By Britni Bateman

From educating the next generation of nurses to creating pathways for community college students to earn bachelor’s degrees, Russell Bartmes has invested in programs that expand access to higher education and strengthen Southern Illinois University’s future.

The retired investment banker’s philanthropy has helped launch Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, establish the Saluki Step Ahead transfer initiative and expand scholarships that keep students on the path to graduation. Together, those investments reflect Bartmes’ belief that education changes lives, a lesson he first learned as an SIU student more than 55 years ago.

“I know what a college degree meant in my life,” Bartmes said. “I want to see people who have the ability and the inclination to have the opportunity.”

That philosophy has guided Bartmes throughout a career defined by service, first in municipal finance and later in philanthropy.

After earning an associate degree from SIU in 1970, Bartmes completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Illinois Chicago before spending 43 years in municipal finance. He held senior leadership positions with prominent Chicago investment firms, advising public institutions on bond financing, including projects for Southern Illinois University. Colleagues knew him for his integrity, professionalism and commitment to mentoring others.

Retirement gave Bartmes an opportunity to make an even greater impact. Over the past decade, he has worked with a charitable foundation established by a former client, helping direct investments that improve education, healthcare and communities. That work allowed him to support initiatives at SIU that aligned with both regional needs and his own experience.

One of Bartmes’ most significant investments provided the philanthropic support to launch SIU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, expanding opportunities for students while helping address the region’s growing need for highly trained nurses.

“The idea was to create new nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing and keep them in Southern Illinois,” Bartmes said. “Not necessarily in Carbondale, but everywhere where there is a hospital because they provide the stability and the care.”

The program prepares graduates to serve hospitals throughout the region while helping meet the growing demand for nurses.

Bartmes also helped launch Saluki Step Ahead, which partners with nearly 40 community colleges across Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas to create affordable pathways to bachelor’s degrees at SIU. Since its launch, the initiative has benefited nearly 200 transfer students while strengthening the university’s enrollment pipeline.

His support extends beyond those signature initiatives. Bartmes has also invested in bridge-the-gap scholarships and other programs that remove financial barriers for students working toward a degree.

“I don’t do the work,” he said. “I enable somebody else to do the work.”

Bartmes discovered his academic potential after arriving at SIU.

“Southern Illinois University redirected my life,” he said. “I discovered after being a very so-so high school student that I actually could do a high level of academic work. It redirected my life in a way that I just can’t begin to thank Southern Illinois University enough for.”

SIU also introduced him to his wife, Linda, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1971. Together, they experienced campus during the social unrest of the late 1960s, forging a lifelong connection to the university that shaped both their futures.

Today, Bartmes continues to serve organizations dedicated to education, science and public service, including the Chicago Botanic Garden, Adler Planetarium, the Ralph Smith Foundation and the Interfaith Chaplaincy Service in Waukegan. He also contributes to academic scholarship through his work with publications devoted to horology.

In recognition of his leadership in finance, philanthropy and civic service, the SIU Board of Trustees approved an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for Bartmes earlier this year.

“It’s easier to close the doors than it is to open them up,” he said. “Somebody opened them up for me.”

His philanthropy ensures that more students, more future nurses and more Salukis will find those doors open.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is one of only 21 universities nationwide to hold both Carnegie Research 1 (R1) and Opportunity University designations, reflecting its excellence in research and its commitment to expanding access and student success.

Bartmes’ commitment to expanding educational access reflects the mission of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign. With approximately two years remaining, the campaign has raised more than $485 million toward its $500 million goal, making it the fifth-largest fundraising campaign in Illinois higher education history.

In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $6.9 million in scholarships to more than 2,200 students, benefiting nearly 19% of the student body. Gifts like Bartmes’ continue to expand access to education while strengthening programs that prepare students to make a lasting impact across Southern Illinois and beyond.

Southern Illinois University’s Achieve Program celebrated the naming of the Giesen Family Achieve Student Hub on Aug. 13, honoring a family whose experience with the program inspired a commitment to helping future Salukis succeed.

Dave and Lauri Giesen established an endowed scholarship to support students in Achieve, a comprehensive academic support program for SIU students with learning differences. Their children participated in Achieve and graduated from SIU.

Dave Giesen joined Achieve students, families, staff and university representatives for the celebration, which included a ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of the newly named student hub.

The Giesens’ support grew from their children’s experiences with the program.

“When we evaluated universities for our children, Achieve turned out to be the perfect fit for both of them,” Giesen said. “They both earned their degrees from SIU and were immensely proud of what they accomplished and the role the program played in their success.”

The Giesens first learned about Achieve while exploring colleges that could provide their daughter with academic support. After visiting SIU and meeting with Achieve staff, their daughter chose SIU over two other universities. Her experience later influenced their son to follow her to Carbondale.

Giesen said SIU also offered his children the flexibility of a comprehensive university, allowing them to explore different academic paths while receiving individualized support through Achieve.

Part of SIU’s Office for Access and Accommodations, Achieve has supported students with learning differences for nearly 50 years, making it one of the country’s most established programs of its kind.

The comprehensive, fee-for-service program provides managerial, organizational, structural, tutorial and social support for neurodiverse students, including those with learning disabilities, attention disorders, autism spectrum disorders and other learning differences or academic challenges.

Achieve supplements accommodations available through the Office for Access and Accommodations with individualized services designed to help students navigate college and stay on track toward graduation. More than 95% of Achieve students remain in good academic standing each semester, and one-third earn a place on the dean’s list. Students in the program typically remain on track to graduate within four to five years.

“Achieve is the best program in the country for what it does that nobody has ever heard of,” Giesen said. “It gives people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college the support to develop their skills and ultimately contribute to society.”

Roger Pugh, director of the Achieve Program, said the family has maintained its connection to Achieve since their children completed the program.

“We’ve known the Giesen family for a long time,” Pugh said. “Their children both came through the program and have gone on to build successful lives. We’ve stayed in touch with them over the years, and it has been a blessing to see what they’ve accomplished.”

The Giesens began supporting Achieve years before establishing the endowed scholarship. When a student needed financial assistance to participate in the program, they joined other Achieve families in helping cover the cost. That experience inspired their continued giving.

Giesen credits his parents with instilling the philosophy that guides his family’s philanthropy.

“The lesson they taught us when we were young was to pay it forward,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate throughout our lives, and they taught us to make sure others could benefit from that good fortune.”

The endowed scholarship will help students and families manage the costs of participating in Achieve. The program awarded the scholarship to its first two recipients during the naming celebration.

“Every year, we have students and families considering our program and wondering how they’re going to manage all the costs associated with college,” Pugh said. “This scholarship will help make that decision easier for them.”

Pugh said generosity from former students and Achieve families has helped the program support students for years.

“Dave and Lauri, your gift is going to help students for many years to come,” Pugh said.

The celebration coincided with Achieve’s orientation for new and returning students and their families. Students met staff members, explored the program’s space and connected with the case managers who will support them throughout the academic year.

The Giesen Family Achieve Student Hub will serve as a central gathering place for students and a lasting reminder of the family’s commitment to the program.

Giesen encouraged scholarship recipients to carry that spirit of generosity forward.

“Work hard and do the best you can,” he said. “If you have the ability in the years to come, look back at your experience here and help the people following behind you.”

The Giesen family’s gift adds to the momentum of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has reached $485 million in commitments toward its $500 million goal. With two years remaining, the campaign has achieved 97% of its goal and remains one of the largest fundraising efforts in Illinois public university history.

Scholarship support remains a key part of that philanthropic impact. 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.

By Britni Bateman

The Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School celebrated the generosity behind its first five decades and honored the pioneering students who helped build its foundation during the unveiling of the new Wall of Philanthropy on Friday, Aug. 14.

The wall recognizes donors who have advanced legal education at SIU and pays special tribute to members of the law school’s charter class, who began their legal education in 1973. Members of the class helped spearhead funding for the project and participated in the unveiling.

The law school unveiled the wall after its induction ceremony for the incoming Class of 2029, connecting the students who helped establish the school with the newest generation beginning their legal education.

Dean Hannah Brenner Johnson said the timing provided an opportunity to celebrate both the law school’s history and its future.

“Every tile on the wall tells a story, whether it represents a gift from an individual, a couple, a family or an entity,” Brenner Johnson said. “It supports a belief in the power of legal education and the importance of supporting the future of the legal profession.”

The Wall of Philanthropy combines permanent donor recognition with an interactive digital display where students, alumni and visitors can learn about the people and philanthropy behind Simmons Law School. The display features donor stories and key moments from the school’s history.

A historical timeline traces major SIU Law events, including the school’s creation, charter class milestones and more than five decades of growth. The timeline draws from Celebrating the First Fifty Years of Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School by Frank G. Houdek, professor emeritus, published by SIU Press in 2023.

As a public law school, Simmons Law School strives to provide an excellent and affordable legal education. Philanthropy expands opportunities for students and faculty and helps advance that mission.

Donors fund scholarships, help attract faculty with specialized expertise, provide opportunities for students to attend national conferences, support faculty research and strengthen the legal clinic. Through the clinic, students gain practical experience while helping meet legal needs throughout the region.

“Our law school was created to serve the public good, to address unmet legal needs in Southern Illinois and our region by training lawyers,” Brenner Johnson said.

Since its charter class graduated in 1976, Simmons Law School has grown to more than 4,600 graduates. Alumni include more than 200 local, state and federal judges, and graduates practice law in all 50 states and 10 countries.

Charter class helped build foundation for law school

Charter class member Gayl Pyatt, a retired attorney, public servant and longtime SIU supporter, reflected on the law school’s beginnings before joining fellow classmates to unveil the wall.

SIU hired Hiram Lesar in 1972 as founding dean to lead the development of the new law school. The following year, Pyatt joined 79 other students in its charter class. Fifteen of the 80 students were women.

The charter class began its legal education in September 1973 in temporary quarters known as the “Blue Barracks.” After their first semester, students moved to two small group housing buildings across the street from the site of the current law school.

“We never had the joy of having a class in a building like this,” Pyatt said as she reflected on the facilities available to today’s students.

The charter class also had no upperclassmen to turn to for advice about professors, classes or exams. Instead, the students relied on one another as they navigated the new program.

“We were all on our own,” Pyatt said. “What did that mean? It meant we worked together. We were a team getting through this first year.”

Lesar came to SIU after serving 12 years as dean of the Washington University School of Law. At SIU, he recruited faculty, developed the curriculum, secured classroom space and led efforts to build the law school’s permanent home.

Pyatt recalled a classmate asking Lesar why he should choose the new SIU law school when other institutions offered him scholarships.

Lesar’s answer captured the significance of the opportunity: “There is only one first class.”

That first class continued helping shape the school throughout its three years together. In May 1976, the law school published the inaugural issue of the Southern Illinois University Law Journal, with Pyatt, then Gayl Alexander, serving as editor-in-chief. Later that month, members of the charter class received their law degrees at the school’s first commencement ceremony.

More than 50 years after arriving at SIU, members of the charter class remain engaged with the institution they helped build.

Philanthropy carries legacy forward

Kate Hanson, senior director of development for the Simmons Law School, began working closely with members of the charter class as the law school celebrated its 50th anniversary. She said getting to know them gave her a greater understanding of their role in the school’s history.

“They joined a brand-new law school and helped build the foundation upon which the school stands today,” Hanson said. “We want to make them proud and ensure their legacy is remembered.”

When Hanson approached Pyatt about creating a donor wall, Pyatt suggested honoring her classmates through the project. The charter class then helped bring that vision to life.

“The members of the charter class are among the law school’s most philanthropic and generous supporters, but their impact cannot be measured solely by the gifts they have made,” Hanson said. “They remain involved. They care deeply about this institution, its students and its future.”

The Wall of Philanthropy honors that legacy alongside generations of donors whose generosity continues to move Simmons Law School forward.

“My hope is that every student, alum, faculty member and visitor who sees this wall will be inspired by the charter class and by the generosity of those who have supported the law school’s journey,” Hanson said.

To support the SIU Simmons Law School and help provide opportunities for future generations of students, visit siuf.org/law.