CHICAGO (Oct. 10, 2025) — A sea of maroon filled the Atrium Level of the Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile on Thursday, Oct. 9, as nearly 425 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends joined Southern Illinois University Carbondale for the Chancellor’s Reception, the signature event of the 5th Annual Saluki Takeover Tour Chicago — setting a new attendance record for the growing tradition.
Hosted by the SIU Foundation, the reception brought together generations of Salukis to celebrate their university pride, strengthen professional connections, and hear the latest campus updates from Chancellor Austin A. Lane. Guests enjoyed Chicago favorites, including pizza, hot dogs, and Garrett’s Popcorn, along with sweeping city views from the Magnificent Mile.
“Chicago showed up for SIU,” Lane said. “This week proved what the Saluki community can do when alumni, partners, and future students come together in one of the world’s great cities.”
During the evening, Lane recognized university partners, corporate leaders, and alumni whose ongoing support continues to expand SIU’s footprint throughout the Chicagoland region. The Chancellor also highlighted the university’s momentum as both a Carnegie R1 research institution and an Opportunity University, emphasizing SIU’s mission to make high-quality education accessible to students across Illinois.
Women’s Leadership Council sets the tone
The weeklong celebration kicked off Oct. 7 with a Women’s Leadership Council social co-hosted by SIU Foundation Board Members Beth Mueller and Tonnette Williams, who also serves on the SIU Board of Trustees. Held at Mueller’s home, the evening brought together dozens of Saluki women from the Chicago area for an intimate night of networking and empowerment.
Guests heard from alumna Stacey Lynn Emerson (’12), a personal stylist and image maker, who encouraged attendees to define who they are and show up with confidence in every space they occupy. The gathering set a tone of energy and connection that carried throughout the week’s events.
Building partnerships and recruiting future Salukis
From Oct. 8–10, SIU teams traveled across the Chicago metro area for more than two dozen recruiting, alumni, and corporate engagement events. University leaders visited high schools and community colleges to meet with students, counselors, and administrators — including Benito Juarez Community Academy, Farragut Career Academy, Englewood STEM High School, Michele Clark High School, Morgan Park High School, Johnson College Prep, Excel Academy of Southwest, and Rich Township High School District 207, led by Superintendent Dr. Johnnie Thomas.
The visits emphasized SIU’s automatic admission pathway for Illinois students with a 2.75 GPA, a no-fee undergraduate application, and the importance of submitting the FAFSA early to secure state funding.
In higher education partnerships, SIU also visited College of DuPage and McHenry County College to strengthen transfer pipelines in fields such as aviation, automotive technology, and horticulture.
Salukis on the Run: Students connect with alumni in media and marketing
Broadcasting, journalism, and advertising students from SIU’s College of Arts and Media joined the SIU Alumni Association for Salukis on the Run, an experiential learning trip to leading Chicago media and advertising organizations.
Students visited WGN-TV, AbelsonTaylor, Zeno Group, NewsNation, Cutter Studios, and Ron Gould Studios, where alumni shared career advice and insights on navigating creative industries.
Alumni entrepreneurship takes the spotlight at Boost Auto
One of the tour’s standout moments was a visit to Boost Auto, a rapidly growing manufacturer founded by 2016 graduate Adam Wolfe in West Chicago. Wolfe launched the company in 2015 while studying automotive technology at SIU, starting in the SIU Business Incubator with support from the SIU Small Business Development Center. What began as a student project to enhance his own GMC Sierra has evolved into a nationally recognized brand producing high-quality aftermarket accessories.
Chancellor Lane, SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec, Dr. Robert Morgan, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, and Andrew Croxell, director of the automotive technology program, toured Boost Auto’s 50,000-square-foot facility, where nearly 40% of employees are fellow Salukis. Wolfe continues to give back through the Boost Auto Scholarship and Faculty Excellence Awards.
“Adam Wolfe is an incredible example of what’s possible when Saluki innovation meets opportunity,” Lane said. “His story captures the spirit of this tour — celebrating alumni achievement while building connections for the next generation.”
Expanding opportunities through AAR partnership
The tour concluded Oct. 10 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and AAR CORP., a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs.
The agreement, signed at AAR’s Wood Dale headquarters, connects SIU students with industry experts and real-world learning experiences. It was announced as part of the Takeover Tour, underscoring SIU’s growing partnerships with Chicago-based corporations.
The partnership combines SIU’s academic excellence with AAR’s global reach to offer internships, co-ops, guest lectures, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities.
Two SIU alumni — Sal Marino, AAR’s senior vice president of parts supply, and Jim Berberet, senior vice president of component services — helped establish the partnership.
Continuing the momentum
Throughout the Takeover Tour, alumni, donors, and students reflected on SIU’s growing impact across Illinois — from classrooms to corporations.
“The energy in Chicago matches our trajectory in Carbondale,” Lane said. “We are building partnerships that open doors for students and create a lifetime network for Salukis in every neighborhood of this city.”
The Saluki Takeover Tour is part of SIU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen alumni engagement and build support for Imagine SIU 2030, the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised more than $425 million toward its $500 million goal, making it the fifth-largest fundraising effort in Illinois higher education. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the student body.
The Saluki Takeover Tour continues with stops across the country:
- Nov. 11–14 – Texas (Dallas, Austin, Houston)
- Nov. 24–25 – Memphis
- Feb. 10–13 – Florida (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Naples)
- Mar. 4–6 – St. Louis
- Mar. 23–27 – Central Illinois (Bloomington/Peoria, Springfield)
- Mar. 31–Apr. 21 – Southern Illinois (Makanda, Nashville, Goreville, Herrin, Red Bud, Carmi)
- May 13–15 – Atlanta
- Jun. 8–12 – California (San Francisco, Los Angeles)