By Jeff Wilson

Dr. Clay DeMattei, a general surgeon, wanted to give back to the people who supported his medical practice over the years. That is why he and his wife established the Dr. Clay and Leticia Soria DeMattei Scholarship Endowment Fund, which benefits students who come to SIU from Marion, Crab Orchard, and Goreville.

“Those are the main towns where my patients have come from,” Dr. DeMattei said. “I wanted to give back to the communities that have given to me.”

The donation comes in the form of a $1 million estate gift that will support students from those areas who major in art history or enter the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in science from Southern in 1978, Dr. DeMattei attended medical school at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, graduating in 1981, and then Baylor College of Medicine for his surgical residency. He has practiced in Southern Illinois for decades.

“The university had a very good science department,” he said. “I was more than prepared for medical school when I left SIU. The science department is doing well, as shown by the school’s recent designation as R1.”

In February, Southern was named as a Research 1 (R1) university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It is one of only three public universities in Illinois with that designation, and it is the only one within 100 miles of Carbondale. More recently, SIU was also included in Carnegie’s list of Opportunity Colleges and Universities, making it one of only 21 institutions in the nation to earn both recognitions.

Dr. DeMattei’s parents, Clarence and Mary DeMattei, both graduated from SIU’s School of Education in the 1950s. Both were highly respected educators in the region, and his father was a well-known coach at Marion High School.

When choosing a college, medical school was not even on Dr. DeMattei’s mind. As a pole vaulter, he was interested in the Saluki Track & Field team.

“At the time, SIU had a top 10 track program, and they were recruiting local and afar,” he said. “They had just gotten a top-tier pole vault coach, Jan Johnson. He was an Olympian, who finished third in the Munich Olympics.”

A four-year letter winner at Southern, Dr. DeMattei participated in the NCAA Track and Field Championships in 1977. He was named SIU’s top male scholar athlete in 1978 and earned Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete honors on several occasions.

The DeMatteis hope their gift eases the financial burden on the local families who send their children to SIU as the university looks to keep enrollment rising.

“It would be nice to have 15,000 students on campus,” Dr. DeMattei said. “That would do wonders for the people in those areas.”

To learn more about estate planning through the SIU Foundation, visit siufgiving.org or contact Michael Moore at michaelmo@foundation.siu.edu.

Accomplished artist, educator endows scholarship

By Ava Steffens

Thomas Brewer, Ph.D., an accomplished artist and educator, is a strong advocate for visual art education in public schools and universities.

To honor that passion, he established the Dr. Thomas M. Brewer Art Education Scholarship. The scholarship supports students pursuing teaching careers in the visual arts, reflecting his purpose of making the field accessible to young, creative minds.

“For a student to receive a few thousand dollars to use to attend a nearby conference during their undergraduate years is major. Who knows where the opportunity will lead them from there,” said Brewer, a 1973 graduate of Southern Illinois University’s College of Arts and Media.

Brewer attended Southern between 1969 and 1973, graduating with a bachelor’s in art education and ceramics. He and other students had an art studio near former SIU architecture professor Buckminster Fuller’s Dome-style home in Carbondale.

After graduation, he worked as a full-time artist and obtained a master’s in art from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. in art education from Florida State University. Now a professor emeritus of art education at the University of Central Florida, Brewer taught for 35 years and served as the coordinator of art education at UCF for 20 of those years. He currently works and lives in Urbana, and his artwork continues to be featured worldwide.

Brewer established the scholarship in his name, allowing art and design students to kick-start their careers just as SIU helped him. The aim is to provide recipients with the necessary resources to foster an experience beyond the classroom while inspiring real-world professional development.

“Because of how it helped me, I could at least contribute back to SIU for a few students, especially for whom a scholarship might be helpful,” he said.

Throughout his educational journey, Brewer credits teachers for opening the doors to success, inspiring him to do the same for others.

“There’s an inherent accomplishment when art is taught in a way that is consecutive, sequential, and that has continuity,” he said. “Beyond exercising creativity, problem-solving, and motor skills, art, in any form, can be a driving force for academic growth. My teaching and advocacy for the visual arts in education is more far-reaching than my own artwork.”

Brewer hopes his continued commitment to SIU will motivate students, inspire others to donate, and strengthen the university’s dedication to art and ceramic education.

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

By Ava Steffens

Chris Sims, a 30-year United Airlines pilot and SIU School of Aviation alumnus, believes those who share a boundless passion for flying deserve to be uplifted just as he was.

In support of that belief, he recently established the John and Carol Sims Aviation Scholarship. The scholarship is named after his parents.

“A dream is only a dream until it becomes reality. It does not become a reality unless you have some help along the way,” he said.

Originally from Naperville, Illinois, he attended SIU from 1990 to 1994.

“Between the location, price, and convenience, the decision was a no-brainer,” he said.

Soon after graduating, he interned at United Airlines through a program offered by the School of Aviation, which provided a direct pathway to becoming a United Airlines pilot after college.

Sims’ passion for aviation began when he was 5 years old during his first plane ride. This moment ignited a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. Thrilled by the idea of flying, his love for aviation deeply influenced him throughout his entire life.

“You couldn’t even tell me what colors my walls were, my room was so full of airplane models,” he said.

He found the United Airlines internship at SIU while he was still a junior in high school.

“My father told me to look at this little school in Southern Illinois. I remember seeing the Saluki logo next to the United logo, and knowing it was meant to be,” Sims said.

Working weekends at SI Airport as a student and flight instructor, he did not even have time to attend a football game until after he graduated. Although he pushed himself as a Saluki, he credits SIU and its unique programs with helping him transition from a student to a professional full-time pilot.

“There was a lot of work, but there was also a lot of opportunity,” he said.

Sims felt inspired to give back while reflecting on his time as a student. Now in his 50s, he remains grateful for the support he received. Along with establishing a scholarship, he is now dedicated to serving as an Aviate Ambassador to SIUC, United Career Day Flight Facilitator, and Aviate Program Mentor at flight schools nationwide.

“I reached a point when I realized how fortunate I was and that now was the time to give back. So many people’s handprints lined the path for me to get here,” he said.

Sims named the scholarship after his parents, who were his inspiration to pursue an aviation career.

“My parents would take me to the airport just to watch the planes on the runway,” he said.

To apply for the scholarship, students must write about the day, moment, or event that made them realize they wanted to pursue a career in flight.

“If a student has passion, they should at least be provided with the opportunity to make that happen,” Sims said.

To make a gift, visit siuf.org.

Dr. Sunil Sinha’s story is one of resilience, dedication, and a deep connection to his heritage. Born into a family originally from India, Sunil’s journey to the United States in the late ’60s marked the beginning of a remarkable path that would intertwine his professional achievements with his cultural roots.

After completing his residency in internal medicine, he joined the Carbondale Clinic and quickly established a busy practice. It was during this time that he began to consider how furthering his education might impact his career.

Sunil’s own academic journey led him to SIU, where he received an MBA at the College of Business Administration in 1998. Despite the challenges of balancing a busy clinical practice with his studies, Sunil found support and encouragement from faculty members, some of whom were family friends and even patients.

One of his most memorable experiences was a class with Dr. Reed Nelson, who taught organizational design and behavior.

“Dr. Nelson’s teaching style was quite entertaining, providing the class with a variety of perspectives on management styles and organizational cultures. His class was the one I enjoyed the most,” Sunil said.

The impact of his MBA was profound, opening doors for Sunil to transition from a full-time clinician to various roles in health care on a national stage. His first post-practice job was as the director of primary care at the VA Medical Center in Marion.

“A major consideration for me getting the job over several other more experienced candidates was the fact that I was the only one with an MBA. There was an assumption that the degree provided me with sufficient knowledge to lead the business side of medicine.” Sunil said.

Although that assumption turned out to be untrue, it opened the door to opportunities that built upon the experience he would go on to gain.

Sunil’s father, Dr. Atmesh Sinha, played a pivotal role in shaping his early life. As the first chairperson of the Department of Mining Engineering at Southern Illinois University, Dr. Sinha’s career spanned 25 years, leaving a legacy in Carbondale.

“My father has always been my strongest role model,” Sunil said. “His journey from a remote village in India to achieving degrees from several countries prior to arriving in the United States has been a constant source of inspiration for our family.”

Sunil’s career has been marked by groundbreaking moments and leadership roles. He proudly served as the second physician elected to the governing board of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of over 40,000 health care leaders.

His ability to develop dyad partnerships in approaching complex clinical and operations challenges has been mutually beneficial, allowing him to navigate the intricacies of healthcare delivery with innovative solutions.

Reflecting on the challenges he faced in his field, Sunil emphasizes the importance of drawing on personal and team experiences to address situations, both new and old.

“Health care in general is a complex system with the expectation of delivering high-quality healthcare to diverse populations through a variety of payment mechanisms,” he explains. Sunil’s approach often involved taking calculated business risks to create sustainable solutions.

Sunil’s connection to SIU remains strong, driven by a desire to give back to the institution that played a crucial role in his career.

“My father had the opportunity to serve the university for 25 years. Including my wife (Rupali) and me, we have seven alumni from various colleges at SIU,” Sunil said.

He has served on the COBA External Advisory Board since 2000 and the Alumni Association Board since 2022. He is a member of the COBA Hall of Fame. Sunil and his wife have also created an endowed scholarship for current students at COBA, supporting initiatives that benefit both students and faculty.

As an advocate for young Asian American and Pacific Islander students aspiring to enter his industry, Sunil encourages them to embrace their diverse backgrounds and cultures as strengths.

“Don’t feel intimidated—let your diverse background and culture be the strength you bring to every role,” he said.

His message to the SIU community during AAPI Heritage Month is clear: “Be proud of your roots and origins. Share your passion, knowledge, and experiences to help address challenges and help others along their journeys of success.”

Sunil Sinha’s journey is a testament to the power of heritage, education, and perseverance. His story serves as an inspiration for future generations of AAPI leaders, reminding them to find their passion and pursue it with complete focus and energy.

As Sunil aptly puts it, “Paying it forward will help future generations of Salukis who, in turn, will hopefully keep the tradition going.”