By Britni Bateman
The SIU Foundation recently announced the addition of five members to its Board of Directors.
Led by President Dan Korte, the SIU Foundation Board of Directors continues to advance the goals of Imagine SIU 2030. The campaign, which concludes in 2028, has raised more than $440 million toward its $500 million goal, fueling scholarships, facility improvements and new opportunities that strengthen SIU’s future.
The following individuals joined the board on July 1, 2025:
Jennifer (Yunker) Dore, who earned degrees from SIU in dental hygiene (1991) and advanced technical studies (1994), has demonstrated decades of commitment to community service and philanthropy. Her early career included work in Chicago-area dental practices before earning a master’s degree in public health from Indiana University. She later dedicated extensive time to volunteer leadership, serving on education boards, supporting nonprofits and contributing to cancer support organizations.
Her philanthropic support for SIU began immediately after graduation. Over three decades, she and her husband, Marty, have continued to give annually and recently provided seed funding for SIU’s Community Care and Education Center (CCEC). Their support helped launch the initiative, which now serves individuals and families throughout Southern Illinois.
Dore was nominated to the foundation board following her service on the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the College of Health and Human Sciences. She and her husband live in the Chicago area and have two children.
“When I was asked to join the foundation, I felt truly honored,” Dore said. “I’m excited to support the incredible progress happening at SIU. The foundation is investing in the right things, and I’m proud to play a small role in helping the university and the community grow.”
Helen Heimann, a 1984 graduate in advanced technical studies, is a retired financial services executive with more than three decades of leadership experience in risk management, compliance and regulatory implementation. She most recently served as a managing director at Wells Fargo, where she led enterprise-wide implementation of regulatory changes, playing a key role in navigating evolving financial industry standards and strengthening organizational compliance frameworks.
Heimann also holds a Master of Science in information management from Washington University in St. Louis. Her career has been defined by a commitment to operational excellence, ethical leadership and developing scalable solutions in highly regulated environments.
She is president of the Special Needs Foundation for Community Link, where she works closely with organizational leadership to ensure financial stability. Community Link is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities through adult day services, employment opportunities, volunteer work and daily life skills development.
Now retired, Heimann brings her strategic insight and governance experience to her role on the Southern Illinois University Foundation Board. She is passionate about supporting students and advancing the mission of higher education through thoughtful stewardship and alumni engagement.
Heimann currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I think everyone can add value — whether it’s through their experience, their network or simply bringing more awareness to SIU,” Heimann said. “Carbondale has such a great history. The more we talk about it, the better.”
Ron Smith, a 1964 marketing graduate and 1966 MBA recipient, has spent six decades as a champion for SIU. A native of Walsh, Illinois, Smith went on to serve as chief operating officer of Medical Group of North County, Inc., and manager of SDCC Properties Manager, LLC, overseeing the facilities of the San Diego Cancer Center — an integrative oncology program later incorporated into UC San Diego Health. He also serves on the board of the San Diego Cancer Research Institute.
He remained deeply connected to his alma mater, contributing more than $250,000 over the last 20 years. Recently, he made a $500,000 leadership gift to establish a student textbook assistance fund. He also supports endowed chairs within the College of Business and Analytics.
A longtime donor to Saluki Athletics, Smith has maintained season football tickets despite living in California and has supported initiatives including Blackout Cancer and Saluki Softball. His extended family includes multiple generations of Salukis.
“Even if you’re in California, like me, you can help folks in Southern Illinois,” he said.
Derrick Taylor, a 1985 SIU graduate in automotive technology and business management, came to SIU as a standout running back from Chicago and helped lead the Salukis to the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA national championship. After college, he briefly joined the Denver Broncos as a free agent before beginning his professional career with Oldsmobile. He eventually returned to Chicago, spending 14 years working for the City of Chicago and later serving as assistant commissioner at O’Hare International Airport.
Today, Taylor is the owner/operator of six McDonald’s restaurants in Illinois, employing more than 300 people. He also serves as president of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Taylor is the father of three sons and a daughter.
“I said yes to the Foundation Board when I felt I could give it my best. At this point in my life, I have the time, experience and passion to add value, help make things a little better than they were before and give back to the place that helped shape who I am,” Taylor said.
Eugene Walker Jr. graduated from SIU in 1983 with degrees in construction management and building construction technology and has built a distinguished 40-year career in commercial building, heavy highway work and program management. He is the majority owner, president and CEO of EJ Smith Construction and Supply Companies; majority co-owner and CEO of Integrated Project Solutions, LLC; and owner, president and CEO of the EVENT Companies. He also serves as chair of the DeSoto Area Chamber of Commerce and has cultivated strong relationships across the construction industry, public sector and community organizations.
Walker is committed to expanding opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses through strategic partnerships, mentorship and advocacy. His service on numerous boards, advocacy awards and recognition as an influential African American leader in Texas highlight his dedication to opening doors for others.
He is a proud family man dedicated to his wife and partner Elsa of 18 years. Their son, Victor, is the family company’s lead structural senior estimator, and their daughter, Tatyana, is a Truman Scholar, Fulbright finalist, Luce Scholar and 2024 Rhodes Scholar. Walker is also a proud life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
“Whether it is mentoring to build bridges or giving back through philanthropy, I believe in making a difference and being the difference,” Walker said.