Category Archives: Donor Stories

Donor Stories, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, Philanthropic Women, SIU

SIU Alumna Ashley B. Gibson Establishes Scholarship to Support Women in Accountancy

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CARBONDALE — When Ashley B. Gibson, a 2009 graduate of Southern Illinois University’s College of Business and Analytics, first stepped onto campus, she had no idea how the experience would shape her career and inspire her to give back.

A seasoned leader with over 15 years of consulting experience, author, and public speaker, now she is making a lasting impact on the next generation of women in accounting through the Ashley B. Gibson Accounting Excellence Scholarship Fund.

Gibson, 37, grew up in Carterville and chose SIU for its strong academic reputation and proximity to home. At the time, her father was working overseas in Iraq, and staying close to her mother was a priority. While earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy, Gibson found mentorship in Dr. Marcus Odom and was deeply involved in student organizations. Her leadership in the Accounting Society and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) opened doors to scholarships and national recognition, ultimately paving the way for her service on IMA’s Global Board of Directors.

“I remember when I received IMA’s highest scholarship. I was standing in Rehn Hall when I got the call,” Gibson said. “After I hung up, I slid down the wall, crying tears of joy and relief. It was the first external scholarship I had received, and it validated that people believed in me.”

During her time at SIU, Gibson was recognized as the Outstanding Senior in Accounting, Outstanding Senior in the College of Business, and one of the Top 25 Most Distinguished Seniors—an achievement she likens to winning the Triple Crown in terms of involvement at SIU.

“It was recognition that I’ll forever remember and reminded me of what all I accomplished during my time at SIU,” she said. “Those honors were not just a celebration of my hard work—they also highlighted the importance of having a strong support system and access to opportunities.”

Despite her professional success and accounting acumen, Gibson has dealt with challenges that many women face in the workplace, especially in leadership.

“When women, especially leaders in their field, are asked to perform remedial tasks such as getting coffee or taking notes, it’s because those asking don’t understand the implications it has,” she said. “While there are seats for women at the table, it’s sometimes a silent one, and I want to help change that.”

Her decision to establish the Ashley B. Gibson Accounting Excellence Scholarship Fund is rooted in a commitment to empowering women from Southern Illinois. With an initial pledge of $10,000, she aims to provide financial support and mentorship opportunities for aspiring female accountants.

“I always knew I wanted to create a scholarship for the School of Accountancy. I just wasn’t sure how or if I had enough to start one,” Gibson said. “Then I realized, why wait? Life is too short. I want to meet the recipients, follow their careers, and see the impact firsthand.”

For Gibson, giving back isn’t just about financial support—it’s about fostering a culture where women feel valued and encouraged to lead. She hopes her scholarship will inspire others to invest in SIU’s future and support the next generation of female accountants.

“The earlier I invest in future professionals, the greater the impact,” she said. “We need to break the stigma that philanthropy is something you do later in life. If you want to give back, start now.”

Gibson encourages other young alumni to consider how they can contribute, no matter their stage in life or career.

“If not now, when?” she said. “The SIU Foundation makes it easy to start the conversation. Just ask.”

Through her scholarship, mentorship, and advocacy, Gibson is determined to create lasting opportunities for women in accountancy. As she continues to rise in her own career, she remains committed to lifting others along the way.

“I hope this scholarship ignites a fire in other women to succeed,” she said. “This is my own version of the Butterfly Effect—one action leading to another, shaping the future for the women who follow.”

Donor Stories, Higher Education, SIU

Smith donates $500K, funding textbook program for SIU students

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Ron Smith
Ron Smith

By Jeff Wilson

Growing up in the small Randolph County town of Walsh, SIU was the only reasonable college option for Ron Smith.

“It was where you could get the most bang for your buck,” he said. “SIU was so good to me and changed my life and made it better than it would have been.”

Since graduating in 1964 with a degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration in 1966, Smith has stayed engaged with his alma mater, including donating more than $250,000 over the last 20 years. Now, he’s taken his support a step further, making a leadership gift of $500,000 to establish a fund that will help students cover the cost of textbooks.

Endowed chairs help attract and retain high-level faculty members by making the position more attractive and keeping salaries competitive with other institutions.

“I’m doing this to help the students of SIU,” Smith said. “I want to make the university stronger and provide better opportunities and better training for the students.”

Smith has long been a donor to Southern, especially the College of Business and Analytics and Saluki Athletics. Despite living in California, he has maintained season tickets to Saluki Football games and supported the Blackout Cancer fundraiser. He also recently made a $10,000 gift to Saluki Softball.

Smith has fond memories of his time at SIU, noting that he attended the university during the Delyte Morris era and the time of College of Business Dean Henry J. Rhen, for which the COBA building is named. Smith was also classmates with another of SIU’s most prolific benefactors, F. Lynn McPheeters.

“Dr. Morris was wonderful to listen to, and I was lucky to be there during his era,” Smith said. “The university had lots of programs that were geared toward students with limited financial resources. I was fortunate enough to make good enough grades that my professors thought I was a good candidate for graduate school.”

After graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and spent 30 months in Colombia. He worked with farmers and fishermen, teaching them how to make the most of their assets. He credits his education from SIU with giving him the expertise to share with those people and give them a vested interest in the business side of their industry.

Smith, a first-generation student whose niece now attends SIU as a fourth-generation student, said his continued support of the university shows the impact alumni can have even when they’re not able to get to campus as often as they may like.

“Is there a way you can help build up the university?” Smith said. “Even if you’re in California, like me, you can help folks in Southern Illinois.”

For more information about supporting the university, visit siuf.org.

Donor Stories, Philanthropic Women, SIU

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Dr. Dawn Korte, Ph.D. ’91

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Dawn Korte
Dr. Dawn Korte

For Dr. Dawn Korte, Southern Illinois University Carbondale was more than a steppingstone—it was the foundation for a career defined by leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to others. A proud graduate of SIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences with a major in paralegal studies, Korte has dedicated her career to fostering professional growth, advocating for women in leadership, and giving back to the institution that shaped her journey.

Raised in Carterville, Illinois, she initially enrolled at SIU to study piano performance, securing a scholarship that made her college education possible. However, a deep-rooted interest in the law led her to switch majors to paralegal studies—a decision that ultimately shaped her mindset.

“I had been interested in the law, so I changed my major and focused on law school after graduation,” she said. “That switch taught me to always keep an open mind, work hard, and accept ambiguity as a part of life.”

Korte credits her parents as her earliest role models, instilling in her the values of perseverance and dedication. At SIU, professors such as Dr. Steven Barwick and Dr. Albert Melone, along with lecturers Kenneth Hughes and Pamela Lacey, played instrumental roles in her academic development. One defining moment took place even before she was officially a Saluki—her scholarship audition in Shryock Auditorium.

“I was terrified, played way too fast, and made some mistakes,” she said. “When I finished, I thought I had blown my audition. But Professor Barwick stood up and said, ‘Welcome to SIUC—we will figure out the rest!’ That moment solidified SIU as my home.”

Leadership, Challenges, and Breaking Barriers

Throughout her career, Korte has been a strong advocate for people-focused leadership, emphasizing that the most valuable asset of any organization is its people.

“If people gave me their time and trusted me to lead them, I was going to create a place in which they could thrive,” she said. “I built relationships rooted in honesty and mutual respect, creating a strong foundation to weather professional storms.”

As a woman in the workplace, Korte faced challenges in establishing herself in executive leadership roles. She navigated these obstacles with a combination of preparation, networking, and relentless effort.

“I remained crystal clear on my goals, asked for honest feedback, and used it as fuel to improve,” she said. “I worked relentlessly to produce meaningful results that benefited both the organization and myself.”

Among her proudest achievements, Korte became the first in her family to earn a Ph.D. after completing her MBA, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and excellence.

The Power of Mentorship and Giving Back

Korte is passionate about mentoring young women and supporting SIU programs that foster female leadership. As a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Council, she recognizes the power of mentorship in shaping future generations.

“Women need to support other women because we understand the demands of life and work,” she said. “Every woman has a story that can inspire another if she shares it. The Women’s Leadership Council provides a space for those stories to thrive and motivate others.”

She believes philanthropy at SIU—through scholarships and mentorship—has a measurable impact.

“We track metrics to see our impact, but the true success is in the continuation of mentor-mentee relationships long after graduation,” she said. “The heartfelt thank-yous, the stories of students helping each other through challenges—these are the untold metrics that prove what we’re doing is working.”

As SIU continues to nurture future leaders, Korte hopes the work of the Women’s Leadership Council and other initiatives will instill confidence in young women.

“I hope we give them a light that shines in their soul through dark moments,” she said. “That light is the confidence that they can, and will, prevail.”

Women’s History Month holds special significance for Korte, serving as a time to honor those who paved the way. She draws inspiration from her mother, a dedicated nurse and community leader whose legacy of service continues to guide her.

“She made an indelible mark on the lives of her patients and those around her,” Korte said. “I work to have her spirit, values, and wisdom live on through me.”

Reflecting on her career, Korte hopes to leave a legacy of commitment rather than mere contributions.

“My dad always used to say that the difference between making a commitment and a contribution is like bacon and eggs—the chicken makes the contribution, but the pig makes a commitment,” she said. “That’s what I’ve tried to do in my personal and professional life—make a commitment to something bigger than myself.”

For Korte, giving back to SIU is a way to invest in the future and ensure that young Salukis—especially women—have the support and resources they need to succeed.

“SIUC helped chart a course for my life, and I will be forever grateful,” she said.

To learn more about the Women’s Leadership Council and how you can get involved, visit siuf.org/wlc.

Donor Stories, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

McGlothin sets example through military service, giving

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By Jeff Wilson

During his distinguished military career, Rick McGlothin has made service a prominent component of his life. That dedication is also reflected in his support of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

McGlothin ’93, division chief at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, paused his early military career to achieve his bachelor’s degree in vocational education studies from SIU’s School of Education. He then earned a master’s from Webster University. He and his wife, Dionne, live in Virginia and have two children.

“I achieved the rank of major in the Air Force, and since then I’ve become a GS15, which is the highest non-senior executive grade for government civilians,” he said. “A lot of this goes back to that foundation, everything that was established, by my time at SIU.”

Since graduating, McGlothin has made regular financial contributions to Southern, particularly the African American Award Endowment Fund.

“I want to give minority groups an opportunity to go to college,” he said. “While I was at SIU, I saw a lot of minority students that had challenges there. If I can give a little bit that can help a student pull themselves out of situations they have come up in and better them, I feel that is something that can help the country as a whole.”

Inspired by his parents, who didn’t have the same opportunities that he did, McGlothin appreciates the emphasis they put on education.

“They instilled in us the importance of education,” he said. “They’re from a generation when things for African Americans weren’t always the best. Even in today’s society, there are still challenges that have to be overcome, but they really had challenges. My mother would always say pray and do the best you can. Even to this day, I sit back and hope they are proud of me because I tried to do the best I could.”

McGlothin hopes that the students will be similarly inspired by his story.

“If you don’t see something, you can’t imagine being something,” he said. “I try to be an example for young people, so they can say ‘If he did it, I could potentially do it.’ That’s one of the reasons I’m motivated to contribute to SIU.”

To make a gift and support SIU students, visit siuf.org.

Donor Stories, Philanthropic Women, SIU

Sims endows inclusive scholarship for SIU students

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By Jeff Wilson

Dr. Cynthia Sims has been on many sides of the college student experience, and one thing has remained a constant – the clear need for scholarship access for all students.

“When I was a college student, I really didn’t qualify for many scholarships,” she said. “I was a committed student. It made me feel a little less than. I didn’t feel that I fit in. I didn’t feel that I was valued as a student.”

Sims was born in raised in Chicago. She left home for the first time to attend the University Louisville. She earned master’s degrees from DePaul University and the University of Chicago. She received her Doctor of Education from Northern Illinois University.

“The first time I received a scholarship was when I went to graduate school at DePaul,” she said. “I jumped up and down. I was so excited. I felt like I belonged to the university immediately. They wanted me there. I felt valued.”

Her Saluki story begins when she was offered an assistant professor position at SIU. She recently retired from the College of DuPage where she served as associate vice president.

“I worked at SIU for 14 years, and I loved it,” she said. “I am still in contact with many of my students. They invite me to their weddings and baby showers.”

Dr. Sims was committed to student recruitment and retention. She started two mentoring programs for high school students in Southern Illinois. One was the SIUC Mentorship Academy, which included a “Take Your Mentee to Class Week,” allowing high school students to shadow SIU students for the day to learn about college life. Another program was the “Enhancing Minority College and Career Preparation Service-Learning Mentoring Program,” which included college tours to Historically Black Colleges and Universities with SIU student mentors.

She established the Dr. Cynthia Howard Sims Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship at Southern and wanted to ensure that it benefits students who may not otherwise feel supported.

“I decided to start a scholarship without a grade-point average attached or extracurricular requirements,” she said. “I feel that’s important because it’s inclusive. When they complete the essay application for my scholarship, students should be focusing on ways to express themselves and use other strengths to complement their academic strengths.”

For years, Sims has seen her mother give back to her community any way she can, and that serves as a major inspiration for her philanthropic outlook.

“My mother is big on giving back. She not only donates her time, but she’s always giving money to organizations and causes,” Sims said. “She probably doesn’t know that I have watched that for years. I like to do that, too, but I wanted to expand it with this scholarship. I wanted to impact more students with this scholarship. My mother modeled that for me, and I appreciate that.”

Encouraging other alumni – particularly Black alumni – to follow in her footsteps, Sims notes the impact that scholarships play on retention and graduation rates.

“I benefited so much from my education, and I want others to benefit as well. Too many stop because of lack of funding,” she said. “As a person of color, I have a responsibility to support other students of color. Call someone at the SIU Foundation. Ask someone at your college or within a specific program what they need. You just need to take the first step.”

To make a gift to the Dr. Cynthia Howard Sims Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Endowment Fund, visit siuf.org. To speak with someone at the SIU Foundation about endowing a scholarship, call 618-453-4900.

Donor Stories, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Tucker promotes African American giving through Dunbar Leadership Society

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By Jeff Wilson

Kennard Tucker has long been dedicated to the development of the Dunbar Leadership Society – a collective voice for philanthropy aimed at inspiring giving and support within the SIU Black community.

“It’s important for Black alums to give back to SIU because the institution, for many of us, it changed the trajectory of our lives,” he said. “I was raised by a single mom. She scraped and saved every nickel to send me and my siblings to college. That opportunity was life changing. I don’t know where I would be today without it.”

A native of East St. Louis, Tucker graduated from Southern in 1991. Two of his siblings are Salukis, as is his son, and multiple cousins.

“SIU has been the family institution of higher learning. I made that venture down to the campus back in the fall of 1986,” he said. “I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the most rewarding experience and one I was grateful to have had.”

More recently, Tucker has made it his mission at SIU to establish and further the goals of the Dunbar Leadership Society (DLS).

“We really want to create an environment of African American philanthropic giving by creating a network of alums around the region, around the country that are like minded and want to give back to SIU,” he said.

The History
Founded on October 6, 1925, by SIU student Carl Lee and named after poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, the Dunbar Society promoted Black students’ literary, athletic, and social growth on campus. During challenging times of racism, segregation, and limited resources, the society emphasized racial equality and supported students’ aspirations.

The Dunbar Society has a rich history at SIU. Despite adversity, Black students created this society to foster a positive social climate. SIU’s commitment to educating Black students dates back to Dr. Alexander Lane, the first Black male graduate, in 1881. Records show two Black female students preceded him, but their identities remain unknown.

Since the 1960s, SIU has ranked among Illinois’s top state-funded universities for African American enrollment. The Dunbar Society’s advocacy led to the formation of organizations like the Black Affairs Council, which continues its essential work on campus today.

“It was an organization created by the university to provide social and educational support for African Americans, so we felt that entity and spirit fit very well with what we were trying to replicate,” Tucker said. “We added the “leadership” part to emphasize giving at leadership level of $1,000 or more.”

While not everyone can donate $1,000 or more all at once, Tucker pointed out that’s it’s possible to make a large impact through regular giving.

“You can always write a check for the full amount, or you can do a monthly pledge,” he said. “We can always come up with ways to make it more palatable.”

To learn more about the Dunbar Leadership Society, contact Sherrica Hunt at sherricah@foundation.siu.edu. To make a gift, visit siuf.org.

Donor Stories, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Livingston shares inspiring story, mission-focused philanthropy

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By Jeff Wilson

From Dr. Mitchel Livingston’s humble beginnings came great success and philanthropy with a clear cause: Lift others.

The path for a Black boy born in Decatur in 1944 was one filled with obstacles, but Livingston found a way to hurdle each one.

“Though we were poor monetarily, the richness of our experience coming up as children was fantastic. I didn’t know what poverty was until I was much older. It was a loving caring family, and a loving caring community,” he said. “Though we understood the issues of race and racism and the like, it didn’t have the pain that we have experienced since the late-60s.

“Community is the most important asset that you have. The ability to reach out to people who do look like you or don’t look like you,” he said.

Despite the low expectations set by some at the time, his competitive spirit and work ethic shone through enough and afforded him an opportunity to attend SIU.

“I can recall … visiting with my advisor who told me I was not college material. I would go vocational, and I would work with my hands,” Livingston said. “It was the kind of advice many young, Black boys got back then and many today. It was like a dagger, because I was a dreamer.”

After graduating high school, he attended a track meet where his younger brother broke his school record in the high jump.

“I had these mixed feelings of joy for him, then someone asked me ‘What’s it like being an old man at age 18?’ I took off my shoes and ran over and jumped over that bar right behind him. My brother owned that record for only a few moments.”

The night of his athletic display, his former basketball coach, Joe Russell, came to Livingston’s family home and asked his father if the story about the high jump was true. When his father confirmed it, the coach said he was traveling to Carbondale soon and would mention the accomplishment to the track and field coach, Lew Hartzog.

“That was what opened the door for me in higher education and launched me as the first member of my family to ever go to college,” Livingston said. “The connection with my community and my coach and his connection to SIU earned me a tryout. I went to Carbondale and had a great jump, and I was offered a four-year scholarship on the spot. I had a chance to compete, both academically and athletically.

“SIU had high expectations of me. I didn’t want to fail my family as the first one to go off to college. Every course I took, I read the book before I went into the classroom. I stopped counting myself out. I grew physically and competed and beat some of the best athletes in the world.”

After SIU

Now, Livingston is an emeritus professor and vice president at the University of Cincinnati, but SIU will forever have a special spot in his heart.

“I am so proud that I am a member of a community that helped launch me to academics, to service and community,” he said. “And none could have done it better than SIU, and for that I am eternally grateful. This is family for life.”

In 2021, he and his wife, Carol, made a $50,000 gift to establish the Mitchel and Carol Livingston Scholarship. This fund supports undergraduate students in the School of Education’s Teacher Education Program who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated financial need, with a preference for African American students.

“We have seen the light turn off in the eyes of young people way too early because of lack of opportunity, not lack of ability, not where you come from, just being passed over in so many different ways,” Livingston said. “My wife and I have learned there are ways to turn those lights on, and once you light up a person’s life in that way, they can make it. And we want to be one of those lamp lights for as many children like us as possible.”

Both Mitchel and Carol Livingston graduated from SIU’s School of Education, in 1969 and 1971 respectively.

“We are very much committed to the Teacher Education Program in the School of Education,” he said. “We are educators. That’s who we are. That’s what we do, and we want to make sure that our resources are focused in that way. I could not have done it without the investment SIU made in me.”

The Livingstons hope their gifts will inspire others to support students in similar ways.

“The advice that I would give to students or alumni about giving is that it must become a way of life. You did not get here by yourself,” he said. “Others were in our lives that help us get to where we are, develop a lifestyle of giving, not just giving presents or gifts or doing nice things, but a lifetime of expectation that it is your duty and your obligation to give back as it was given to you.”

The Livingstons hope their gifts will inspire others to support students in similar ways. Recently, Dr. Livingston received the Great Living Cincinnatian Award. He believes if students can make it, they can excel.

“Thank you, SIU, you are the gift that keeps on giving,” he said.

To make a gift, visit siuf.org.

Donor Stories, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Beverly bridges the gap for SIU students

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By Jeff Wilson

Rob Beverly wants to provide SIU students with a role model that he didn’t have during his time at Southern.

“I think it’s important for Black alumni to give back to SIU, specifically,” he said. “I was the first person in my family to go to college. I don’t remember having very many images of Black individuals, let alone Black men, who had progressed through college and become what I would consider successful. We now become these images that we didn’t have.”

Beverly graduated from SIU in 2000 and is now the vice president of a medical device company, living outside of Chicago with his wife and four daughters.

“My connection to SIU goes way back to 1996 when I pursued and earned a bachelor’s in marketing,” he said. “I really, really enjoyed my time at SIU and the lifelong connections that were built. With that comes and obligation to come back and ensure that others have the same opportunity that I had.”

A couple years ago he and his wife, Onyhatte, established The Beverly Bridging the Gap Fund, which supports SIU students through the Office of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, providing financial assistance to students in need.

“Inevitably, things happen, and you don’t have someone to bail you out,” Beverly said. “We want to help students through those unforeseen circumstances. Many people never make it back, for whatever reason. Had I gone home for any extended period, I may not have made it back. There is something about being in the academic environment consistently that starts to change you.”

Bridge the gap funds have been a priority for Chancellor Austin Lane and the SIU administration for years. One of the university’s largest fundraisers, the Saluki Ball, focuses on raising these types of funds to support students and increase retention.

“This is the stage of my life where my focus is on what I am able to give back. It’s fulfilling,” he said. “Something you’ve done or contributed to has had a meaningful impact on someone. That’s enough.”

While an SIU student, Beverly was involved with the Blacks Interested in Business group and was voted Homecoming king.

“SIU has definitely had an influence on my personal and professional journey. SIU for me was the first significant time I spent away from home,” he said. “It forces you to grow up quickly and be responsible and independent and teaches you how to make decisions that ultimately end up cementing your future.”

For Beverly, the “Once a Saluki, always a Saluki” mantra holds true.

“This is such a family. SIU is like nowhere else,” he said. “The bond, the relationship is still so strong. It’s like nothing I’ve seen. It’s different at SIU. Our bond is just different.”

To learn more or make a gift, visit siuf.org.

Donor Stories, Saluki Athletics, SIU

Craddock honors his heritage with philanthropy, service

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By Jeff Wilson

Oyd Craddock knows firsthand how one opportunity can lead to a lifetime of success. That’s what he’s hoping to accomplish through his support of Southern Illinois University students.

Oyd Craddock
Oyd Craddock

“I’m a first-generation college graduate. I didn’t have role models in my home or community of folks who had gone on to graduate from college,” he said. “I was a kid in the 1960s. The opportunities for us in the Deep South, they just weren’t there. I was part of the generation that was going to break through.”

He credits his grandfather for pushing him toward education.

“The original inspiration for giving back comes from my upbringing,” he said. “My grandfather was a champion for us focusing on getting a great education. When I got my degree, my grandparents came to Carbondale to attend my graduation.”

Craddock ’80 led a stout Salukis defense in the late-70s. He was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame in 2004. He earned his bachelor’s degree in management from the College of Business. He is a Saluki Hall of Fame football player and member of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors.

“I got connected to SIU through our sports program. I was a scholarship athlete at SIU and made the decision to major in business,” he said.

Experiences he had at SIU led him directly to a fulfilling career.

“I worked for IBM for 31 years, and I was able to get started there with the assistance of the SIU Placement Office. They helped me with my résumé and interviews, and the director sent a letter of recommendation to IBM and other companies,” he said. “From start to finish, I had a wonderful experience at SIU.”

He attended New Orleans’ St. Augustine High School in the 1970s. His high school’s football team famously integrated the Louisiana High School Athletic Association in 1967. Craddock later decided to produce a film about the journey of the team’s coaches and players during that time, titled “Before the West Coast: A Sports Civil Rights Story.”

Before the West Coast

“This film is really a part of my life story,” Craddock said. “It tells the story of the trials and triumphs of the all-Black, boys’ Catholic high school that integrated the all-white athletic league in Louisiana. It was a breakthrough event to have integrated competition in sports in high schools back then.”

All of this has led Craddock to see the impact that Black alumni can have by giving back to Southern.

“It has tremendous meaning for Black students who are there today and who we hope will experience SIU in the future,” he said. “One of the things I’m very excited about is that I lived to see the day … our chancellor is a Black man … the dean of the business school that I attended is a Black man … and I’m here being a part of that.”

To learn more or make a gift, visit siuf.org.

Donor Stories, Higher Education, SIU

Roland Burris: Trailblazer, philanthropist, Saluki

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Roland Burris
Former U.S. Sen. Roland Burris

By Jeff Wilson

Roland Burris has held many titles, but none may be more apt than this: Trailblazer.

His own path began in Centralia and led him to Southern Illinois University, Germany, Howard University School of Law, Illinois state government, and eventually the U.S. Senate, but that only scratches the surface.

Beyond his expansive roles, his influence has impacted countless lives, and he has been equally impacted by those he has met along the way. It’s these relationships that inspired him to donate $100,000 to establish the Burris Financial Emergency Fund at Southern.

Dr. Lane, Sen. Burris, Matt Kupec
Former U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (middle) joined Chancellor Austin Lane, SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec and hundreds of SIU alumni and friends during the Saluki Takeover Tour Chicago in the fall of 2024.

“The Lord has taken care of me. Why shouldn’t I try to make sure that I’m paving a way for others?” he said. “Set your goals. Dare to dream.”

Inspired by Paul

While a student at SIU, Burris had a roommate named Paul. His story became the inspiration for Burris’ emergency fund.

“Paul was a freshman from Du Quoin and worked at the post office in the military barracks that were in the student union. He had trouble getting lunch and dinner. He would drink water and lay down,” Burris said. “He didn’t receive any mail from home. We started helping him when we realized he wasn’t getting enough food. He was rail thin.

“One evening, Paul didn’t show up. He was gone. He had packed up and dropped out of school because he couldn’t get money from home to continue. That stuck with me. I knew if I ever got into a position to help … I don’t want to see any more Pauls.”

The emergency fund isn’t a scholarship. Funds from the endowment are dispersed through the Office of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to students who need financial help to stay enrolled at SIU.

“A few years ago, I was being honored on campus and a student approached me and gave me a hug. He said that he had received some of that money that bridged the gap. I just cried like a baby,” Burris said. “That’s what the fund was set up for. He was able to pay his bill and go on with his career. It hit me right in the gut.”

SIU & Carbondale

Burris came to SIU from Centralia in 1955 with four others, Bill Norwood, Leonard Taylor, Vernon Rush, and Charles Steptoe, with a plan to play football.

“We caught the train down to Carbondale, met with the coach (Albert Kawal), and then planned to get lunch,” he said. “There were limited places in Carbondale that would serve Blacks. We thought ‘Let’s go back to Centralia.’ Coach said he would feed us on campus, so we stayed.”

Carbondale was largely segregated in the late-1950s. Working with President Delyte Morris and others, that was something Burris set out to change.

“This was when race was really prevalent in that part of the state and across the country,” Burris said. “In terms of the university, there were no Blacks on the faculty, but I had no problems with instructors or deans. Blacks could not stay in the dorms until 1955 when Dr. Morris integrated the newly constructed Woody Hall.”

With a group of white and Black friends, Burris set out to document the issues in Carbondale with the hopes of integrating the city. As a junior, he was president of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, which was planning its 25th anniversary celebration.

“Blacks couldn’t sleep in hotels and motels in Carbondale. We wanted to invite our older brothers, but they had no place to stay,” Burris said. “We decided to document segregation all across the city.”

Burris and a group of Black students would try and fail to book a room, get seated at restaurants, or try on clothes in stores. They would then send in a group of white students to do the same and record their success in doing so.

“We then met with Dr. Morris and the university’s lawyer, John Rendleman, and they could not believe it. They called a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce,” he said. “You could see the blood drain from the faces of these white men as they heard the stories. It was quite an experience. Dr. Morris made it clear that this could not be tolerated, and they took it under advisement.”

It wasn’t until after Burris had left Carbondale that he received word of integration across the city.

“Willie Brown, a football player, sent me a letter saying that every entity in Carbondale was open to serve Blacks, students and otherwise,” Burris said. “That effort of documenting it and presenting it had worked. It was a growing experience for me. We learned how we could negotiate our futures.”

A launching pad

Burris made his mark as an outstanding student. During his junior year, he took a German class, and his professor approached him about an exchange program that SIU had with the University of Hamburg in Germany.

“It was a competition between 200 students, and they selected two, and I was one of them. It was the first time a Black student had been chosen,” Burris said. “So, I spent a year there working on my master’s degree, if you can imagine that.”

While there, Burris began studying international law and decided to pursue his law degree. Although he never finished his master’s, he earned his juris doctor from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., in 1963.

“When my wife, Berlean, and I left Howard and headed back to Chicago, I said the only way I would return to D.C. was as vice president or a U.S. senator. Well, on January 16, 2009, I was sworn in as a U.S. senator,” he said.

When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, it opened a U.S. Senate seat from Illinois. Burris was chosen by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill that spot.

“I was the first Black person in America to be appointed to a Senate seat,” Burris said. “I wasn’t a politician. I was a public servant – for my people and all people.”

Between law school and the Senate, Burris was the first Black person elected to statewide office in Illinois, winning the comptroller race in 1978. He was later elected as Illinois attorney general in 1990.

“At 15 years old, I set two goals – become a lawyer and a statewide elected official – and I did both. Everything I prayed to the Lord for, I have achieved it,” Burris said. “SIU was a major player in my career. I am a fan of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. It did so much for me and the people I know. I believe it gave me the greatest college experience anyone could have.”