{"id":4565,"date":"2025-07-11T21:43:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T21:43:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4565"},"modified":"2025-07-11T21:44:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T21:44:20","slug":"thrasher-champions-undergraduate-research-at-siu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4565","title":{"rendered":"Thrasher Champions Undergraduate Research at SIU"},"content":{"rendered":"

Economics alumna and former Wall Street analyst empowers students through hands-on learning opportunities<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

By Britni Bateman<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Susan Thrasher \u201976 reflects on her time at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, she recalls the classes and faculty recommendations that helped shape a career she had not originally envisioned\u2014but one that proved deeply rewarding.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to be a physician like my parents,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I fell in love with economics. At SIU, I deepened my understanding of economic theory, and several professors encouraged me to take finance and accounting classes given my interest in research.\u201d<\/p>\n

That guidance launched a 25-year career as a research analyst on Wall Street, covering the pharmaceutical industry during an era of groundbreaking drug development. Today, Thrasher is giving back to the institution that shaped her by helping undergraduate students chart their own course through research.<\/p>\n

The Susan C. Thrasher Undergraduate Research Fund supports students as they explore meaningful, faculty-mentored research projects across a wide range of disciplines. Five outstanding recipients of the 2024-25 award were celebrated for their contributions to innovative scholarship in fields spanning biochemistry, studio art, neuroscience, and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnalysis and research have always been important to me,\u201d Thrasher said. \u201cWhen Dr. Costas Tsatsoulis suggested an undergraduate research scholarship, I was very intrigued. It\u2019s been so good to see students embrace a topic or area of particular interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her support exemplifies the values behind SIU\u2019s Research 1 designation\u2014a distinction awarded by the Carnegie Classification for universities with \u201cvery high research activity.\u201d SIU is one of just 21 universities nationwide that hold this designation while also being recognized as an Opportunity University, committed to access and equity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the students\u2019 hard work further sparks their interest, that would be outstanding,\u201d Thrasher said. \u201cThe program speaks to the school\u2019s R1 designation. I hope other alumni will join in and give back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The impact of her investment is already being felt.<\/p>\n

Student Spotlights from the 2024\u20132025 Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Yin Sun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yin Sun<\/strong>, a senior studying communication disorders and sciences and linguistics, focused her research on inner speech and its implications for people with aphasia, a neurogenic language disorder often caused by stroke. With guidance from mentor Dr. Juhi Kidwai, Sun\u2019s project was accepted for presentation at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe award allowed me to fully dedicate myself to research without financial pressure,\u201d said Sun, who plans to pursue graduate studies at Indiana University Bloomington. \u201cI\u2019m forever grateful for this support.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lisa Echols<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lisa Echols<\/strong>, a senior in physiology, studied neuronal density changes in the brain following tooth loss in the naked mole-rat, a unique model for sensory research. Mentored by Dr. Diana Sarko, her work earned the Top Poster Award at SIU\u2019s CARP Forum.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe award let me focus on research during my final year,\u201d said Echols, who plans to attend medical school and serve in a rural emergency department.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Prisha Kittu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prisha Kittu<\/strong>, a junior in physiology, investigated the development of the pituitary gland through a grant-funded research project on congenital hypopituitarism. Under the mentorship of Dr. Buffy Ellsworth, she sharpened her skills in experimental design and lab work.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning this award helped me cover college expenses and boosted my confidence,\u201d said Kittu, who will apply to medical school for fall 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Chloe Dennison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chloe Dennison<\/strong>, a senior in nursing, researched the effects of vaping on youth mental health in rural schools and later gave in-person presentations to over 150 students.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though our data didn\u2019t confirm our original hypothesis, I know we made a difference,\u201d Dennison said. She will begin her nursing career at St. Louis Children\u2019s Hospital in the Heart Center.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Cohen Poe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cohen Poe<\/strong>, a sophomore majoring in music, explored pre-college music education through the SIU Youth Orchestra. He composed and conducted a piece titled \u201cFanfare for a Fish\u201d and taught music theory and aural skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis experience expanded my r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and gave me meaningful experience for graduate school,\u201d Poe said. \u201cI got paid to do something I enjoy. I\u2019ll hold on to this experience my whole life.\u201d<\/p>\n

These stories demonstrate how Thrasher\u2019s generosity is inspiring Salukis to embrace discovery, connect with mentors, and prepare for careers and graduate study.<\/p>\n

\u201cSIU emphasizes the value of undergraduate research, as reflected by our recognition as an R1 institution,\u201d said Dr. Costas Tsatsoulis, vice chancellor for research and dean of the Graduate School. \u201cInvestment from our alumni is integral to continuing this mission. Thank you for providing the support that acts as a guiding light for our student researchers.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Thrasher, who once followed her professors\u2019 advice into a career that combined science and finance, there is a sense of coming full circle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m grateful SIU gave me that opportunity\u2014and I\u2019m honored to help create it for others,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Economics alumna and former Wall Street analyst empowers students through hands-on learning opportunities By Britni Bateman When Susan Thrasher \u201976 reflects on her time at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, she recalls the classes and faculty recommendations that helped shape a career she had not originally envisioned\u2014but one that proved deeply rewarding. \u201cI was going to … Continue reading Thrasher Champions Undergraduate Research at SIU<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,3,4,11,9,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donor-stories","category-higher-education","category-illinois-higher-education","category-philanthropic-women","category-scholarship-recipient","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4565"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4565\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4572,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4565\/revisions\/4572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}