The SIU Foundation Women’s Leadership Council awarded $2,189 in micro-grants to three women-led initiatives May 21 at the Tedrick Welcome Center.
The annual micro-grant program supports innovative projects that enhance student learning, leadership development and engagement while advancing opportunities for women across Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
“The Women’s Leadership Council is proud to support these three very different and impactful projects,” said Gloria Tison, co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Council. “Each one creates new opportunities to empower women, students and faculty at SIU. It has been wonderful to meet the recipients, hear their ideas and see their excitement as they received these grants.”
This year’s recipients represent a diverse range of disciplines and initiatives, from artificial intelligence literacy and multicultural leadership development to professional advancement in healthcare.
Dr. Valerie Boyer, director of the School of Health Sciences and associate professor in Communication Disorders and Sciences, received funding to support the SIU Student Ambassadors to the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention program. The initiative will send undergraduate and graduate students to the annual professional conference, where they will participate in leadership activities, professional development opportunities and advocacy efforts before sharing their experiences with fellow students on campus.
“This grant will help our undergraduate and graduate students engage with the profession beyond the classroom,” Boyer said. “They will participate in professional networking, leadership opportunities and academic competitions while representing SIU at the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention. These experiences help prepare students for their careers and expose them to the broader world of speech-language pathology. We are very grateful for this support.”
Dr. Holly Lewis, director of the Center for Virtual Expression, received funding for the Saluki AI Literacy Benchmark (SAIL), a new initiative designed to help students and faculty better understand emerging artificial intelligence technologies. The project will provide interdisciplinary teams of faculty and students access to advanced AI platforms and academic research tools, culminating in a public benchmark report and video resource focused on AI literacy and its impact on higher education and society.
“This micro-grant will give students and faculty access to advanced AI tools that are often out of reach,” Lewis said. “Our goal is to create an AI literacy benchmark that helps our community better understand these technologies, including how issues such as diversity and representation are reflected in AI systems. This project is a first step toward making SIU a leader in AI literacy and research.”
Tatiana Castillo, president of the Multicultural Empowered Women Student Association, received funding for “MEWSA: Global Saluki Women Speak.” The project will produce a Global Women’s Wellbeing Toolkit that provides culturally responsive resources and support strategies for women at SIU, designed to strengthen community engagement among international and domestic female students.
Three MEWSA student leaders attended the award presentation: Tatiana Castillo of Colombia, a master’s student in social work; Priyanka Subedi of Nepal, a master’s student in forestry; and Anahit Amori of Iran, a doctoral student in wildlife biology.
“MEWSA was founded just one year ago, and today nearly 80 women are involved,” Castillo said. “This grant will help us strengthen leadership development, expand support networks and create a Women’s Wellbeing Toolkit that makes resources more accessible to female scholars from a variety of backgrounds. We are grateful to the Women’s Leadership Council and the SIU Foundation for believing in our vision and helping us create a stronger sense of belonging for women at SIU.”
The Women’s Leadership Council created the micro-grant program to provide seed funding for projects that empower women, foster leadership and create meaningful educational experiences for students. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process and support initiatives that align with the council’s mission of advancing opportunities for women at SIU.
“The proposals we received were thoughtful, detailed and centered on student success,” said Sherrica Hunt, assistant vice chancellor for affinity philanthropy and strategic initiatives. “These projects demonstrate the power of investing in students and creating equitable opportunities for growth and leadership. We are grateful to support initiatives that advance our mission of serving all Salukis.”
By investing in innovative ideas across campus, the Women’s Leadership Council continues to support programs that strengthen student success, encourage leadership development and expand opportunities for future generations of Salukis.
About the Women’s Leadership Council
The Women’s Leadership Council, established in 2020, is a network of alumnae, parents and friends committed to creating a culture of women-driven philanthropy at SIU. Through mentorship, leadership and philanthropy, council members invest their time, expertise and resources to support scholarships, women-focused initiatives and opportunities that empower future generations of Salukis. The council also sponsors a mentor program that connects students with successful women leaders to foster professional growth, leadership development, networking and career exploration while strengthening lifelong connections to the university.
The council will continue its mission of empowering women through the 5th Annual Saluki Women’s Weekend, set for Sept. 10-12. The signature event brings together alumni, students, faculty, staff and community leaders for networking, professional development and mentorship opportunities while celebrating the achievements and contributions of women across the Saluki community.
Learn more at siuf.org/wlc.