During a record-setting year, the SIU Foundation is expanding its fundraising team.

“This is about building momentum and making sure we have the right people in place to deepen relationships and create more opportunities for our students,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “With so many great things happening at SIU, every addition to this team strengthens our ability to connect generosity with impact.”

Two new staff members joined the team during the spring 2026 semester:

Matt Collinsworth joined the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute as associate director in February 2025. He is a 1993 graduate of Georgetown College and earned a Master of Fine Arts from Ohio State University in 1996. Before coming to SIU, Collinsworth served as executive director of Carbondale Main Street for two years. He previously led three museums: the Kentucky Folk Art Center at Morehead State University, the National Music Museum at the University of South Dakota and the National Quilt Museum in Paducah. He also served as senior director of cultural outreach at Morehead State, interim director of the Lexington Art League and executive director of the Morehead Downtown Association.

Cole Steward joined Saluki Athletics as assistant director of development on April 1, 2026, where he works to enhance the donor experience through relationship-building and long-term support of Saluki Athletics. A native of Salem, Illinois, Steward is a Southern Illinois University graduate and former Saluki Football student-athlete who played under head coach Nick Hill from 2017 to 2021. Before returning to SIU, he spent four years at Western Kentucky University as athletic advising coordinator, supporting student-athletes through academic planning, eligibility oversight, and leadership and character development. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport administration and a Master of Education in kinesiology with an emphasis in sport studies from SIU.

These hires reflect the Foundation’s ongoing effort to build a strong, collaborative team that connects alumni and friends with opportunities to make a lasting difference at SIU.

In fiscal year 2025, the Foundation raised $39 million, the second-highest total in its history. That support helped award $5.6 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 students, the largest amount distributed in a single year.