The official publication of the Alumni Association, the eConnection provides in-depth coverage of our alumni, campus news and alumni events. In addition to an annual print magazine, the Alumni Association sends an electronic version of the eConnection two times per year.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Katherine Ealey is assisting in the development of grant writing and helping other college students navigate the mechanics of grant writing. It is an opportunity she credits by being a student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
“SIUE is a great place for education and development,” said Ealey, a graduate student enrolled in SIUE’s sociology program. “I learned so much from my classes and my student leaders...
Fifty Golden Graduates crossed the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville commencement stage on Friday, May 3 in the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center. During this special occasion at the 131st commencement, the Class of 1974 wore golden regalia and received gold-plated medallions in a celebration led by Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, Dan Mahony, PhD, SIU System President, Denise Cobb, PhD, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Janice Joplin, PhD, Interim Dea...
Tyler Unterbrink, Vice President of Operations at the Korte Company, is the recipient of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2024 Construction Leadership Institute (CLI) Alumni Leadership Award.
The CLI Alumni Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding graduate who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the St. Louis area building community.
Unterbrink was a member of the CLI’s 2014 class. He knows about hard work, dedication, and what it means to get your h...
The Metro Area Professional Organization (MAPO) held its 14th annual Honors Awards Banquet last Saturday in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Meridian Ballroom at the Morris University Center. Lealia Williams was honored with a Serving Humanities award for her efforts in education and Cougar Cupboard. Williams received her bachelor’s in sociology from SIUE in 2000, and master’s in higher education in student affairs in 2023. Williams oversees the Cougar Cupboard whi...
The State Historical Society of Missouri awarded the 2023 Lewis E. Atherton Award for outstanding doctoral dissertation to Patrick Ayres, PhD, for his dissertation, “The Conservative Heart of the Nation: Political Conservatism in the Civil War Era West." Ayres completed his bachelor’s in history at SIUE in 2016 and master’s in history in 2019. Remarkably, this is not the first time Ayres has received an Atherton Award. His master’s thesis, “Embattled Conservatism: H...
In its ongoing mission to “prepare pharmacy professionals, scholars and leaders to improve the health and well-being of the region and beyond,” the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships this academic year, according to SOP Director of Development Nick Niemerg.
The SOP gave 34 merit and need-based scholarships/awards and three faculty awards totaling more than $31,000. Also, two inaugural awards were made po...
Hundreds of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s campus community members, alumni, corporate partners and donors witnessed tonight’s annual ONE DAY, ONE SIUE fundraiser exceed its $1.3 million goal.
“We established a very ambitious goal. Can you imagine $1.3 million dollars in one day? We have completely exceeded and crushed that goal to the tune of $2.2 million, which is really exciting,” said Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD. “And as good as this nigh...
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and SIUE Foundation CEO Connie Collins, CFRE, will gather faculty and staff, students, alumni, friends and community partners for the third annual ONE DAY, ONE SIUE day of giving. The celebration that offers donors an opportunity to “Give Today and Own Tomorrow” will be hosted on the Edwardsville campus in the Meridian Ballroom, Morris University ...
On Monday, March 25, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Athletics is set to host the inaugural Cougars Career Networking Night presented by Northwestern Mutual Fairview Heights-Clayton in First Community Arena. SIUE student-athletes in attendance for the event will have the opportunity to network with alumni and leaders in our community.
"This unique experience for our student-athletes and community yields opportunities for the student-athletes to showcase themselves as future professi...
After an evening of ceremony, two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni and a legendary SIUE coach were inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. The non-profit organization celebrates the history of sports in the St. Louis region.
Dewayne Staats, ’75, current announcer for the Tampa Rays baseball team; John Simmons, ’91, philanthropist, esteemed SIU trustee and contributor to local athletics; and posthumously, Roy E. Lee, foundational baseball coach at SIUE and ...
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni were in full fan mode at SIUE Day at Cardinals Spring Training at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Feb. 24 in Jupiter, Fl. This was opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals in a match against Miami Marlins with Eddie the Cougar and more than 150 SIUE alumni in attendance. Featured in this profile are Cardinals’ strength and conditioning coordinator Jackie Gover (2019), Dion Joannou (1989) who threw out the ceremonial first pitch and ...
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus community extends our sincerest condolences to the family of Randy Paul Rock who died Wednesday, Feb. 14, at University Care Center in Edwardsville. He was 76.
Rock’s journey at SIUE started as a student. He earned a Bachelor of Science (1969) and Master’s in English and History (1979). He taught English 101 and 102 and served as the Dean of Students from 1994 to 2003. Rock received his 30-year service award in April 2001 and retire...
In 2016, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing alumna Jenny Decker, ’06, made history as the first female and first solo kayaker to circumnavigate the Big Island in Hawaii. Now, Decker has her horizons set on solo circumnavigating the globe. This is her third attempt at doing so, after a number of setbacks and the Covid pandemic deterred her previous efforts. Decker knows how to handle setbacks though; she’s an intensive care traveling nurse with Charcot...
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Chancellor James T. Minor has named Connie Collins, CFRE, as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement (VCUA) and CEO of the SIUE Foundation. Collins will assume her new responsibilities on January 22, 2024, pending approval from the SIU Board of Trustees.
“SIUE continues to build a team positioned to markedly enhance our strategies for philanthropy that supports SIUE’s ambition to be a best-in-class university,” said Minor. &#...
Sara Colvin is the new Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Interim Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and CEO of the SIUE Foundation. Colvin replaces Seth Walker, former vice chancellor for advancement and CEO of the SIUE Foundation, who recently stepped down to accept a new role in his home state of Georgia. Colvin, who previously worked on major gift campaigns for both the School of Business and John Martinson Honors Program, plans “to ensure continuity and positive mo...
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, upon John Martinson this past weekend during SIUE’s commencement ceremonies. The Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters is bestowed upon individuals who have made a profound impact on SIUE, in line with its mission, vision and values.
John Martinson, MBA ’75, has been a venture capitalist and software industry leader for 40 years. He is chair of Martinson Ventures and remains an active individu...
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville lit up red with Cougar pride Thursday, April 20 in celebration of its second annual One Day, One SIUE Day of Giving. Raising more than $1.23 million exceeding the fundraising goal of $1 million dollars, SIUE set a new standard for alumni engagement and community partnership as the University defines its future.
“On behalf of the entire University, I want to thank you for your generosity and continued partnership,” said SIUE Chancel...
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is hosting its second annual One Day, One SIUE 24-hour day of giving on Thursday, April 20. The event will bring together the entire SIUE community–students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, friends and community partners–to raise money for top priorities across the University.
Beginning at midnight on April 20 and continuing all day, the community is encouraged to make a gift at siue.edu/oneday in support of the day’s $1,000,000 goa...
Doug Weber, vice president of Holland Construction Services, is the recipient of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2023 Construction Leadership Institute (CLI) Alumni Leadership Award. The CLI Alumni Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding graduate who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the St. Louis area building community.
“CLI’s mission is to produce accomplished leaders who will improve the processes and outcomes in the construction indus...
Success in the highly competitive building industry requires exceptional leadership, management and communication skills. The innovative Construction Leadership Institute (CLI) has packaged those skills into a convenient, accelerated, nine-week program. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is now accepting registrations for the 2023 session of the highly popular program.
Over the course of its 19-year history, CLI has seen many of its more than 400 graduates advance to prominent posi...
The Construction Leadership Institute (CLI) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville celebrated 34 graduates of its program Friday, March 4 as a part of the CLI Graduation celebration. Jim Mundy, chief operating officer (COO) of Contegra Construction, Co., received the Alumni Leadership Award.
Developed by the SIUE Schools of Business and Engineering, the CLI provides the knowledge, skills and strategies that individuals and companies need in today’s challenging construction industry....
Silvia Torres Bowman is passionate about helping small businesses become competitive in the global marketplace. As director of the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Bowman has assisted southern Illinois businesses in making over $175 million in international sales during the past five years alone. For these accomplishments, Bowman has been named the recipient of the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month Outstanding Commitment in Education award b...
The southern Illinois region has long needed a customized, action-oriented export training initiative to put local businesses on the international map. Now, five regional businesses have benefited from such an opportunity, EXPORT NOW.
Presented by the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in partnership with the Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council, LR International and the Illinois District Export Council, with financial support...
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty members are teacher-scholars who strive to remain at the forefront of a fast-moving industry and translate that into theoretical and applied classroom learning. Their guidance ensures students have the skills, knowledge and versatility needed to thrive in the workforce and make industry advancements.
The SIUE School of Engineering (SOE) has created the Faculty Advancement Endowment to provide teacher-scholars in the Department of Construction wi...
Choosing the right distribution channels can be difficult for businesses, whether a small-scale custom t-shirt design company or a giant producer of goods. A virtual conversation with Southern Illinois Businesses will offer expert advice on Gaining Sales Channel Partners for Exporting.
The free webinar is part of an ongoing virtual roundtable series hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and t...