Category Archives: Illinois Higher Education

Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, Philanthropic Women, SIU

SIU Women’s Leadership Council, Legence Bank partner to empower women

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Female business owners can apply for EmpowerHER Community Grant

By Jeff Wilson

The SIU Foundation Women’s Leadership Council and Legence Bank are thrilled to announce the launch of the EmpowerHER Community Grant. This collaborative initiative will empower rising female entrepreneurs in Southern Illinois by providing financial resources and a unique platform for showcasing their businesses.

The EmpowerHER Community Grant will award two, $500 grants to local, women-owned businesses. Recipients will also highlight their products or services at the Saluki Women’s Weekend Women Empowerment Conference on Friday, Sept. 20.

Click here to apply.

“The EmpowerHER Community Grant is a testament to the commitment of the SIU Foundation Women’s Leadership Council and Legence Bank to fostering economic growth and empowering women in the region,” said Sherrica Hunt, assistant vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the SIU Foundation. “By providing financial support and visibility, this grant aims to create a lasting impact on the success of female entrepreneurs in Southern Illinois.”

The SIU Foundation Women’s Leadership Council is a network of alumnae, parents, and friends who are dedicated to empowering women through philanthropy, leadership development, and advocacy.

The third annual Saluki Women’s Weekend will be Thursday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Sept. 21. This year’s theme is “Saluki Sisterhood: Empowering Today, Inspiring Tomorrow.” To learn more about the events and apply for the EmpowerHER Community Grant, visit siuf.org/salukiwomen.

Applications for the grant open Monday, Aug. 12. The deadline to complete applications is Friday, Aug. 30. The top five candidates will be invited to the Women in Philanthropy Luncheon, and the grants will be awarded Friday, Sept. 20, at the Women in Philanthropy Luncheon.

Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

SIU Celebrates Community and Legacy at the 95th Annual Bud Billiken Day Parade in Chicago

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) proudly participated in the 95th Annual Bud Billiken Day Parade on August 10th, the largest African American parade in the United States.

Chicago boasts SIU’s largest alumni network, making the parade an ideal opportunity to showcase Saluki spirit and connect with the community. SIU’s participation included distributing school supplies, celebrating the city’s rich heritage, and engaging with prospective students at the education fair attended by thousands, furthering the Saluki legacy in Chicago.

“We’re thrilled to have been part of such a vibrant celebration of community and culture,” said Sherrica Hunt, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development at the SIU Foundation. “The Bud Billiken Parade provided a wonderful platform to connect with our alumni, give back to the community, and introduce the next generation of Salukis to our university.”

The celebration kicked off at alum James Sanders’ Sanders BBQ, where alumni volunteers gathered to pick up their t-shirts and network.

Thank you to our sponsors:

  • Sugarland Mortuary
  • McDonald’s Black Operators
  • Theodore King
  • The Staples Family
  • Kahnti
  • 3 Stars Catering and Events
  • Saluki Spirit
  • James Sanders BBQ and Supply

This event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of:

  • SIU’s Office of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • SIU’s Office of Communications and Marketing
  • SIU’s Alumni Association
  • SIU’s Black Alumni Group

Special thanks to the following departments for their generous donations:

  • SIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences
  • SIU’s Extended Campus

Donor Stories, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

COBA alumnus donates $100K to endow scholarship

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Brian Wilson celebrates his graduation outside SIU Arena in 1991, standing proudly with his parents, Cheryl and Lyle Wilson. Continuing the Saluki legacy, Brian follows in the footsteps of his parents, both SIU graduates, further solidifying the Wilson family’s deep connection to the university.

By Jeff Wilson

Brian Wilson headshot
Brian Wilson headshot

Brian Wilson has deep roots at SIU, and his decision to endow a $100,000 scholarship fund in the College of Business and Analytics only strengthens that connection.

Cheryl and Lyle Wilson on her graduation day in June 1966. Cheryl, who served as a resident assistant at Smith Hall until she married Lyle over Thanksgiving in 1965, joined her husband in Southern Hills’ married housing. Lyle received his Bachelor’s from SIU in 1964 and his Master’s in 1966. The Wilson family’s legacy at SIU runs deep, with 12 graduates across siblings, kids, nieces, and nephews.

“My mother and father met at SIU, and several other family members went there,” he said. “It was probably the first university I was exposed to as a kid.”

The Brian Wilson and Family Finance Scholarship Fund will benefit students from Southern Illinois who are studying finance and other business-related majors.

A Waterloo native, SIU was on the short list of possible universities for Wilson to attend, but the scholarship support he received his freshman year made the choice simple.

“That really clinched the deal for me and my parents,” he said. “I always thought that someday I would like to pay that back.”

Wilson had a typical college experience. He lived at Thompson Point and studied finance. He participated in intramural sports and played pickup basketball at the Student Recreation Center. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1991.

“I enjoyed the experience all around – the academics, the social life, the campus, everything. It was very positive,” he said.

After SIU, Wilson earned a master’s degree from the University of Miami and took a job with Ryder System. Over a 15-year career with Ryder, he worked in Miami, Detroit, Dallas, Toronto, and Singapore. He was then recruited into the world of private equity and is now the chief financial officer in North America for Barentz, a Dutch chemical distributor.

Today, he and his wife, Kris, live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and have two adult children who make their homes in the Chicago area.

“It all started back with the finance education at SIU,” he said.

His SIU and professional experience intersected when fellow Saluki, Chuck Lounsbury, became senior vice president for supply chain solutions at Ryder System in the early 2000s.

Brian Wilson continuing his family’s Saluki legacy at SIU, pictured here in Smith Hall, 1990.

As a student, Wilson had heard of Lounsbury from his professors. Lounsbury, a 1965 SIU graduate and member of the COBA Hall of Fame, had an illustrious career in the business world.

Recently, Lounsbury made a $500,000 donation to establish the Charles and Barbara Lounsbury Endowed Scholarship in the College of Business and Analytics.

“Chuck Lounsbury ended up working two offices down from me, and we got to know each other and shared memories of SIU,” Wilson said. “I saw an article about his gift in the SIU Alumni Association magazine, and it sparked interest in me to go ahead and fulfill my plan to repay my scholarship.”

Beyond financially supporting SIU students, Wilson hopes his scholarship helps drive the college and SIU forward.

“I want to do whatever I can to help the school continue to attract the best students and professors and allow more people the opportunity to get their education from SIU’s College of Business and Analytics,” he said.

To learn more about making a similar gift, visit siuf.org.

Donor Stories, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Larson donates $25K to help forestry students

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By Jeff Wilson

Eric Larson always enjoyed being in and around nature.

Growing up on a farm in Wyanet, Illinois, it was that passion that led him to choose Southern Illinois University Carbondale over the University of Illinois.

“I knew since I was about 10 years old that I wanted to be a forester,” he said. “There are not many trees around U of I. Southern Illinois was the perfect place for me. I fell in love with it.”

That decision began a journey that led Larson from SIU, to East Texas, to Tennessee, to Wisconsin, and back to Southern Illinois. He recently donated $25,000 to establish the Eric Larson Forestry Scholarship Endowment Fund.

“Through the years, I realized how much I learned at SIU,” Larson said. “At first, I didn’t know if I was going to be financially successful. As it turned out, I did pretty well and wanted to give back.”

While attending SIU, Larson was a member of the Forestry Club and enjoyed several field trips, including treks to Missouri and Gulfport, Mississippi. He spent a summer in Oregon after his junior year working for the Bureau of Land Management.

“After graduating high school with a class of about 20 students, it was great to blend in with students from around the world,” he said. “I was fortunate to have great instructors, and these field trips awakened my interest in forestry. It was worth seeing things in action more than just reading about them in a book.”

Photo of Eric Larson as an SIU student.

After graduating from SIU in 1969, he earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M and began working in the forest industry helping manage 600,000 acres of timberland in East Texas.

“Then I started my own business working for non-industrial landowners. I advised them and did things like planting trees, controlled burning, timber sales, and I marked individual trees to be removed, made inventories, wrote sales contracts, and I looked after logging jobs. I did the whole gamut,” he said. “It was a lot of hard work, but I always enjoyed being in nature.”

He also bought some timberland and practiced what he learned in school on his own property. Later, he had jobs with the state government in Tennessee and with a lumber company in Wisconsin.

Larson hopes his scholarship fund in the School of Forestry and Horticulture will invigorate the next generation of passionate foresters.

“I hope it encourages students to stick with it,” he said. “When I was going to school, it wasn’t always easy paying the bills, and I was more fortunate than most. This is just another tool to help them achieve their goals.”

Dr. Karl Williard, director of the School of Forestry and Horticulture, said Larson’s gift will make an impact on students through scholarships and supporting camps, which immerse students in forest and park management issues in other regions, including the Southeastern, Northeastern, and Western United States.

“This endowed scholarship is critical to future Saluki Foresters to support them in their academic journey and to lower the cost of participating in our Summer Field Camp, which is such a formative part of our student’s training,” he said.

To learn more about how to make a similar gift, visit siuf.org.

Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

SIU Foundation expands fundraising team

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The SIU Foundation is ecstatic to announce the expansion of its fundraising team.

Coming off a historic Fiscal Year 2024 in which it raised $46.8 million and in the middle of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, the SIU Foundation is building on this incredible momentum.

The following individuals began their new roles on July 1, 2024:

  • Jen Badiu, assistant director of development for the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics
  • Brian Flath, director of development for Student Affairs
  • Carol Greenlee, director of development for the School of Education
  • Brittney Morrison, assistant director of development for the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences
  • Michelle Snyder, assistant director of development for the College of Arts and Media

“Our staff has been doing amazing things, and these five individuals are going to help push our fundraising efforts even further,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “The SIU Foundation Board of Directors has invested in our team, and adding to our tremendous team of fundraisers allows us to expand our role as an accelerator for the university.”

Badiu previously served as an academic advisor in SIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University, and has started working toward her doctoral degree at SIU. In 2005, she became the system director for Southern Illinois Healthcare, overseeing the growth and development of the region’s first comprehensive freestanding cancer center, Breast Centers, and established the Office of Clinical Research. Jen was instrumental in the initiation of fundraising efforts, including Pink Out Cancer, Black Out Cancer, SIU Coach Kill Cancer Fund, and SIH Grateful Patient & Family Giving Fund.

Flath comes to the Foundation after nearly nine years in the Corporate Support Department at WSIU Public Broadcasting. He also previously worked for Lee Enterprises as an advertising sales representative, at both The Southern Illinoisan and Herald & Review newspapers. He received his bachelor’s degree from SIU journalism with a specialization in advertising. He is involved in several community organizations, including the Carterville Area Rotary Club, several local chambers of commerce, the Knights of Columbus Council #10453, and The Night’s Shield in West Frankfort.

Greenlee had been the associate director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for two years, contributing significantly to the implementation of key initiatives and managing distinguished campus visits.  She chairs the SIU Head Start Government Board and serves on the SIU Credit Union Board of Directors. She holds two degrees from SIU Carbondale, a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Science in Education. In 2023, she was selected for the Edgar Fellows program, a statewide leadership initiative.

Morrison was previously the assistant director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU, where she was responsible for developing and planning complex events. Before that, she was the admissions and events coordinator for SIU Undergraduate Admissions. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance, specializing in financial management and is pursuing her master’s degree in education with a major in organizational learning, innovation, and development, both from SIU.

Snyder has worked in various capacities at SIU, initially in the Office of University Risk Management, and later returning to pursue her master’s degree. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SIU Carbondale, specializing in workforce education and development and public health, respectively. Before her current role, she served as program director at the Southern Illinois Community Foundation, overseeing initiatives such as the NonProfit Network, GiveSI, and the Southern Illinois Leadership Institute.

To learn more about the SIU Foundation, visit siuf.org.

Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Celebrating Diversity and Community: SIU Chicagoland DEI Engagement Raises Over $10,000 for Scholarships

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The inaugural SIU Chicagoland DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Engagement, held on July 13, was a resounding success, with over 100 Salukis coming together to support scholarships for the SIU Office of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) and to foster a stronger sense of community. The event raised over $10,000 through the generous support of attendees and sponsors.

In attendance were:

  • Dr. Paul Frazier: SIU Vice Chancellor of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Tania Wittgenfeld: SIU Assistant Vice Chancellor of External Relations – Enrollment Management
  • Sherrica Hunt: Assistant Vice Chancellor of Development/Alumni Relations for the SIU Foundation
  • Scott Moller: SIU Alumni Association Board of Directors President and SIU Foundation Board of Directors
  • Gary Heflin: SIU Alumni Association Board of Directors
  • Barry Batson, Tonnette Williams, Darius Robinson: SIU Foundation Board of Directors
  • The Honorable Jason C. Ervin ’96: Alderman for Chicago’s 28th Ward
  • Kennard Tucker ’91: SIU Chicagoland DEI Engagement Committee Member

“The success of this event is a testament to the SIU community’s commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all,” said Dr. Paul Frazier. “The funds raised will go a long way in supporting our students and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

The event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of SIU Communications and Marketing, the SIU Office of Enrollment Management, the SIU Foundation, the SIU Alumni Association, and the SIU Black Alumni Group.

A special thanks to its sponsors:

  • Sugarland Mortuary
  • McDonald’s Black Operators
  • Theodore King
  • The Staples Family
  • Kahnti
  • 3 Stars Catering and Events
  • Saluki Spirits

About the SIU Chicagoland DEI Engagement:

The SIU Chicagoland DEI Engagement is a new initiative aimed at engaging Salukis in the Chicagoland area while raising funds for scholarships. The event provides an opportunity for networking, celebrating the Saluki spirit, and supporting the next generation of SIU leaders.

Donor Stories, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Morefield scholarship fund powered by planned gift

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Eclipses reconnect donors to campus, region

Kevin and Denise Morefield watch the solar eclipse in Australia in 2023.

By Jeff Wilson

Between the two total solar eclipses that crossed over the Southern Illinois University campus, Kevin and Denise Morefield made an astronomical impact of their own – a generous planned gift to establish the Morefield Opportunities Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Established in 2021, the scholarship fund benefits Murphysboro graduates in need of a financial boost.

“Our scholarship is about helping others have the same opportunity I had,” Kevin said. “My choice to attend SIU changed my life profoundly, so we decided to pay that forward to others.”

The Morefield’s planned gift is a bequest, which means they have indicated the amount they will direct to SIU through their estate plan. They also decided to partially fund the scholarship while they’re both still living.

“Planned giving is a worry-free and easy way to give back. The endowment will keep giving in perpetuity with funds that, by definition, we didn’t need,” Kevin said. “After making the decision to contribute, I found myself thinking often about the lives the scholarship would affect. That led us to start early and partially fund the scholarship so we could see some of the impact in our lifetime.”

Kevin, a graduate of Murphysboro High School, received his bachelor’s degree from SIU in cinema and photography in 1985. That passion for photography has led him around the globe chasing eclipses. As fate would have it, that trek has brought him back to SIU twice, once in 2017 and again in 2024.

Photo by Kevin Morefield: Capturing the first and second diamond ring during the total solar eclipse across Southern Illinois on Monday, April 8, 2024.

“This was my eighth total solar eclipse. I have witnessed them in the outback of Australia, the polar Arctic, an atoll in the South Pacific, the Atacama Desert in Chile, and in Antarctica,” he said. “For there to be two over my hometown and alma mater is mindboggling and truly unique.”

After witnessing the grandeur of solar eclipses worldwide, the opportunity to be part of two so close to home was particularly powerful.

Kevin and Denise Morefield are pictured with Kevin’s mother, Betty Morefield (left), celebrating the 2024 eclipse at PK’s.

“The way SIU embraced these events is heartwarming. Eclipses always bring together a diverse group of people all with a common goal. That kind of broad feeling of community is rare and should be treasured,” Kevin said. “If someone had told me back in 1984 that 40 years later, I would be having a beer at PKs while everyone talked about total solar eclipses, I would not have believed it!”

To learn more about making a planned gift, visit siufgiving.org.

Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Saluki Takeover Tour rolls out red carpet in Hollywood

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By Jeff Wilson

HOLLYWOOD – The Saluki Takeover Tour headed west for a stop in Hollywood on Wednesday, June 19, and Thursday, June 20.

Nearly 100 alumni and friends gathered June 20 at The Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood to celebrate the Saluki spirit during the Chancellor’s Reception.

“I can’t tell you enough how wonderful it is to see each of you doing so well, and we have some heavy hitters here,” said Dr. Austin Lane, chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “I’ve heard about what you are doing out here. It’s amazing work.”

A highlight of the Saluki Takeover Tour in Hollywood was featuring the revitalized Hollywood Studies program, which will offer internships to SIU students who are seeking firsthand experience with film and television industry companies. During the takeover tour, SIU alumni facilitated tours of both Netflix and Warner Bros.

“The energy our alumni brought to the Hollywood events was incredible,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor of development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “It was wonderful to see so many inspiring Salukis together in one room so far from campus.”

Three SIU alumni have been particularly instrumental in coordinating this initiative, Robert Dennis ’84, Diane Eaton ’80, and Todd Abrams ’90.

“I’m so grateful to each of you for what you have been doing in the industry and for our students, in particular,” said Dr. Hong Cheng, dean of the College of Arts and Media.

Students and faculty from the College of Arts and Media met with industry leaders, including SIU alumni Bob Odenkirk and Mike Dopud, during the takeover tour on June 19.

“Our students are so appreciative of you taking time to tell them how you got from Carbondale to here,” Lane said. “Our students don’t make a four-year decision; they make a 40-year decision. The information they get from you is going to help them 40 years from now.”

Spearheaded by the SIU Foundation, the Saluki Takeover Tour began in 2021 and has expanded its reach every year. During FY24, there have been takeover tours in Chicago, Springfield, Nashville, Florida, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, and now Hollywood. Looking ahead, more stops will be added to the Saluki Takeover Tour schedule.

SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane addresses the crowd of nearly 100 alumni at the inaugural Saluki Takeover Tour Hollywood.

 

Donor Stories, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Technical Service Center naming honors Missavage’s legacy

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Family honors longtime director, professor with $500K gift

Ribbon Cutting (Left to Right) John Brajkovich, Dennis Missavage (Brother of Roger Missavage), Dean Liu, Arlene Liss (Sister of Roger), Gene Liss (Arlene’s Husband and Brother-In-Law of Roger), and Jason Fairfield

By Jeff Wilson

Roger J. Missavage, a longtime professor at Southern Illinois University, was an outstanding faculty of the College of Engineering. He was director of the Computer Assisted Instruction & Research Laboratory for 29 years.

When Roger passed away in November 2021 at age 71, his brother Dennis Missavage, and sister and brother-in-law, Arlene and Gene Liss, established the Roger J. Missavage Endowed Fund for Engineering Education with a $500,000 gift in Roger’s memory.

Xiaoqing “Frank” Liu, dean of the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics

On April 19, 2024, Xiaoqing “Frank” Liu, dean of the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics, hosted a dedication of the Roger J. Missavage Technical Service Center. The center will bolster information technology initiatives within the college.

“This is an exciting moment for this college,” Liu said. “Technology is the foundation of our college. The funds from this endowment will cover the technological needs of this college. Our students, faculty, and staff will benefit from this endowment in a significant way.”

Roger Missavage, a Herrin, Illinois, native, graduated from SIU in 1978 with a degree in engineering and added a master’s degree in mining engineering in 1991. He taught multiple courses at SIUC, including mechanics of rigid body–statics, mechanics of rigid bodies-dynamics, rock mechanics principles and design, and analysis and design of mine excavations. He was also a Professional Engineer, which requires licensure from a state board of registration to practice engineering. He provided outstanding information technology support to the college for a long time.

John Brajkovich, director of the Roger J. Missavage Technical Service Center, gave a tour of the facility.

John Brajkovich, who will manage the Roger J. Missavage Technical Service Center, was a student worker for Missavage and a former colleague.

“He was just a guy who would help you with anything you needed,” he said at the dedication. “He would make loans to students if they were having problems. Anything he could do to help. A very charitable man. A very giving man.”

Liu credited Roger Missavage with being influential in many of the college’s advancements in information technology and facility and philanthropic support.

“The Roger J. Missavage Technical Service Center will permanently establish Roger’s legacy at our college and SIU,” he said.

Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

SIU’s cannabis research: An opportunity to lead

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By Jeff Wilson

As the cannabis industry continues to grow, SIU has positioned itself on the forefront of the research that will drive it even further.

Dr. Jose Franco Da Cunha Leme Filho leads SIU’s Cannabis Science Center in the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences (CALPS).

“We want to attract more students to horticulture, plant biology, agronomy, and other research-intensive initiatives,” he said.

This fall, CALPS will begin offering a bachelor’s degree in horticulture with a specialization in cannabis science, as well as a minor and certification. As the college moves forward with cannabis research, it faces numerous challenges. There are very few federal grants available to support the research, which means its expansion relies heavily on donations and collaboration with private companies.

“It’s a big challenge,” Dr. Leme said. “We are relying on partnerships with the private sector to advance toward our goals.”

SIU’s research only works with low-THC cannabis plants, and Dr. Leme is unable to accept monetary donations from companies that focus on recreational or medical marijuana, which compounds the challenge.

Dr. Leme has secured equipment donations from companies such as AC Infinity, which donated controlled-environment growth units that now fill the limited lab space used for cannabis research in Life Science II.

“I am very appreciative of SIU,” he said. “The university has been very open-minded in creating these opportunities. What we’re doing is the best in the state. We are the ones to collaborate with.”

Now, the goal is to expand, but that requires resources. Dr. Leme has created a plan to establish a new controlled-environment agriculture lab in the basement of McLafferty Annex.

“We would be starting from the ground up,” he said. “Currently, we have more equipment than we can fit in our space. We’re crammed into many small labs, which we’re happy to have, but we need more space. A company could come in and put its name on a new, state-of-the-art lab space.”

With more than 20 students working on the research during Spring 2024, Dr. Leme said that number could double or even triple with more space. Plus, a controlled-environment agriculture lab space would support more than cannabis research and include other indoor-production crops.

“Collaborating with private companies, we can help introduce them to academia and students,” Dr. Leme said. “We will provide reliable information and show the legitimacy of cannabis research and combat negative stereotypes that exist.”

To learn more about the program or how to support it, contact Dr. Leme at jose.leme@siu.edu or CALPS Director of Development Susan Graham at susang@foundation.siu.edu.