{"id":5047,"date":"2026-02-06T18:00:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=5047"},"modified":"2026-03-06T23:41:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T23:41:06","slug":"5047","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=5047","title":{"rendered":"Voices of Impact luncheon honors seven SIU Black alumni changemakers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IRqvZLiywd4?si=cRwVq80bCR9-8Qn4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nAlumni, students, faculty and community members gathered Friday, Feb. 6, at the SIU Student Center for the inaugural Voices of Impact: Celebrating SIU Black Alumni Changemakers, hosted by the SIU Foundation as part of Black History Month. The sold-out luncheon drew 200 attendees in a vibrant celebration honoring seven distinguished Black alumni and their lasting impact on Southern Illinois University.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">The event launched a new annual tradition while reinforcing the university\u2019s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Dr. Paul Frazier, vice chancellor for anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, told attendees the program reflects the legacy of those who paved the way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cWe have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants,\u201d Frazier said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Chancellor Austin Lane welcomed alumni home and emphasized the significance of their impact on the institution\u2019s growth and national reputation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cYou think we don\u2019t know about you, but we do. We name drop. We say, \u2018They went to SIU.\u2019 You have done an amazing job representing this university,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">SIU System President Daniel Mahony reaffirmed the university\u2019s mission of access and opportunity and its responsibility to prepare students for lifelong success.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cIt is our responsibility to give all students an opportunity to be as successful as they possibly can while they are here with us and after they leave,\u201d Mahony said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5048\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5048\" style=\"width: 1800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5048 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1808-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Group photo of Voices of Impact honorees.\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1808-copy.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1808-copy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1808-copy-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1808-copy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1808-copy-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5048\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left to right: Dr. Linda Flowers, Dr. Melvin Terrell, Michael \u201cStinger\u201d Glenn, Dr. Ella Lacey, Dr. Terrence Roberts, and Dr. Harold Bardo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"p3\">The 2026 Voices of Impact honorees were Dr. Harold Bardo (\u201962, \u201972), Dr. Linda Flowers (\u201979, \u201987, \u201906), Michael \u201cStinger\u201d Glenn (\u201977), Dr. Joan Higginbotham (\u201987), Dr. Ella Lacey (\u201964, \u201972, \u201979), Dr. Terrence Roberts (\u201977), and Dr. Melvin Terrell (\u201978).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Dr. Harold Bardo, one of the first students in SIU history to receive a full athletic scholarship and later a longtime educator and administrator who dedicated more than four decades to the University, reflected on his student experience and lifelong connection to campus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cThis university was unbelievable to me,\u201d Bardo said. \u201cIt was the best time of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Dr. Linda Flowers, a three-degree SIU graduate, retired educator and longtime civic leader serving her sixth term as president of the Carbondale NAACP, credited SIU with shaping both her professional path and personal growth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cEverything I needed to know about how to live, how to grow, how to become the person I was meant to be, I learned here at SIU,\u201d Flowers said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Michael \u201cStinger\u201d Glenn, a former NBA player, author and founder of the nation\u2019s first basketball camp for deaf athletes whose jersey was retired later that evening, spoke about the connection and belonging he experienced at SIU.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cThey wrapped around us with Saluki love,\u201d Glenn said. \u201cIt was wonderful being a Saluki.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Dr. Joan Higginbotham, a retired NASA astronaut and electrical engineer who became the third African American woman to travel to space and now leads an aerospace consulting firm, was unable to attend in person but shared a video message with attendees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cTo be recognized by an institution that helped shape my path and career is incredibly meaningful,\u201d Higginbotham said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Dr. Ella Lacey, a longtime SIU faculty member and community health leader who helped modernize emergency medical transport systems in Southern Illinois and later served internationally through the Peace Corps and global health initiatives, reflected on the University\u2019s evolution during her decades-long relationship with SIU.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cI have moved through SIU from a climate of toleration to one of appreciation \u2014 and that is a treasure,\u201d Lacey said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Dr. Terrence Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine, psychologist and author whose career has focused on equity, education and social responsibility, encouraged attendees to embrace individuality and lifelong learning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cEvery single person in this universe is unique,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cIf what you already know hasn\u2019t changed you, then by all means, change what you know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Dr. Melvin Terrell, a nationally recognized scholar-practitioner in student affairs and longtime vice president for student affairs who founded the Dr. Melvin C. Terrell Educational Foundation, emphasized mentorship and collective advancement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cOur success is not measured solely by what we accomplish, but by how we lift others as we climb,\u201d Terrell said. \u201cNone of us journeys alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec closed the program by reaffirming the Foundation\u2019s commitment to continuing the event annually and celebrating Black alumni excellence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">\u201cThis is good and great,\u201d Kupec said. \u201cOn your shoulders we stand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Voices of Impact brought together multiple generations of Salukis to celebrate shared history, collective pride and the power of purpose-driven impact. The SIU Foundation plans to continue the event as an annual signature program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alumni, students, faculty and community members gathered Friday, Feb. 6, at the SIU Student Center for the inaugural Voices of Impact: Celebrating SIU Black Alumni Changemakers, hosted by the SIU Foundation as part of Black History Month. The sold-out luncheon drew 200 attendees in a vibrant celebration honoring seven distinguished Black alumni and their lasting &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=5047\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Voices of Impact luncheon honors seven SIU Black alumni changemakers<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/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":[16,3,4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-events-engagement","category-higher-education","category-illinois-higher-education","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5047","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=5047"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5052,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5047\/revisions\/5052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}