University leaders connect with alumni, donors, partners, schools
By Jeff Wilson
The fourth annual Saluki Takeover Tour in Chicago engaged university leaders with alumni and donors while also facilitating partnerships with community colleges, high schools and corporate partners.
Hosted by the SIU Foundation, the takeover tour has become a staple of the SIU calendar. Stretching well beyond Chicago, this year there will be stops in Memphis, Houston, Dallas, Nashville, Florida, St. Louis, Phoenix, California, and across Southern Illinois. For a full schedule of Saluki Takeover Tours, visit siuf.org/takeovers.
Salukis came in record numbers – more than 275 of them! – to celebrate their alma mater during the Chancellor’s Reception on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Residence Inn Chicago Magnificent Mile, managed by SIU alumnus Tommie Van ’86.
“We take our university, and we get a lot of us to come up here, and we plant the flag in the ground and tell everybody in the Windy City that this is Saluki territory,” said Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation Matt Kupec.
From Tuesday, Sept. 23, through Thursday, Sept. 26, dozens of representatives from Southern Illinois University Carbondale spread out across Chicago and surrounding areas, building partnerships and spreading the Saluki spirit.
“There is so much work that is happening,” said Chancellor Austin Lane. “We need more out of Chicago. That has been our theme as we have met with our community college presidents and high school principals.”
Throughout the week development officers and leaders from the SIU Foundation met with dozens of donors acro
ss the city in support of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has raised more than $360 million toward its $500 million goal.
“This year we set a record for fundraising. It is about 2.7 times more than we raised in 2019,” said SIU System President Dan Mahony. “That money goes to support students, support programs, support scholarships, support all the incredible work faculty is doing.”
Over the four-day takeover tour, visits were made to the following community colleges:
- McHenry Community College
- Oakton College
- Joliet Junior College
- Harper College
- College of DuPage
- Prairie State College
- Moraine Valley Community College
“We had a wonderful, long day visiting those community college partners, because those are our future Salukis,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sheryl Tucker. “That’s part of where our enrollment growth is going to be.”
There were also visits to the following high schools:
- Englewood High School
- Morgan Park High School
- Noble Johnson College Prep
- Benito Juarez High School
- Farragut High School
- Al Raby School
- Chicago Agricultural High School
Many of the high schools are Hope Chicago schools. Hope Chicago scholarships remove financial barriers for students and families within the Chicago Public Schools system. Hope scholars also receive wraparound support like advising and mentoring to help them achieve their desired degree or certification.
“We have been here strengthening our partnership with Hope Chicago and other entities,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeff Burgin. “I know you know this, but I love saying it: If it’s been done and done well, a Saluki probably did it.”
Representatives from the College of Health and Human Sciences visited Navistar Inc. and AAR Corp. Over the years, Navistar has made incredible investment in the School of Automotive with gifts-in-kind totaling more than $1.1 million. AAR provides aviation services to commercial and government partners worldwide.
CHHS Dean Robert Morgan and School of Automotive Director Andrew Croxell also hosted an Automotive Happy Hour on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Church Street Brewery in Itasca.
SIU Research Park Executive Director Lynn Lindberg and others met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the 1871 Business Development Service.
The Saluki Takeover Tour in Chicago ended Thursday, Sept. 26, with the SIU Alumni Association’s Wrigleyville Takeover at the Saluki-owned Almost Home Tavern and Grill. Dozens of Salukis came together to celebrate their SIU connections.
