Southern Illinois University Carbondale celebrated the official naming of the Boehler Family First Saluki Center on Friday, Nov. 6, recognizing a $150,000 commitment from alumnus Jeff Boehler and his wife, Barbara, to expand resources and opportunities for first-generation college students.
The ceremony brought together university leaders, SIU Foundation representatives, family members and friends to recognize the Boehlers’ generosity ahead of National First-Generation College Celebration Day on Nov. 8.
For Jeff Boehler, a 1975 SIU graduate and first-generation college student, the dedication marked a personal milestone. More than 50 years after arriving on campus without the guidance he needed to navigate college, he returned to help ensure future Salukis have access to those resources.
“I wish we had something like this when I started school,” Boehler said. “A resource center that you could come to, you could talk to peers who have been through what you’re going through.”
Boehler and his daughter, Lindsay, participated in the unveiling of the center’s new name in the Student Services Building.
A personal commitment to first-generation students
Boehler grew up in the Chicago suburbs as the son of immigrants who came to the United States seeking better opportunities. His father encouraged him to become the first in their family to attend college but died during Boehler’s junior year of high school.
Determined to fulfill his father’s dream, Boehler enrolled at SIU in 1970. Without family experience to guide him, he changed majors several times and temporarily left school to earn money before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1975.
“My father always wanted me to go to college, and in his honor, I found SIU and came here and was determined to get a college education,” Boehler said during the ceremony.
He went on to a successful career in global manufacturing and supply chain leadership at Motorola and Honeywell, eventually overseeing responsibilities involving approximately 35,000 employees across 50 countries before retiring in 2014.
Despite the challenges he faced as a student, Boehler credited SIU with providing an education, friendships and experiences that shaped his career.
“Very welcoming community. People make you feel like you belong,” he said. “The diversity of the school was great for me because you meet people from all different walks of life, different cultures, all different backgrounds.”
Those experiences helped inspire Jeff and Barbara to support students who face similar obstacles.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Major and Planned Giving Kathryn Sime recalled meeting Boehler about eight years ago in St. Petersburg, Florida, where they discussed his experience as a first-generation college student and his passion for helping others overcome similar challenges.
That initial connection led the Boehlers to establish scholarship support for first-generation students and eventually expand their generosity to the First Saluki Center.
“One of the best things about the work that we do is finding incredibly generous donors who have a passion for something that intersects with what SIU is all about,” Sime said. “Supporting first-gen students is at the heart of who we are.”
Expanding opportunities for student success
Dr. Lanel Love, assistant dean of students and the First Saluki Center, thanked the Boehlers for investing in resources that help students remain enrolled and complete their degrees.
The center opened in August 2019 to provide first-generation students with guidance, academic support and a sense of belonging. Its services include peer mentoring, math and science tutoring, academic workshops and scholarships.
Love said the center has maintained a 90% retention rate among participating students, while 95% have maintained a cumulative GPA above 2.0.
The Boehlers’ gift will help expand the center’s outreach, scholarships, mentoring and tutoring programs.
“Because of their generosity, we will be able to expand our marketing and outreach efforts,” Love said. “We’ll be able to expand our scholarships, more scholarships for students. We’ll be able to expand our mentoring and our tutoring program.”
SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec emphasized how the center reflects the university’s commitment to providing access to higher education.
SIU is one of just 21 universities nationwide to receive the dual Carnegie Classification as both a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University, recognizing its excellence in research and commitment to student access and success.
“The First Saluki Center is about being both good and great, doing the right thing and being great at it,” Kupec said.
A legacy of giving back
The naming ceremony also highlighted the importance of National First-Generation College Celebration Day, observed annually Nov. 8 to recognize first-generation students and their achievements.
Boehler expressed gratitude to the university representatives who introduced him and Barbara to the center and helped them find another way to support students.
“I’m humbled to be here,” Boehler said. “I appreciate the honor.”
Although Barbara Boehler could not attend the ceremony, Jeff acknowledged her support and their shared commitment to helping first-generation students succeed at SIU. Their daughter, Lindsay, joined Jeff in person, while their son, Matt, and grandson, Brodie, participated via FaceTime after travel complications prevented them from attending.
Reflecting on his education and career, Boehler encouraged others who find success after graduation to consider giving back to the university.
The Boehlers’ $150,000 commitment contributes to the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which surpassed its $500 million goal 20 months ahead of schedule.
To learn more about supporting the Boehler Family First Saluki Center and other Student Affairs initiatives, contact Brian Flath, director of development for Student Affairs, at 618-453-4286 or brianf@foundation.siu.edu.