while providing additional resources to advance faculty research, student opportunities and academic excellence.

“We are grateful for Bob and Beth Gower’s foresight and believe it is fitting that Qingfeng is the college’s first named school director,” said Kristina Boone, dean of the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences. “We hope this appointment paves the way for future named directorships and professorships.”

Ge, who has led the school since its reorganization in 2021, reflected on the significance of the appointment.

“I consider this appointment both an honor and a responsibility to carry forward the Gower family’s legacy, advance research and support the success of our faculty and students,” Ge said.

A lasting investment in SIU chemistry

Bob Gower, a West Frankfort native, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from SIU in 1958 and 1960, respectively. Mary Beth Gower graduated from SIU in 1961. Bob went on to serve as president, CEO and chairman of Lyondell Petrochemical Co. and later co-founded Carbon Nanotechnologies Inc. with Nobel laureate Richard Smalley. He also founded Ensysce Biosciences Inc. in 2008.

The Gower family’s commitment to SIU spans more than four decades, beginning with its first recorded gift in 1982 and first endowment in 1989. Since then, the family has invested in scholarships, research fellowships, laboratory improvements and academic programs, including the Gower Research Fellowship, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in September.

In 2024, the Gowers committed $2.5 million to advance research across campus. SIU renamed the McLafferty Annex the Gower Translational Research Center in recognition of their generosity. The center supports collaborative research and connects scientific discovery with real-world applications.

The directorship builds on that legacy by providing flexible funding to support the school’s evolving needs.

“This endowment provides the director with greater opportunities to support faculty success in research, teaching and professional development,” Ge said.

Ge plans to use the resources to strengthen faculty recruitment, provide research startup support and expand student opportunities. The school’s goals include growing its graduate student population to approximately 50, supporting about 15 research-active faculty members and increasing undergraduate enrollment.

“Investing in human potential creates a lasting impact that extends far beyond what we can see immediately,” Ge said.

The family’s philanthropy has also addressed critical needs. The Gowers contributed $75,000 toward organic chemistry teaching laboratory improvements, bringing the total to $150,000 with university matching funds. During Illinois’ state budget impasse, they provided financial assistance to help the chemistry department maintain operations.

Ge explained the family’s commitment extends beyond financial support.

“They give their time and take a personal interest in our students and faculty,” Ge said. “They return every year for the symposium to meet the students personally, hear the fellows present their research and see firsthand what their support has made possible. Those personal connections have had a lasting impact on our students.”

The Gowers’ continued involvement, including their participation in the fellowship’s 20th anniversary celebration in September, has strengthened their relationship with SIU faculty and students, including Ge.

Building on a career of scientific discovery

Ge joined SIU in 2003 after completing his education in chemical engineering in China and holding research appointments at the University of Copenhagen, the University of Cambridge and the University of Virginia. He became a full professor in 2010 and assumed a departmental leadership role in 2019 before becoming director of the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences following its reorganization in 2021.

His research focuses on computational chemistry, catalysis and sustainable energy, including hydrogen storage and converting greenhouse gases into useful chemical products, and has been funded by DOE, NSF and other sources. His team’s prediction that indium oxide could effectively catalyze the conversion of carbon dioxide into methanol was later confirmed experimentally by Javier Pérez-Ramírez’s group in Switzerland. Ge was recognized by SIU’s Scholar Excellence Award and the American Chemical Society’s Midwest Award in 2018 for his research achievements.

Ge’s relationship with the Gower family began through his DOE-funded hydrogen storage research, which connected him with Bob Gower, who facilitated Nobel laureate Richard Smalley’s visit to SIU in 2005. Ge has since helped organize the annual Gower Fellows symposium, witnessing firsthand the family’s impact on students and faculty.

The School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences plays an important role in SIU’s Research 1 designation through the quality of its research, funding and scientific contributions. The school also emphasizes undergraduate research opportunities, connecting students with faculty and laboratory experiences early in their academic careers.

The Gowers’ investments support SIU’s commitment to research excellence and educational opportunity. Among approximately 4,000 colleges and universities nationwide, SIU Carbondale is one of only 21 to hold both the Research 1 and Opportunity University designations under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. SIU is also the only institution with both classifications serving a rural region.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumnus Jeff Boehler and his wife, Barbara, have committed $150,000 to support first-generation college students, helping them access the resources and guidance needed to earn their degrees.

In recognition of their generosity, SIU will officially name the Boehler Family First Saluki Center during a ceremony Friday, Nov. 6, ahead of National First-Generation College Celebration Day on Nov. 8.

For Boehler, a 1975 SIU graduate and first-generation college student, the gift reflects his own experience navigating higher education without the guidance and resources available to students today.

“We hope to continue growing the center and helping students who face the same challenges I did get a stronger start and ultimately earn their degrees,” Boehler said.

Honoring a father’s dream

Boehler grew up in the Chicago suburbs as the son of immigrants who came to the United States seeking better opportunities. His father, a mechanical engineer, encouraged Jeff to become the first in their family to attend college, taking him to recruitment events and emphasizing the importance of education.

His father died during Jeff’s junior year of high school, but his encouragement stayed with him. Determined to fulfill his father’s dream, Boehler enrolled at SIU in 1970.

“As a first-generation student, it was a sink-or-swim environment,” he said.

Boehler changed majors several times and temporarily left school to earn money before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1975.

“I could have graduated sooner if I had known about the scholarships and other resources available to help me,” Boehler said.

Those experiences shaped his commitment to helping future generations of first-generation students overcome similar challenges.

Approximately 40% of SIU undergraduates are first-generation students, meaning neither parent nor legal guardian has earned a bachelor’s degree. The First Saluki Center connects students with academic assistance, financial literacy education, social and emotional support, campus involvement opportunities and career preparation.

Established in 2019 through a collaboration between the Division of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students, in partnership with Academic Affairs, the center offers peer mentoring to help students adjust to college life and connect with upperclassmen and graduate assistants.

According to the center, 90% of participating students persist each academic semester, 93% maintain a cumulative GPA above 2.0, and all students surveyed would recommend the program to other first-generation students.

Through conversations with Dr. Lanel Love, the assistant dean of students and director of the First Saluki Center, Boehler learned how the center addresses challenges he experienced. One story particularly resonated with him: The center helped a homesick student obtain a train ticket to visit family.

“Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the difference between staying in school and leaving,” Boehler said.

An SIU education that opened doors

Despite the challenges he faced, Boehler credits SIU with preparing him for a successful career in global manufacturing and supply chain leadership.

After graduation, he worked as a truck driver and warehouse supervisor before joining Motorola, where he advanced through several leadership positions overseeing manufacturing operations worldwide.

In 2003, he joined Honeywell, eventually overseeing global supply chain responsibilities involving approximately 35,000 employees across 50 countries before retiring in 2014.

Boehler credits four lessons he learned at SIU with shaping his career: never give up, build relationships, learn how to learn and embrace diversity.

The first was perseverance, which helped him overcome obstacles in college and throughout his professional life.

“That determination, that never giving up attitude, I think has helped me throughout my entire career,” Boehler said.

The second was building relationships. Once a shy student, Boehler developed lifelong friendships at SIU and learned to connect with others, skills that helped him work with colleagues, suppliers and customers around the world.

“Being able to build those relationships helped me be successful in my career,” he said. “And it started at SIU.”

Third, SIU taught him how to learn, analyze information and adapt, particularly important in the rapidly changing technology industry.

“You have to continue that learning process throughout your entire career,” he said.

Finally, Boehler learned to appreciate diversity. Coming from the Chicago suburbs, he encountered students from urban, suburban and rural backgrounds, broadening his perspective and preparing him to work with people across 50 countries and six continents.

“Being able to embrace different cultures and recognize what brings us together and makes us better together was incredibly valuable to me,” he said.

Giving back to future generations

Jeff and Barbara, who met while working at Motorola, have supported SIU for decades through charitable contributions and scholarships for first-generation students.

Their involvement expanded after connecting with university representatives during Saluki Takeover Tour events in Florida, leading them to establish scholarship support through their family foundation.

“I hate to see lack of money be a reason why students can’t pursue their dream to get a college degree,” Boehler said.

Letters from scholarship recipients have reinforced the impact of their generosity, particularly when students share how the assistance helped them remain enrolled.

“It’s heartening to hear how those scholarships have helped students stay in school,” he said.

After learning more about the First Saluki Center and meeting with Love, Boehler saw an opportunity to expand their support beyond scholarships.

“We’ve been very fortunate in our lives,” Boehler said. “We’ve been very lucky with our career opportunities, with our family, and we both want to and know that we need to give back.”

Their children and one of their grandchildren plan to join Jeff for the Nov. 6 naming ceremony, celebrating the family’s commitment to helping first-generation students succeed.

The gift also reflects SIU’s commitment to educational access and student success. SIU is among just 21 universities nationwide to hold dual Carnegie classifications as a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University.

The Boehler family’s commitment adds to the momentum of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which recently surpassed its $500 million goal 20 months ahead of schedule. The campaign is one of the largest fundraising efforts in Illinois public university history.

During the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded a record $6.9 million in scholarships to more than 2,200 students, benefiting nearly 19% of the student body.

To learn more about supporting the First Saluki Center, visit https://salukicenter.siu.edu/giving/index.php.

When James Jannetides walked into his room in Abbott Hall at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1984, he saw four students, one tight space and an opportunity.

“I thought I could do better than this prison furniture,” he said.

That moment sparked what would become University Loft Co., a national furniture company that began with hand-built lofts rented to fellow Salukis. Decades later, Jannetides remains deeply connected to SIU not only as a successful alumnus, but as a donor committed to strengthening the university that shaped him.

An entrepreneurial spirit rooted in family

Long before he arrived in Carbondale, Jannetides grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, in a Greek family where business ownership was the norm.

His grandfather, Jordan Jannetides, worked as a chef before owning the Capital Tavern restaurant. His father, Nick Jannetides, owned two Baskin-Robbins stores and introduced a Baskin-Robbins mobile cart that still appears at the Indiana State Fair.

Jannetides attended Cathedral High School, where his entrepreneurial instincts were already evident. As a child, he sold candy out of his locker. As a teenager, he helped at his father’s ice cream shops, walking to the end of long lines to sell ice cream bars to customers who did not want to wait. In high school, he founded J Squared Inc., operating parking lots and charging $8 per car.

“I was chasing the dollar, that’s for sure,” he said. “My father was a businessman, and his father was an immigrant who started with nothing.”

By the time he enrolled at SIU, he already understood risk, reinvestment and hustle.

A business built from coursework and courage

At SIU, Jannetides did more than build a product. He built a plan.

In the College of Business and Analytics, he connected with marketing professor Dr. John Fraedrich, who encouraged him to approach the loft idea with discipline by writing a business plan, conducting a market survey and understanding demand before cutting lumber.

Jannetides stood outside classrooms in Lawson Hall, surveying hundreds of students about what they would pay for a loft and what features they wanted.

“I surveyed about 400 kids,” he said. “Everybody was like, love it, love it, love it.”

He compiled the data into a comprehensive business plan and used his summer earnings to build 400 lofts. A one-page ad in the Daily Egyptian led to a sellout on the first day.

“I had a stack of checks this thick,” he said. “I was just a student.”

There were early setbacks, including beds that did not fit in certain residence halls. He worked with an engineering student to create spacer blocks and fix the problem.

“It was a nail-biter,” he said. “But we always figured it out and got it done.”

Opportunity, support and campus life

Jannetides said SIU offered more than a business launchpad. It offered a chance.

Born with severe dyslexia, he entered college reading and spelling below grade level. Through SIU’s Achieve program, he learned how to navigate coursework using note takers, audio materials and structured support.

“They taught me how to learn in a world that doesn’t learn the way I learn,” he said. “That networking taught me how to run a business.”

As a first-generation college student and the son of immigrants, he said the opportunity to attend a major research university changed his trajectory.

“Going to Southern was an opportunity,” he said. “It gave me a chance.”

He also credits residence hall life with shaping his confidence.

“The social skill, being able to stand up in a room full of freshmen and say, ‘Would you fill out my survey?’ that was built in the residence hall,” he said.

A company that never forgot its roots

University Loft Co. grew steadily, expanding to campuses nationwide and into manufacturing and development. Today, the company operates at thousands of institutions and manufactures furniture domestically and internationally.

Through growth and transition, including leadership roles now held by his sons, Jannetides said one principle has remained constant.

“Say what you’re going to do and do what you say,” he said.

That commitment to integrity became central to his identity as a business leader and ultimately shaped his philanthropy.

Giving back with purpose

For Jannetides, giving back to SIU is not symbolic. It is strategic and heartfelt.

He established the James N. Jannetides Professorship of Business Ethics Endowment Fund in the College of Business and Analytics. The fund supplements the educational activities of the professorship holder.

The goal is clear: ensure business ethics remains at the center of business education and research at SIU.

Dr. John Fraedrich, the professor who mentored Jannetides as a student, later consulted with his company on ethics. Endowing the professorship honors that mentorship and reinforces the values Jannetides believes drive lasting success.

“Ethics is not optional,” he said. “It’s the foundation.”

He has also supported other initiatives connected to student life and housing, reflecting his belief in the power of the campus experience.

“I’ve been so blessed,” he said. “In the end, you want to share the story. You want to give back.”

A message for future Salukis

Jannetides encourages students to make the most of the opportunities around them.

“Network,” he said. “Get involved. Come out of the room and say hello.”

He believes the relationships built on campus can shape careers and lives in ways students cannot yet see.

“The people you meet your freshman year could be in your life for the rest of your life,” he said.

For Jannetides, the story comes full circle. The university that gave him space to build now benefits from the success that space created. Through his endowed professorship and continued engagement, he is helping ensure that future Salukis learn not only how to build businesses, but how to build them with integrity.

A college built for impact

SIU’s College of Business and Analytics continues to elevate its national and global standing. The college holds dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, a distinction earned by fewer than 2% of business schools worldwide and widely recognized as the highest standard in business education. SIU’s online business and administration program also ranks in the top 25% in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Online Programs.

SIU is also one of just 21 universities nationwide to hold dual Carnegie Classifications for Research 1 and Opportunity University, reinforcing its commitment to both academic excellence and real-world impact.

Through the SIU Foundation, more than $6.9 million in scholarships were awarded in the most recent fiscal year to 2,200 students, representing 19% of the student body.

Support from donors continues to fuel that momentum. Gifts to the College of Business and Analytics strengthen faculty excellence, expand research, enhance student opportunities and help ensure future entrepreneurs receive the same support that once helped Jannetides turn an idea into a company.

To learn more about supporting the College of Business and Analytics, visit siuf.org/business.