By Britni Bateman

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale will name its School of Journalism and Advertising in the College of Arts and Media after alumna Charlotte Thompson Suhler in recognition of her recent gift to the school.

The dedication ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the journalism wing of the Communications Building, near the Daily Egyptian entrance. CAM students and staff will direct visitors. Chancellor Austin Lane, College of Arts and Media Dean Hong Cheng, and School of Journalism and Advertising Director Jan Thompson will deliver remarks. A reception will follow.

The School of Journalism and Advertising is one of six schools in the College of Arts and Media, which also includes the schools of Architecture, Art and Design, Media Arts, Music, and Theater and Dance. With this naming, it becomes the first school at SIU to be named for a woman.

Suhler’s gift will support the school’s mission, as determined by its director in consultation with the dean. Valuing both research and creative activity, the school is known for its lab-based learning model, where students gain professional-level training beginning in their first year. Newsrooms, labs, student organizations and class projects give them practical experience and help build résumés and portfolios that stand out in a competitive marketplace.

“Charlotte Thompson Suhler’s remarkable generosity and pioneering spirit embody the very best of SIU,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “Her gift not only honors her legacy as one of our trailblazing alumni but also ensures that future generations of Salukis will have the resources and inspiration to pursue their own bold paths in journalism and advertising.”

Suhler, who attended SIU from 1961 to 1965, was among the first women to major in advertising.

“I was the only woman in my advertising classes,” she said. “Maybe I was the first woman to graduate as an advertising major. I didn’t think anything about it — it was just natural for me.”

“Mrs. Suhler’s legacy exemplifies courage, entrepreneurship and compassion. As a pioneering alumna, she has already distinguished our renowned School of Journalism and Advertising through her professional achievements. This transformative gift ensures her legacy will continue to inspire generations of students to come,” said Hong Cheng, dean of the College of Arts and Media. “On behalf of the college, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for her commitment to advancing our mission and empowering future leaders in journalism and advertising.”

Breaking barriers at SIU

Raised in Mount Vernon, Illinois, Suhler grew up in a newspaper family.

“By 16, I had my own advertising accounts and sometimes filled in on the editorial side,” she said. “The only thing I didn’t do was run the Linotypes.”

Still, she recalled, women were encouraged to choose “safe” career paths. “At the time, women were told, ‘You should get your teaching degree. You can always fall back on teaching,’” she said. “So, I did. I taught English and journalism and sponsored the award-winning newspaper at Mount Vernon Township High School for a year. But what I wanted was advertising.”

At SIU, she carved her own path. She joined the Tri Sigma sorority, where she became president, and helped organize, with the assistance of the student body president, the first student protest about changes for spring break, as well as sitting in classes where history unfolded.

“When President Kennedy was assassinated, we were in a headline-writing lab,” she said. “Tears were streaming down our faces as we counted type to fit: ‘Kennedy dies,’ ‘Kennedy assassinated.’ It was like being a real reporter. I still get teary about that.”

“Charlotte Thompson Suhler is the perfect role model for our students and Salukis everywhere,” said Jan Thompson, director of the School of Journalism and Advertising. “She achieved remarkable success working alongside some of the most celebrated journalists of her time, and her charitable work reflects a selfless dedication to improving American life — all from a girl who grew up in Mount Vernon, Illinois.”

A love story and a life in media

During her senior year, Suhler attended a professional meeting in St. Louis, where she met John Suhler, a Kansas University student. A year and a half later, they married, beginning a lifelong adventure in journalism, publishing and philanthropy.

Together, they worked at the center of New York media, surrounded by icons such as Clay Felker, Milton Glaser, Gloria Steinem, Jimmy Breslin and Tom Wolfe.

“It was the heyday of the communications business,” she said. “It was fun.”

In 2009, the couple co-founded the Suhler Family Investment Office to make equity investments in select small and early-stage media companies. Mr. Suhler also founded Veronis Suhler, an investment banking firm specializing in communication properties.

Champion for women and students

Throughout her career, Suhler broke barriers for women in media and beyond. Early on, she helped connect Gloria Steinem with publisher Betty Harris, a meeting that helped launch Ms. Magazine. Later, she helped establish child care centers for working parents, including one that placed her young daughter on the cover of Time magazine under the headline: “Who’s watching the kids?”

She also co-founded the Fairfield County Community Foundation and helped launch the Fund for Women and Girls, now the largest of its kind on the East Coast.

“We started with nothing,” she said. “It’s now the largest fund for women and girls on the East Coast.”

Her dedication to SIU remained strong. She served on the SIU Foundation Board from 1991 to 1997 and the Dean’s National Industry Council for the College of Mass Communications and Media Arts — now the College of Arts and Media — from 2004 to 2011. She also established a scholarship to support SIU women in their junior and senior years.

“I just wanted to help women continue,” she said. “I hope they look and say, ‘If she can do it, I can do it.’”

A legacy of opportunity at SIU

SIU holds a rare distinction as one of only 21 universities nationwide — out of nearly 4,000 — recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions for Higher Education for both Research 1 status, the highest level of research activity, and as an Opportunity College and University, which honors institutions that expand access and foster social mobility.

This dual recognition reflects SIU’s commitment to advancing knowledge while opening doors for students from all backgrounds. Suhler’s gift to the School of Journalism and Advertising embodies that mission, ensuring students can thrive in a rapidly evolving media world.

This contribution also supports Imagine SIU 2030, the SIU Foundation’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised more than $422 million toward its $500 million goal, making it the fifth-largest fundraising effort in Illinois higher education. In the most recent fiscal year, the foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17% of the student body.

Gifts like Suhler’s ensure that SIU continues to grow as a place where research, creative activity, innovation, opportunity and access come together to change lives for generations to come.

To support the SIU College of Arts and Media, visit siuf.org/cam.

For Jeri Brooks, Southern Illinois University was destiny. A Carbondale native, Brooks grew up immersed in the Saluki spirit—not just as a local but as part of a multi-generational legacy rooted in love, resilience, and community pride.

Her father, Thurman Lee Brooks, Sr., earned a basketball scholarship to SIU, and her mother, Betty Brooks McCollum, pursued her master’s degree there. Eventually, both Jeri and her brother followed in their parents’ footsteps, solidifying SIU as a cornerstone of their family history. When her father passed away, SIU extended a powerful gesture of support: eight semesters of complimentary tuition for both children.

“That gesture meant everything,” Brooks said. “SIU became more than just a university—it became part of our story.”

While at SIU, Brooks earned a Bachelor of Science in communications with a specialization in public relations. Her time on campus laid the foundation for a career defined by ethics, strategic vision, and the pursuit of economic empowerment.

One of her most transformative experiences was joining Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 1993.

“Meeting those 11 women who became lifelong friends changed everything,” she said. “And I was fortunate to share that journey with ‘The Originals,’ my closest friends from Carbondale.”

Brooks credits the Rev. Dr. Norman Greer as a formative influence during her time at SIU.

“He didn’t just teach theory—he brought real-world experience into the classroom,” she said. “That blend of knowledge gave me the confidence to step into any space with purpose.”

With over two decades of experience, she helps companies, political leaders, and communities build strategies that expand influence and create lasting economic mobility—because for her, freedom is not free without economic empowerment.

Known for her strategic thinking and high-impact execution, Brooks has been repeatedly recognized as a top-tier lobbyist, appearing on Capitol Insider’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings in 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025. She was also named a 2021 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics.

Brooks is passionate about creating lasting change—not just through policy but through economic freedom. Her motto, “excellence is my minimum,” defines her professional ethos and personal mission.

Brooks is often recognized for breaking barriers—but she’s quick to challenge the celebration of being ‘the first.’

“We should not still be celebrating the first woman, the first Black woman, the first anything,” she said. “It’s time we elevate our expectations. Excellence should be the norm.”

Still, she acknowledges one meaningful moment: being the first Black woman honored in the Carbondale Community High School Hall of Achievement.

“But real progress is ensuring I’m far from the last,” she added.

Despite her success, Brooks never forgets where she came from. Her commitment to SIU runs deep. She has endowed a scholarship to support diversity initiatives under the university’s ADEI framework, and she continues to advocate for the university’s growth and future.

“SIU gave me more than an education—it broadened my world,” she said. “If my contribution can help restore its full potential, then giving back isn’t just meaningful—it’s necessary.”

Brooks encourages young women aspiring to enter the political and public affairs world to be strategic and assertive. Her advice is rooted in experience and unwavering determination:

• Master the Game: Understand policy and power.
• Own Your Power: Know your value.
• Build Economic Freedom: It’s the key to true influence.
• Create Community: Success is built with others.
• Stay in the Fight: Resilience is non-negotiable.

Reflecting on Women’s History Month, Brooks honors the legacy of her grandmother and mother—the original entrepreneurs in her life. Her grandmother ran the family’s home-based auto repair business and raised six daughters with unshakable fortitude. Her mother turned their family’s pound cake recipe into a business and continues to thrive as a Mary Kay consultant.

“They didn’t wait for opportunity—they created it. That spirit of hustle and ownership laid the foundation for everything I am,” she said.

As for her legacy, Brooks hopes to inspire the next generation of women to embrace their power, lead with excellence, and build pathways to economic and social transformation.

Her advice to her college-aged self? “Take more risks. Trust your instincts. Be fearless—God has your back.”

CARBONDALE — When Ashley B. Gibson, a 2009 graduate of Southern Illinois University’s College of Business and Analytics, first stepped onto campus, she had no idea how the experience would shape her career and inspire her to give back.

A seasoned leader with over 15 years of consulting experience, author, and public speaker, now she is making a lasting impact on the next generation of women in accounting through the Ashley B. Gibson Accounting Excellence Scholarship Fund.

Gibson, 37, grew up in Carterville and chose SIU for its strong academic reputation and proximity to home. At the time, her father was working overseas in Iraq, and staying close to her mother was a priority. While earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy, Gibson found mentorship in Dr. Marcus Odom and was deeply involved in student organizations. Her leadership in the Accounting Society and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) opened doors to scholarships and national recognition, ultimately paving the way for her service on IMA’s Global Board of Directors.

“I remember when I received IMA’s highest scholarship. I was standing in Rehn Hall when I got the call,” Gibson said. “After I hung up, I slid down the wall, crying tears of joy and relief. It was the first external scholarship I had received, and it validated that people believed in me.”

During her time at SIU, Gibson was recognized as the Outstanding Senior in Accounting, Outstanding Senior in the College of Business, and one of the Top 25 Most Distinguished Seniors—an achievement she likens to winning the Triple Crown in terms of involvement at SIU.

“It was recognition that I’ll forever remember and reminded me of what all I accomplished during my time at SIU,” she said. “Those honors were not just a celebration of my hard work—they also highlighted the importance of having a strong support system and access to opportunities.”

Despite her professional success and accounting acumen, Gibson has dealt with challenges that many women face in the workplace, especially in leadership.

“When women, especially leaders in their field, are asked to perform remedial tasks such as getting coffee or taking notes, it’s because those asking don’t understand the implications it has,” she said. “While there are seats for women at the table, it’s sometimes a silent one, and I want to help change that.”

Her decision to establish the Ashley B. Gibson Accounting Excellence Scholarship Fund is rooted in a commitment to empowering women from Southern Illinois. With an initial pledge of $10,000, she aims to provide financial support and mentorship opportunities for aspiring female accountants.

“I always knew I wanted to create a scholarship for the School of Accountancy. I just wasn’t sure how or if I had enough to start one,” Gibson said. “Then I realized, why wait? Life is too short. I want to meet the recipients, follow their careers, and see the impact firsthand.”

For Gibson, giving back isn’t just about financial support—it’s about fostering a culture where women feel valued and encouraged to lead. She hopes her scholarship will inspire others to invest in SIU’s future and support the next generation of female accountants.

“The earlier I invest in future professionals, the greater the impact,” she said. “We need to break the stigma that philanthropy is something you do later in life. If you want to give back, start now.”

Gibson encourages other young alumni to consider how they can contribute, no matter their stage in life or career.

“If not now, when?” she said. “The SIU Foundation makes it easy to start the conversation. Just ask.”

Through her scholarship, mentorship, and advocacy, Gibson is determined to create lasting opportunities for women in accountancy. As she continues to rise in her own career, she remains committed to lifting others along the way.

“I hope this scholarship ignites a fire in other women to succeed,” she said. “This is my own version of the Butterfly Effect—one action leading to another, shaping the future for the women who follow.”