The SIU Foundation is excited to welcome Jocelyn Popit to its fundraising team as the senior director of development for the College of Liberal Arts.
She joins a team that has raised more than $340 million toward the $500 million goal of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign. It is the fifth-largest campaign in the history of Illinois higher education. The SIU Foundation is coming off a record-breaking fiscal year having raised $46.8 million in FY24.</>
Popit spent the previous decade in health care philanthropy, most recently directing the foundation at Southern Illinois Healthcare. Before that, she taught high school English. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Notre Dame.
She and her husband live in Carterville with their two children. She is also a member of the school board at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Regional Catholic School in Herrin.
The third annual Saluki Women’s Weekend is Thursday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Sept. 21.
Hosted by the SIU Foundation Women’s Leadership Council, the four-day affair will feature multiple events and many of SIU’s most inspiring female leaders. The council is a network of alumnae, parents, and friends who are committed to creating a culture of women-driven philanthropy at SIU and mentoring future generations of Salukis.
The theme for the weekend is “Saluki Sisterhood: Empowering Today, Inspiring Tomorrow.” To register for this free event, visit siuf.org/salukiwomen.
“The Saluki Women’s Weekend is a time for SIU alumnae and women business owners and community members to come together and showcase their incredible talents,” said Sherrica Hunt, the SIU Foundation’s assistant vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion. “The energy that these women bring to this event, our campus, and our society is inspiring. We want to share that with as many people as possible.”
The Soar with Success: Saluki Women’s Reception will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Glenn Poshard Transportation Center at SI Airport in Murphysboro. Check-in begins at 5 p.m., and the keynote speaker will be Erin Jackson, an SIU alumna and American Airlines pilot. There will also be the opportunity for aviation tours and exclusive networking opportunities.
The Women in Empowerment Conference will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Morris Library. Check-in begins at 8 a.m., followed by breakfast and opening remarks. From there, topics will include artificial intelligence, health and wellness, career planning, philanthropy, and more. There will also be an expert panel discussion and Q&A session.
The weekend will conclude with the Saluki Women Tailgating Experience before SIU plays SEMO on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Saluki Stadium. The tailgate will begin at 4 p.m. on Saluki Row, and the game begins at 6 p.m.
There will also be four awards handed out – Woman of the Year, Trailblazer, Emerging Leader, and Rising Star.
The weekend is sponsored by SIU Credit Union, Moneta Group, Legence Bank, SIH, Oasis Skin & Wellness Center, Rendleman Orchards, Dawn Korte, Ph.D., State Farm agent Cristina Pisoni, and WSIU.
For more details and a full list of speakers, visit siuf.org/salukiwomen. All public events are free. Some events will be invitation-only. For more information or contact Sherrica Hunt, assistant vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion, at sherricah@foundation.siu.edu.
Kathryn Sime, assistant vice chancellor for major & planned giving, reflects on her first solo donor meeting with SIU alumna and generous benefactor, Marilea Koch.
I met Marilea Koch (SIU, BS, 1952) in the fall of 2018. I was a new development officer for the SIU Foundation, primarily focused on working with alumni from the School of Education. Marilea was my first solo donor meeting, and I was so nervous walking up to the front door of her modest duplex in Salem, Illinois. She was a retired high school English and speech teacher, struggling with macular degeneration. While there was nothing in her home that would have hinted that Marilea could make a major gift to support Southern Illinois University, her 23 years of giving were an indicator of her deep love for SIU. At the end of our visit, I took a breath and bravely asked if she had ever considered leaving a planned gift to benefit SIU. She responded with a smile and said “I wondered if you would ask about that.”
Marilea explained that she had already included SIU in her estate plans in hopes of establishing a scholarship in memory of her parents. I worked with her on the language for the scholarship, and ultimately, we established the Edward and Elizabeth Ann Paddison Scholarship Endowment Fund. She declined to share an estimated amount for the scholarship, but did confirm that it would likely meet the minimum of $25,000 required for an endowment. I returned multiple times and kept in touch with Marilea. She never wanted any publicity for her gift commitment and continued to support her beloved SIU every year.
Marilea lived simply her entire life up until her death at 93 this past January. When her estate trustee, also an SIU alumnus, called me to confirm details of her estate gift, he shared that Marilea’s gift was indeed sufficient to meet the minimum endowment level, and in fact, would likely exceed $600,000 to provide scholarships for SIU students from Southern Illinois. In addition, Marilea’s quiet philanthropy included generous gifts to her church and local public library. Her incredible gift will support SIU students for generations. I am grateful to have known Marilea and thrilled by her generosity.
Learn how you can make a lasting legacy at SIU: siufgiving.org
John Simmons (middle) cuts the ribbon Friday, Aug. 16, at the SIU Simmons Law School.
Support from $10M donation will help students, faculty
By Jeff Wilson
CARBONDALE – SIU Simmons Law School has a nice ring to it. Now it has a fresh look to match.
In February 2024, John and Jayne Simmons announced a $10 million gift to the law school, enhancing and expanding its educational offerings to students and opportunities to faculty. In honor of the donation, the SIU Board of Trustees voted to name the SIU Simmons Law School. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Aug. 16, the new name and signage were unveiled.
“This mission is aligned with my personal and professional value system,” said John Simmons, a member of the SIU Board of Trustees and founder of the Simmons Hanly Conroy law firm. “We are proud of this school and what it stands for. I owe a lot of my success to SIU and what it has given to my family. It has sent me on my way to success, expanded my world, my horizons, my view on life and my role in supporting my community.”
This historic gift – the largest SIU Carbondale has ever received – further cements Simmons’ legacy at SIU, which includes a $10.2 million commitment to the Simmons Cancer Institute at the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. His most recent contribution comes as another major step in the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has raised more than $340 million toward its $500 million goal.
“This gift will allow all of our students and faculty to continue to imagine,” Chancellor Austin Lane said. “You can think about all of the things you’re going to get in this building that are going to take you from Southern Illinois into the world.”
Simmons, a native and resident of Alton, is an SIUE graduate and chairperson and founder of Simmons Hanly Conroy law firm. His support will help provide more access, services, and opportunities to students seeking educational opportunities at SIU Simmons Law School.
The law school is the alma mater of more than 180 local, state, and federal judges. It also has alumni practicing law in 48 states and more than 10 countries. It also features legal clinics that serve members of underrepresented communities and offer students real-world experience.
“Lending one’s name, one’s reputation to a school is a profound gesture,” said SIU Simmons Law School Acting Dean Angela Upchurch. “It intertwines their identity with the ongoing story and mission of that institution, and it creates an indelible impact on its faculty, students and staff.”
Simmons has served two stints on the SIU Board of Trustees, first from 2004 to 2015 and was appointed again in 2019 by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. He has previously functioned as the board’s secretary and chair. He earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University and previously served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer.
In 1999, he founded Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation’s largest plaintiff’s law firms. The firm has dedicated the past 25 years to representing workers and families impacted by mesothelioma, a fatal and preventable asbestos-related cancer. Under his leadership, the firm expanded to new practice areas and now employs more than 250 people, including more than 80 attorneys, in offices across the country. Most recently, the firm successfully helped lead the national effort to hold manufacturers and distributors of prescription opiates accountable for the opioid epidemic. Firm employees have donated more than $1 million to local charities through the Simmons Employee Foundation and more than $20 million to cancer research nationwide.
Simmons Hanly Conroy has long been involved with SIU’s law school, providing internships, and employing its graduates.
“John is motivated by his core belief of giving back to the community to help improve and create a better life for others,” said SIU Board of Trustees Chair J. Phil Gilbert. “The contribution and investment in this law school will change lives by providing educational opportunities to anyone desiring a legal education … and will develop future leaders that make this world a better place in which to live.”
This concept art shows what the Tedrick Welcome Center could look like once constructed. (Provided by Hafer Architects)
CARBONDALE – With the fall semester comes new beginnings, and this year, it marks the start of the first major campus construction project in nearly 12 years as progress begins on the Tedrick Welcome Center.
With the raising of a fence around the construction site, Parking Lot No. 11 will be closed. Once the building is completed in May of 2026, parking will once again be available.
“Construction of the Tedrick Welcome Center is 100 percent funded through the SIU Foundation. It will require no taxpayer dollars and no tuition or student fee monies,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “The Foundation prides itself on maintaining a strong partnership with the university, and the welcome center is its gift to this spectacular campus.”
Funded 100 percent through the SIU Foundation, including $6 million from Roger and Sally Tedrick, this state-of-the-art facility will be the first stop for prospective Salukis, with space for open houses, the origination of campus tours, orientations, and other events.
Members of the campus community, including colleges, admissions, student organizations, and other departments will utilize the space for conferences, seminars, meetings, and much more. The Tedrick Welcome Center will also serve as a hub for alumni activities and campus and community events.
As the SIU Foundation continues the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign – which has raised more than $340 million toward its $500 million goal – its offices will move into the southern wing of the new building and be known as the Philanthropy Center. In its most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation provided $5.4 million in scholarships to 1,842 students, impacting more than 16 percent of all SIU students.
“Aligning with the Imagine SIU 2030 strategic plan, the Tedrick Welcome Center is going to help the university increase enrollment, engage with alumni and friends, and provide a laboratory for SIU to solidify its role as a philanthropic leader,” Chancellor Austin Lane said.
Currently, the SIU Foundation is housed in Colyer Hall, the last active building in the area which is the former home of Greek Row. The university has informed the SIU Foundation that it must vacate that location as the dilapidated building is scheduled to be razed.
In recent years, the power of philanthropy has been on display around campus. Fundraising efforts and major gifts solicited by the Foundation have led to new construction and major improvements in multiple areas, including:
The revitalization of the Ralph E. Becker Pavilion at the boathouse
The building of the SIU Credit Union Pavilion at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center
A new, improved sign at the entrance of Touch of Nature
The Marching Salukis practice field and tower on East Campus
Improvements to the Fermentation Science Institute at McLafferty Annex
A planned fountain to be added to Campus Lake
Numerous other yet-to-be-announced projects across campus
“The philanthropic support of our alumni and donors is transforming campus in an incredible way,” Kupec said. “There are many opportunities for enhancements and new construction. SIU is a university on the move. Beyond the construction of the Tedrick Welcome Center, the Foundation will continue to have strategic impact on many improvements across campus.”
Questions about parking options
During the first two weeks of classes, Lot 13, east of the Student Center, will temporarily be free. It is a paid lot the rest of the year but free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. We also will make Lot 10, a blue decal space east of the Student Services Building, available to commuting students.
Lot 3 (across Highway 51, accessible from East Grand Avenue and Washington Street) is a good option and next to the walking bridge. The city of Carbondale also maintains paid parking near that lot.
Other red decal parking options include the following lots:
48 (near the tennis courts).
89A and 52 (north and southwest of Banterra Center).
39 Red (split lot, south of Life Science III).
4 Red (split lot, south of the Communications Building), 40 and 44 (southwest and north of the Communications Building).
6A (north of Morris Library).
7 Red (split lot, north of Pulliam Hall).
77 (Forest Street, south of Whitney Street) on the main campus.
Although employees with blue or gold decals may park in red decal lots, they are encouraged to park in blue decal lots to make space for commuting students. Blue decal lots near Lot 11 include:
10 (east of the Student Services Building).
2 (near Anthony Hall).
13A (southeast of the Student Center).
47 (west of Neckers).
89 (north of Banterra Center).
37 (south of the Engineering Building).
A 2023 study by Walker Consultants found that we have ample parking on campus, with an estimated 7,000+ vacant parking spaces during peak hours on a typical busy day; only 43 percent of red decal spaces were occupied. We understand that available spots may not be as close to a building entrance as someone would like, but many are within a 10-minute walk. After 4 p.m., you may park just about anywhere on campus, with the exception of visitors-only spaces, 24-hour reserved spaces and handicap spaces.
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.
“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.
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:
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 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.
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.
“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.”
