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CARBONDALE, Ill. \u2014 Southern Illinois University Carbondale made history Tuesday, Sept. 9, as more than 100 people gathered to dedicate the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising in the College of Arts and Media. The ceremony, held in the hallway of the journalism and advertising wing near the advisement office, honored Suhler\u2019s generous gift to the school and marked the first time in SIU\u2019s history that a school has been named for a woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis doesn\u2019t happen every day. In fact, this is an extraordinarily rare thing,\u201d SIU System President Dan Mahony said. \u201cCharlotte Thompson Suhler\u2019s story is one of pioneering spirit, media leadership and steadfast philanthropy \u2014 a legacy that now inspires future generations of Salukis.\u201d<\/p>\n
SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane said the naming ensures Suhler\u2019s story will continue to inspire.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlotte, your legacy will live on in these halls,\u201d Lane said. \u201cYears from now, students will walk through this space, see your name and be reminded of what is possible when Salukis dream big, work hard and give back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raised in Mount Vernon, Illinois, Suhler grew up working at the Mount Vernon Register-News<\/em>, where her father and grandfather managed the paper. By age 16, she was managing advertising accounts and helping in the editorial department.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud to be from SIU and Southern Illinois \u2014 and happy to be here today,\u201d Suhler told the crowd.<\/p>\n At SIU, Suhler became one of the first women to major in advertising. She served as president of Tri Sigma sorority, helped organize the university\u2019s first student protest and was in a headline-writing class the day students practiced fitting headlines on President John F. Kennedy\u2019s assassination.<\/p>\n During her senior year, she met John Suhler, a Kansas University student, at a professional conference in St. Louis. They later married and built distinguished careers in New York media, working alongside icons such as Clay Felker, Milton Glaser, Gloria Steinem, Jimmy Breslin and Tom Wolfe.<\/p>\n \u201cThis big, tall, good-looking guy walked up to me in St. Louis and said, \u2018Hey, I hear it\u2019s your birthday. It\u2019s my birthday too. How would you like to celebrate?\u2019\u201d Suhler recalled. \u201cI thought it was either the best line or the worst line \u2014 but it was true. We\u2019ve been celebrating together ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Throughout her career, Suhler broke barriers for women in media and philanthropy. She helped connect Steinem with publisher Betty Harris, a pivotal meeting that helped launch Ms. Magazine<\/em>. She later co-founded the Fairfield County Community Foundation and the Fund for Women and Girls, now the largest of its kind on the East Coast.<\/p>\n “I had the advantage of being the advocate and spokeswoman for women,\u201d Suhler said. \u201cI carried on communication in the best way I could \u2014 speaking up for women in ways they sometimes could not.\u201d<\/p>\n Her ties to SIU remained strong. She served on the SIU Foundation Board, participated in the Dean\u2019s National Industry Council and created a scholarship to support women in their junior and senior years.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is history for our school, our college and our entire university,\u201d said Dr. Hong Cheng, dean of the College of Arts and Media. \u201cThe first school at SIU named after a woman honors a pioneering alumna and elevates a program already known for excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharlotte Thompson Suhler is the perfect role model for our students and Salukis everywhere,\u201d said Jan Thompson, director of the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising. \u201cShe 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 \u2014 all from a girl who grew up in Mount Vernon, Illinois.\u201d<\/p>\n Former scholarship recipient Anne Fairfield, a 1999 graduate, credited Suhler\u2019s support with giving her crucial opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter receiving the Charlotte Thompson Suhler and Dorothy Morris Scholarships, I was able to achieve a personal goal by working for the Daily Egyptian<\/em> in my final semester,\u201d Fairfield wrote. \u201cAside from the financial support, there\u2019s an intangible value to the example set by women supporting women.\u201d<\/p>\n Suhler\u2019s gift will advance the school\u2019s mission, which emphasizes lab-based learning where students gain professional experience in newsrooms, advertising campaigns and media projects from their first year.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlotte Thompson Suhler\u2019s remarkable generosity and pioneering spirit embody the very best of SIU,\u201d said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. \u201cHer 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.\u201d<\/p>\n SIU is one of only 21 universities nationwide \u2014 out of nearly 4,000 \u2014 recognized by the Carnegie Classification as both a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University. Suhler\u2019s gift reflects that dual mission, strengthening opportunities for students to learn, create and lead in a rapidly evolving media landscape.<\/p>\n The dedication also supports Imagine SIU 2030, the university\u2019s comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, more than $422 million has been raised toward the $500 million goal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CARBONDALE, Ill. \u2014 Southern Illinois University Carbondale made history Tuesday, Sept. 9, as more than 100 people gathered to dedicate the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising in the College of Arts and Media. The ceremony, held in the hallway of the journalism and advertising wing near the advisement office, honored Suhler\u2019s generous … Continue reading SIU names first school after a woman, honoring alumna Charlotte Thompson Suhler<\/span> A legacy of leadership<\/h3>\n
Strengthening SIU\u2019s mission<\/h3>\n