By Jeff Wilson

Raised by her grandparents in Chicago, Makela Clay was taught the value of giving at an early age.

“They instilled the idea in me that I am my brother’s keeper and that I should treat people the way I want to be treated,” she said. “I love supporting and helping others be their best selves.”

Most recently, she pledged $25,000 to endow the Concrete Rose Scholarship.

“It is dedicated to current Salukis who look like me – women of color who come from Chicago,” she said. “Philanthropy is just an extension of who I am and how I move throughout my life. As Black alumni, it is important for us to sit at the table of support. It’s important for us to show current students that we’re here to support them, and they too can give back when they’re further along in their career.”

Clay, a 1999 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts, is now an executive assistant at TPG in San Francisco.

“I think back fondly on my time in Carbondale and go back often,” she said. “There were so many things that I was able to do at SIU that gave me the confidence to move forward. I can’t imagine my life today without those formative years that I spent gaining my degree.”

Much of her donation history before the scholarship came during the SIU Day of Giving, supporting causes that were important to her, including the Balancing Education, Experience, and Reality (B.E.E.R.) Scholarship.

“Being a donor back to SIU means a lot to me. SIU took a chance on a really shy kid from inner city Chicago and gave me an opportunity to better myself, gain an education and to go forth in the world,” Clay said. “I felt so supported by all the Salukis who came before me, everyone within the Saluki community who saw me as an individual and wanted to see me succeed, and I want to be able to pay that forward.”

She has been a member of the SIU Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2022.

“Through the board, I am continuing to spread the gospel of SIU and the good news, making sure other alumni are up to date and connected to the university.”

She hopes that gifts such as the Concrete Rose Scholarship can inspire others to give back to Southern and support the students who need it most.

“I hope that my legacy will encourage future generations of Salukis to do exactly what I did. Take it one step further and continue to carry the torch of supporting even more Salukis further down the road.”

To make a gift, visit siuf.org.