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I grew up on the southwest side of Chicago and attended SIU-C from 1976-1982. I recall all the friends and fun times and the transitions taking place at SIU at the time. The construction of the REC center had a great impact on many of the students. Some of my greatest memories were of the time-off spent in the expasive outdoor recreational oppotunities provided by areas such as Rend Lake NWR, Giant CIty State Park, and "the Spillway" . Others included Halloween on Illinois Avenue and the famous snowstorm that shut down the university for 3 days in January 1978 (started snowing during the superbowl) and finally, 6 weeks of Geology Field Camp in Montana and Wyoming. Obviously, the long hours spent at Morris Library and the academic excellence of Bio Sciences and Geology staff and instructors was unparalleled. I also worked while I was a student, including a 2 year stint at GATSBY's. From SIU-C I used my skills to become a Photo interpretor and stereo image digitizer at CHicago Aerial Surveys in DesPlains where we were creating some of the first real earth coordinate digital conversion maps for Bell South and other utilities. I then trasfered to Geonex Martel Labs in St Petersburg Florida where I continued photointerpretation and wetlands Biology creating National Wetland Inventory Maps across the country under contract with the USFWS. In 1983, I began environmental consulting with a small engineering firm in rural Crystal River Florida on the Gulf Coast, where I reside to this day. In 2001, I opened my own environmental consulting firm in the same area and celebrated my 10th year this year. There are so many glorious memories of freinds, places , events and food that are still with me today.

MICHAEL CZERWINSKI
B.S. '81 Zoology
B.S. '82 Geology

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My arrival in Carbondale in the fall of 1971 was the stepping stone to a great future after growing up on a small farm just east of St. Louis. My roommate from Windsor, IL and I shared a dorm room at the University Farms Beef Center. I was an Animal Husbandry major in the School of Agriculture. Some of my best, long lasting memories came from getting involved in the Block and Bridle Club and the Livestock Judging Team. These organizations added value to my college experience that still benefits me to this day. A big “Thank you!” goes to the Dean of the School of Ag and Department Chair as their advice was extremely valuable upon deciding on my first job after college. Their advice was, “Take the job that gives you the chance to advance at your pace.” After leaving school, I spent a few years in the animal production side of agriculture then migrated to the futures industry where my business partner and I started Allendale, Inc., a research and brokerage firm located in Northern Illinois. Currently it is my honor to represent the futures industry on the Executive Committee of the National Futures Association Board of Directors. Recently, joining the Advisor Board for the SIU School of Agriculture is my way to give back for a great experience in Carbondale.

PAUL GEORGY
B.S. '73 Animal Husbandry

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After my graduation from SIU-C in 1983, I came back home i.e. Nigeria and did my national service (National Youth Service Corps in !983/84. Thereafter, I secured an appointment with Kaduna State government as an Agric. Engr. II on 10/09/1985 and rose through the ranks up to the top position of Permanent Secretary on 18/05/2009. I voluntarily retired as a Permanent Secretary from the service w.e.f. 28/02/2011 and be on my own to assist in feeding my country and play my role in its socio-economic development at large. I, also intend to train my children in SIU-C where possible.

BELLO MOHAMMED
B.S. '83 AGEM

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I grew up in a small-town newspaper family, so pursuing a journalism education certainly was no accident. What I never expected, though, was the eye-opening exposure to new ideas and bright thinkers that came with my education at SIUC. From the salty nuts-and-bolts newspapering knowledge Bill Harmon imparted on all of us at the DE, to the comprehension of critical and persuasive writing techniques and media law from Harry Stonecipher -- and so much more -- my life changed forever. These days, I don't write news articles, take photos, copy-edit or even design features fronts anymore. I learned how to do all those things, or do them much better, from my time in the SIUC J-school. But I also learned so much that drove my pursuit of a career as a media executive. We didn't have the consumer Internet in the early 1980s, so I could not have envisioned leading a company that produces so many web-based products and media services. That's today. Back then, however, I could soak up the practical wisdom and develop an open-minded creative appetite with my friends in those halls of the Communications Building -- important things that still drive my career today. SIUC always felt like an "underdog" school to me, fighting for reputation against better-known and better-funded comprehensive universities. You might be interested to learn, however, that my youngest son just visited the campus and it has moved to the top of his list in pursuit of his own robust career choice: computer engineering. All that energy I remember is still there, and I'll be proud to see him graduate a Saluki.

JOHN SMALL
B.S. '84 Journalism
B.S. '84 Political Science

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  The 9/11 attacks shook the nation violently,
  as it realized our shores no longer protected
  us and the homeland was under threat.
  Of course, prognosticators understood this all
  too well but for most Americans it came as a shock,
  and equally shocked Congress to take bold
 legislative action to protect the nation. It was out of
  this turmoil that Homeland Security established its
  roots. Thousands of Americans felt a calling to do
  something and I was among those who felt challenged
  by a new personal mission. My academic preparation
  at SIU, along with life experiences prepared me for
  this role and I felt compelled to pursue it. At the time, I was
  engaged in strategic planning and capital campaigns for non-profits. I found myself conflicted between doing something for a noble cause or continue my work with communication organizations and the business sector. When the opportunity presented itself and the pieces fell into place, I followed the calling and accepted a role that, in collaboration with others, would contribute to protecting the homeland, resulting in a career re-direction. In 2002, shortly after Congress passed several homeland security and public health preparedness funding programs, I returned to serve with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as a director of emergency preparedness for the coastal region of the state. Initially, the mission was preparing for a bioterrorism attack but eventually it gave way to a much more moderate and realistic all-hazards role. Our objective was to establish multi-agency coalitions for mass casualty response, whether its origins were natural, accidental or intentional. Ironically, a number of subsequent threats and catastrophes demonstrated the vulnerability of the nation’s health and medical sector for emergency response. As the first decade of the twenty-first century marched on, the nation witnessed significant incidents such as SARS (severe acquired respiratory syndrome), an H5N1 avian flu pandemic and than the cascading catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina, that underscored the critical nature of this new mission for public health. While our work is health and medical, much of what public health preparedness drew from is the discipline of emergency management. As a result, I sought certification through the International Association of Emergency Managers as a Certified Emergency Manager, (CEM). This accomplishment established a credential that is understood within the profession and those affiliated with emergency management practitioners. Later, another unique opportunity presented itself as I was invited to apply to the Naval Postgraduate School and its Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Masters Degree program in homeland security studies. I was accepted and began studies in April, 2009, ironically in parallel with the first pandemic in forty years. Throughout these studies, I sought to understand those factors that contribute to individuals who seek terrorism as a tool for political and religious ends. But I also gained an understanding of the issues and complexities that surround bioterrorism and biosecurity. With all Masters work completed, I graduated with a Masters of Arts in Homeland Security Studies September 2010. When I think back on my SIU career, those SIU courses that served me well in many career opportunities were communications, grantsmanship and adult learning courses. These courses taught me the basics of academic rigor that served me well for completing numerous grants, programs, special events and strategic plans. This foundation gave me great appreciation for the incident command structure that America’s first responder organizations use to manage incidents that threaten the life and safety of our citizens. What I appreciated most about my SIU academic career is the occupational flexibility that served me well along the way and in a small way, contributing to our homeland’s security.

TOM RUSSO
B.A '77 Psychology
B.S. '77 Public Health Nutrition
MSEd Community Health

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Author of the book "Observational Reflections". A book of poetry that is designed to get the reader to relate in their own life. A friend told me that many people say they are going to write a book. I did it!

TODD WIEGAND
B.A. '94 Health Care Management

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SIU you gave me the resources I needed and professors to bring my ideas to life. Without the SIU experience I wouldn't have been able to finish my achievements. One of my greatest achievements to date is the launch of my website. That focuses on saving SIU students and other college students around the country tremendous savings on their text books. By connecting students on the same campus for free to sell or swap their used books. Its a idea I have always wanted to start when I was in school. And now I can share it with students who need it. http://thebookpass.com/

PATRICK WELLS
B.A. '08 Graphic Design/Liberal Arts

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  SIUC’s Zoology program gave me tools I needed,
  from the perfect curriculum to outstanding
  professors who went out of their way to help me,
  including some I still keep in touch with today.
  I was a zoo/aquarium animal trainer for 8 years
  and have started my own animal training
  business focusing on dogs. The best part is
  that I still use the skills, tools, and knowledge I
  learned in my classes at SIUC. “Will I ever use
  this stuff in the real world?” Yes. Every single day.

  AMBER WALKER
  BA '04 Zoology

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Thanks to an Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation scholarship for 4 years, I was able to attend SIU-C from 1970 to 1982 (with a couple of years out in between for work, etc.).Coming from nearby Carterville and being the first in my immediate family to graduate college, I loved the education I received at SIU so much, I kept coming back for more degrees, graduating in 1982 with the PhD in Education (Community Health).I met my future wife as a Mammalian Physiology lab partner in Dr. Harold Kaplan's course in January, 1972 (I was a sophomore taking a graduate course). We married at the nearby Wesley Foundation in August, 1977 with Dr. Kaplan and other SIU faculty in attendance. We have both worked at various positions at SIU-C over the past years. I started out as the Southern Illinois Orchestra music librarian with Dr. James Stroud (1970-1974), working for the Dean of International Education (1975-1977), and as a full time employee of the Rehabilitation Institute's Vocational Evaluation Center from May, 1979 to 1980. I worked as a doctoral fellow for a year and then as a graduate teaching assistant from 1980-1982. Teresa and I have two grown offspring, a son 30 years old who now co-owns a restaurant in NYC and a daughter who is working on her PhD at the University of New Orleans. I worked 7 years as a faculty member at the University of New Orleans (1982-1989), as an academic department head at New Mexico State University (1989-98), as an Associate Dean from 1994-2000, and as the third dean of the College of Health and Social Services for 8 years (2000-2008). I was appointed by President Bill Clinton in December, 1999 to serve as an inaugural member of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission from January 2000 through December 2003. I wrote the Master of Public Health in Community Health Education at NMSU in 1994, which has been a CEPH accredited MPH since 2000. I finished my full-time academic career at NMSU in my favorite role, that of a tenured full professor. My wife and I retired on 1/1/11 and now we both teach online courses as part-time faculty. We still live in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

JEFFERY BRANDON
BA '74, MA '78, PhD '82

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Southern Illinois University changed my life! I had aspirations of getting my degree and serving my country as a Naval Officer, but ended up recieving my degree and an wonderful husband! My father, also an SIU alumni, convinced me to attend the satellite campus in Pensacola, Florida so I could stay close to home. There I met my future husband, George, an active duty Hospital Corspman in the Navy whom was starting the program at the same exact time. We fell in love and eventually married. This was great for college because I knew I always had a reliable group partner and study buddy. Seven years later, we are happily married with two kids. George has used the degree to further his career in the military; this year he is applying to become a commisioned officer. I am a well educated stay-at-home mom for now, with dreams of furthering my education even further in the future. Thanks SIU! Go Salukis!

AMBER & GEORGE MENNINGER
B.S. '06,'10 Health Care Management

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I attended from January 1967 to May 15, 1970. I finished my 4 remaining quarter hours at Bradley University, Peoria, IL. S.I.U. was closed to riots.The primary reason for the schools' closing was a reaction to the announcement by President Nixon to expand the war in Vietnam into Cambodia. My wife Nancy (we met on campus in Morris Library in 1967, married in 68) daughter Michelle (8 months old), and I moved to Peoria. We completed our respective courses at Bradley and returned to Carbondale in September 1970 for our degrees. My last job, just retired, was Village Manager for the Village of Peoria Heights. My wife's last job, just retired, was Computer Analyst for Caterpillar. Thanks to S.I.U. we have both benefited from our college experience and degrees. We now have ten grandsons. Life is good!

THOMAS HORSTMANN
B.A. '70 Political Science

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  Harold L.Cohen made all the difference. Harold
  Cohen was the first Chairman of Design at SIU
  Carbondale, serving from fall 1955 to 1967. I
  was in his first class my junior year, is a
  cramped room in the basement of the Allyn
  Building. He showed up with a New York accent,
  an Alan Arkin look-alike in a shiny, somewhat
  rumpled suit. He enthusiastically explained how
  he had washed his suit coat in the bathtub the night
  before, and hung it on a hanger to dry. The new
  fabric was polyester. I was not impressed. I preferred
  my gray flannel sport coat and tapered slacks with a
  sharp crease. Besides, I was at SIU to learn advertising
  design, so I could return to St. Louis to get a job in an agency. But my previous teacher had left and this new guy put a box of soda straws on the table and handed us each a brick. We had two hours, he told us, to support our brick eight inches above the tabletop, using only the soda straws and rubber bands. And by the way, the student using the least amount of soda straws won. He made it a game, and I recall that mine was one that worked. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had just been given a classic American Bauhaus project, based on how materials worked. It was a new philosophy to me, absent of style, and would lead to Carbondale becoming the center of The World Game, a resources inventory that led to some of the most advanced design thinking in the world, under the direction of R. Buckminster Fuller. Harold didn’t know it, but he planted the teaching seed in me, when at the end of the quarter, he interviewed me in his office. He did that with each of his students. But not until 2009, at the May 14 SIU reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago did I learn that it was my teacher Harold L. Cohen who had made the recommendation to President Morris to bring R. Buckminster Fuller to Carbondale. “During the summer of 1956,” Cohen writes, “Bucky called me to say that his apartment in Forest Hills, New York had burned and that he had lost most of his models and slides. He was desperate. He’d had no job for many years, relying on his wife Ann’s inheritance for their livelihood. I told him to hold on- that I’d get back to him within the week. I immediately met with SIU President Delyte W. Morris and convinced him to go to Springfield to propose that the State University Chancellor create a new “University Research Professorship” at SIU. This was to be the first of its kind in Illinois. We wrote up a contract wherein Bucky would spend a portion of his time in Carbondale and was free to lecture and tour wherever he wanted.” Despite frequent lectures and short stints at Black Mountain College and other colleges, SIU was Bucky’s first full time academic appointment and gave him the time to begin to write again. “Bucky was wonderful with our children”, Mary writes. “He often baby sat and loved telling them stories, particularly at Halloween, such as “The Gnomes That Lived in Domes.” He always invited students to our house, without notice. He loved “thinking” aloud with them” Bucky lived with the Cohens until his dome home was built in April, 1960 and his wife Anne came to join him. The Cohen’s remained friends with Bucky and Ann Fuller until their deaths. In 1960, Doubleday published "The Dymaxion World of Buckminster Fuller" with Robert W. Marks as co-author. And in 1963, his best known book, "Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth" was published by E. P. Dutton. The latter became the bible for a generation of young designers, and was prescient since only six years later we landed men on the moon. Most all of his books are still in print, films and videos preserve his buoyant optimism. Excellent web sites and a growing memorabilia industry offer Bucky T shirts and tote bags to a generation of gray hairs who remember him, and now to young people from Virginia to Viet Nam. Yes, Viet Nam, for one of my former students just emailed to thank me for introducing him to Bucky’s seminal work during my design history class, especially for leading the students in “Rome Home to a Dome”, the lyrics Bucky wrote to the tune of “Home on the Range”. Bucky is now inspiring the Green Revolution even in Hanoi. I first met Bucky in Carbondale in the fall of 1959, just after he had been appointed University Professor. Bucky bounded into his “talk,” a short, bald guy with glasses so thick his eyes seemed double size. The design students were ready for him, with an 8mm camera and all the movie film the local drugstore had in stock. Four hours later, our film was all used up and Bucky showed no sign of stopping. But we were all aware that we were hearing something profound. I realized that day he had only one theme- he began with the beginning of mankind and ended with now. Later that semester Bucky asked if anyone would like to help him build his house. I said I’d be glad to, but I was leaving school at the end of the semester to take a design job so I could support my wife and two children. He blinked those big, magnified eyes and said, “we’re not going to build my house later- we can build it in an afternoon.” In January 1964, the same week I began teaching at Indiana University, Bucky Fuller’s picture appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine. I taught for four years at Purdue, then moved to Boston, where I have been a designer/educator since 1970. Looking back on it now, I realize Harold L. Cohen was the catalyst for importing Moholy’s former students to form the new Design Department at SIU. Two of my favorite teachers were Davis Pratt and Elsa Kula. Although I never met him, the much-loved teacher Harold Grosowsky, one of Harold’s students in Chicago, later joined the faculty at SIU. Al Gowan, Design 1953-55, summer and fall 1959. Please contact me. I’m writing a book about the Design Department a.gowan@comcast.net

AL GOWAN

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Came to SIU VTI summer of 67 on probation! Managed to get through Auto Tech then transferred to the Main campus with my White 1964 Corvette Convertible. Was on probation or warning most of the time. Was Drafted in 1971, Lottery # 108. Dean Jefferson and my advisor, helped me complete my Degree requirements while I was active duty in Virginia. Graduated in1974 finally, the year i was discharged. Built CT Scanners and worked on many first, Head, Carbon Fiber, MRI, Solid State Detector, Mobile Patient Cart. Studied at Johns Hopkins in the GI Bill the Applied Physics Lab for a Masters degree 1982. Did Robotics, Aerospace, Automation, back to Healthcare and then IT, Secure web meeting for DOD, DIA, FBI. Been a heck of a ride, SIU was great, but I wish I had worked harder and studied more, wasted youth.

DENNIS MURPHEY
'74 VTI Auto & B.S.I.T.

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  I graduated 1983 in Engineering. I loved
  my time there and made many friends.
  My education laid the foundation for my
  Engineering buisness. My grand father's brother
  started the Daily Egyptian ( I have a copy of the
  first edition somewhere), and my great grandfather
  went there when it was SIU Normal College for
  teachers. SIUC has always been there for my
  family, thanks.

  DAVE AULD
  B.S. '83 Engineering

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Much of my Saluki educational experience has already been written and published in the Winter 1998 edition of Southern Alumni, under the title, “The Other SIU.” It is sufficient to say that I attended SIU classes off campus while I was still on active duty in the United States Navy. I retired from active duty Naval service in 1993, whereupon I completed the requirements for graduation and received my diploma in 1994. Armed with a degree in Workforce Education and Curriculum Development and twenty-five years of experience, I ventured out into the real world only to find that the Southern California private sector was extremely biased against hiring retired military personnel. Interviewers for training positions, (generally thirty-something year old females with no military contact or experience) had a distorted view of what retired military pay and benefits were. I often heard interviewers say, “You don’t need a job, you’re retired military.” Of course they had no idea how little retired pay I received. Nor did they have any idea what my debt-load was; and they didn’t care. Once they saw retired military on my application, it mattered little how well I interviewed. I placed first in over fifty training position interviews. So, if the private sector didn’t want me as a trainer, then I would have to fall back on other job experiences. In May 1995, I accepted a position as director of the Bureau of Disaster Services for the State of Idaho. I served the state for ten years directing disaster mitigation and preparedness programs, and coordinating the state’s response and recovery operations to overcome the effects of floods, fire, wind, ice and snow emergencies, and landslides that isolated towns. Probably the most bizarre disaster was the escape of lions, tigers, and hybrid wolves from a self-styled wild animal park into surrounding communities. Altogether, I coordinated the state response to over fifty local disasters, twenty-five state-declared disasters, and four presidentially-declared disasters; more disasters than had occurred in any previous ten year period, I’m told. The bureau coordinated the physical and economic recovery of numerous Idaho communities statewide. While I was at the bureau, I completed the requirements for a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security and Defense. I retired from public service in 2005. By then, I was tired of the barrage of hoop-jumping that federal bureaucracies constantly placed on state and local entities; many of which were completely unrealistic. And at age sixty-five, I quickly learned that age was indeed a barrier to new employment, even though the recession was yet to hit the marketplace. I turned to another passion: writing. Since then, I have written two books; “Sea Stories & Navy Tales,” and a novel, “The Last Confederate Battle.” I have also written the words and music to “Song of Idaho,” and composed “American Bridal Waltz,” and “Sunset in the Harbor.” I am currently working on a new book, a sequel to “The Last Confederate Battle,” tentatively titled, “Stone’s Quest.” I also maintain a website for my readers at www.theboiseauthor.com.

JOHN CLINE
'94 Work Force Education and Curriculum Development

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My high school advisor introduced me to the Southern Illinois University Vocational Technical Insititute in 1963. I am from Rantoul, Illinois which is just 15 miles North of the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. My family and I could not afford the U of I and I was not sure about going to school for four more years. I was accepted at VTI and started in the fall of 1963. My SIU degree paved the way to my 38 1/2 year career in Telephony. I started with the locally owned telephone company after graduation in 1965. I survived mergers and acquisitions over the years and retired from Verizon in 2003. During the summer of 1963 my parents and I visited the SIU campus and met with VTI Dean Simon. The small world that we live in brought a big surprise. My mother (CHS '40) had been a student worker in Simon's office at Champaign High School. Most people today probably do not know of or remember the Vocational Technical Institute. We occupied an old military facitlity South of Carterville. The buildings were rumored to have been built in 1937. The university living area was called Southern Acres.The men's dorm that I was in has long since been torn down, the library and administration building burned down and there is very little of SIU still there. When I first entered the dormitory my sister recalled that my lower jaw hit the floor. The university did very little in the way of maintaining these aging buildings. The colors used were drab and the walls of my room had knife slash marks. The policy was that you could fix up your room if you were willing to do the labor the university would provide some limited materials. My roommate and I returned from Thanksgiving break with a gallon of paint and some spackle. That was the start of a number of historical events. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The university announcement came while I was in my Energy and Particles 1 class. A sad day to say the least. Graduation in 1965 was held on the football field at McAndrew Stadium and I was handed my diploma by the president, Delyte Morris. He had a firm and reassuring handshake. They were just beginning to occupy Morris Library and the Arena was opened in 1964. The Latest issue of the Alumni Magazine noted about the handicapped access. SIU was a pioneer in the transition to providing access to everyone. I want to add a few notes on the subject. A lady from the women's dorm was in a wheel chair but she knew no strangers. The university had a van with the lift for wheel chairs but you had to call ahead to schedule a pick up. At Southern Acres we did the next best thing. Regular transportation between campuses was by traditional school bus. We opened the emergency door in the back of the bus and picked her in the wheel chair up placed her in the bus. We did not leave her back there alone. We boarded the bus from the front door and went to the back with her. As I recall the place kicker on the football team had one arm partially amputated. He was known for being not only a good kick off player but was usually the first one to tackle the receiver. It is important to note that while the University was leading the way to access for all there was already a camaraderie amidst the student population. I will cherish my days at SIU forever. I not only got an education that prepared me for a job/career, but it was a personal growth experience. Electronics instructors like department head Mr. Schultz were all from the real world of work experience. They knew their craft as well as the technical education needed to perform in the craft. Thank you one and all! 

KENNETH ZIRKLE
A.T. '65 Applied Sciences & Arts

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My time at SIU was the best time of my life! I transferred to SIU when I was a sophomore because I had the chance to walk on the golf team. I knew nothing really about the school. I lived in the dorms sophmore year with a bunch of athletes and had an absolute ball. I was studying journalism but discovered SIU had a great radio tv program so I decided to give that a shot. And I am so glad I did!!! After graduating in 1992, I landed a job at WSIL TV the local ABC affiliate as a morning news anchor and reporter. Being a grad of the great radio tv program really prepped me for that job. I ended up moving up eventually becoming main anchor. I stayed there about 4 years before deciding it was time for a new challenge. While there I married a great guy who's also an SIU RT grad. In fact, we graduated the same year but didn't really know each other. We had heard of each other but our paths never crossed until we started working together. We both decided to leave S Il and move to Florida to be closer to my father in law, and being away has made me realize how much I miss and love the area. We still have good friends there and we try and make it back for homecoming as much as possible. SIU is one of the greatest schools. We have neices and nephews graduating and we are quick to tell them to consider SIU. I have had serious health problems over the years and the people of southern Illinois have been so kind. We live in Florida now but are Saluki's and midwesterners at heart!!! Its fun to keep up with all the sports teams and its great to see the facilities improve. I'll always be a saluki. No matter where I go or what I do, SIU will always be a big part of my life. I made some of my best friends in college, friends I'm still in contact with this day.

AMY OFENBECK
B.A. '92 Radio- TV

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  My husband and I met down at SIU in 1999
  – our sophomore year. He was member of the
  SIU Football team and I was on the Women’s
  Basketball team. We have such great memories
  of our time at SIU! Some of the greatest things
  we took away from SIU are the friendships we
  developed there. We still keep in touch with
  many of our SIU teammates and some of our
  closest friends are also SIU Alumni. Since
  graduating from SIU we have moved to the
  metro St. Louis area where we continue to follow
  Saluki athletics. We try to get back to Carbondale
  a couple times a year, but Homecoming is a
  MUST! We cannot wait to set foot inside the new
  stadium. What a great addition to the University
  and Saluki Athletics! GO DAWGS!

COURTNEY GOBEL
B.S. '01 Management Information Systems

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The University received a grant from the Ford Foundation during the 1960's to prepare people for careers in community colleges, then rapidly developing across the country. The two year program was structured as an "academy" for selected students who earned a Master's degree in an academic field (mine was botany) and a minor in Higher Ed. The program worked in tandem with the Junior College District of St. Louis providing internships in each aspect of community college administration and culminating in one semester teaching experience in St. Louis. The advisors were Chuck Hill and Don? and I attribute my career in community college work to this program. I would like to hear from other participants and also know how effective the program was considered by the University. Paul M Thomson, Ph.D. Founding President (Ret.) Blue River Community College Independence, MO

Paul Thomson
M.A. '71
Ph.D. '78

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  I got this SIU jacket from my roommate, Kathy Backer,
  in 1980 when we were working on our undergraduate
  degrees in Carbondale. I took it with me when I
  moved to Florida in 1989. In 1996, I gave it to my niece,
  Kristi West, when she started at SIU. In 2010, she moved
  to West Virginia. When I visited her this year, she gave it
  back to me. Now I'm mailing it back to Kathy in Illinois to
  give back to Joanie who gave it to her. It's 30 + years
  old and going strong!

  LADONNA MORRIS
  B.A. Biology '81
  M.S. Health Education '83
  M.S. Educational Psychology '89

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I work at SUNY Sullivan, a two-year college in upstate NY and was recently promoted to Assistant Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.

VINCENT BOYD
B.S. Speech Communications '94

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Attended SIU (Health Care Administration) at Great Lakes, IL Navy Base while full-time military. It took me 3 years to complete my degree requirements after I retired from the military! I'm now a Manager with Our Global Vision in San Antonio, Texas. We help Profit and Non-Profit Businesses with Fund Raising on a global basis!

GENE MEINEN
B.S. Health Care Administration '90

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Little did I know that when I left SIU in 1975 my educational experiences would lead to over 30 years in the museum field. As a textile conservator, curator, educator, and museum director my life has been enriched with travel, people, history, art, and architecture. I have toured behind the scenes at many of the world's best museums; met museum professionals from around the globe; and taught at the Museum Studies program at Harvard University. My sincere thanks to professors at SIU for teaching me more than just facts and figures, you taught me how to reach out for life and enjoy the ride.

VICKY KRUCKEBERG
B.S. '74 Clothing and Textiles
M.S. '75 Home Economics

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  I graduated from SIUC a year and a half ago, and since then,
  my life has changed considerably, but it has been positive
  changes.I majored in history and planned to teach high
  school social studies,and am someone who is fortunate to
  be able to say I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do. When I
  graduated college in December of 2008,I spent the spring
  semester subbing in local schools, and was fortunate
  enough to be hired that summer to teach high school
  social studies at Shawnee High in Wolf Lake, IL (only 22
  minutes from home). In fall of 2009 I began my career
  teaching two history classes, economics, government,
  world geography & cultures, and psychology. I was also
  the Jr. high softball coach, co-sponsor of the beta club,
  scholar bowl coach, and track coach. Also during this same time, I was busy planning my wedding (I got married to Kevin Mayberry), serving on the Little Egypt Search and Rescue team, and being a board member of the Inspiring Women's Program. Now my first year as a teacher is coming to a close, and I've really enjoyed it. I have a very supportive boss, and love my co-workers. I try to teach my students, especially those in my psychology class, to believe they can change the world. We spend the first part of our Fridays' working on our bucket lists. I also try to remind them to appreciate the simple things in life. I was recently named one of the Southern Illinoisan's Leaders Among Us for 2010. I'm proud and honored to be receiving this. I look forward to many more years of teaching...and I feel SIUC deserves a big "thank you" for helping me get my start.

JAMIE NASH-MAYBERRY
B.S. History '08

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At first I thought it was a very negative experience.I had good times,but I didn't always have fun.I went to class that was fine,I played Football that was fine,but when I got in the dorms it seemed like something was missing.I got chances to go off campus alot with family that was good and helpful.It was that something was always bothering me and I couldn't figure out what it was.I went to FCA and accepted the Lord,read my Bible and got baptised in the Holy Spirit.I learned patience,faith,and forgiveness and spiritual understanding.These were the best things in my life to learn then and now,along with an ongoing relationship with the Lord.I realize the things that I went through prepared me for life that I would lead and go into in the Lord and in the world.When I look back it was a very positive experience of where I am today and what I go through in life.If you look at the class notes you will see the Honors I achieved and the Nominates I received-such as Life Time Achievement Award.Thank You very much Southern Illinois University,for the hard lesson in life for what I had to go through and what was my lot in life or my calling. Sincerely,Donald B. Vinson.And thank Jehovah God,my father for calling me and bringing me through.God Bless you all and learn to walk in THE BLESSING.

DONALD VINSON
B.S. Accounting/Finance '81

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In the Winter of 1983, I returned home to Chicago after earning my Under-Graduate Degree at SUI in Journalism and began my career with Leo Burnett Advertising. I worked on a number of amazing accounts and was very proud to be a "Burnett-er". From there I worked at two other large Ad Agencies in Chicago, Marsteller Advertising and NW Ayer Advertising. My ad agency days laid the foundation for my move into corporate marketing and is where I learned the fundamentals of how to be a good client. I joined McDonald's Corporation in 1989 and worked in various roles over the next 21 years. McDonald's was a wonderful training ground and taught me much of what I know today about Brand Marketing and Retailing. My first 12 years with McDonald's was spent in Field Marketing. It was a wonderful adventure to work and live in a number of different US Cities helping to build sales in various Regional Business Units. In 2001 I returned home to Chicago and joined McDonald's US Marketing Department. For the next 7 years I lead the Sponsorship & Sports Marketing Group, did Strategic Planning, headed Promotions Development, and lead The Adult Marketing Calendar Team. During my days in US Marketing for McDonald's, I am proud to say that I completed my Graduate Degree and earned a Masters in Communications at DePaul University, Chicago. My time in US Marketing really rounded me as a marketer, but I had not yet done any Food Development work. So, in 2007 I joined McDonald's Global Menu Team and began traveling the world working on Menu Strategy and Product Development. It was an exciting time for me and prepared me for my first International Marketing Assignment. In 2008 I was promoted to Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer for McDonald's Canada. In this role I managed The Consumer Research Department, Strategic Planning, Menu Development, and Marketing for the Canadian Business. This was an absolutely amazing experience for me both professionally and personally. I found the Canadian people to be warm, welcoming, hard working, and most of all a lot of fun to be with. Recently I have made a move to return home to the US and begin the business and brand transformation of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Shops. I am the Vice President of US Marketing and I have relocated to Boston, MA. I am thoroughly enjoying my new team, the people and the culture at Dunkin' Brands, and I am pleased to claim Boston as my new home town. I have been married for 25 years to my spouse Allison and we have two wonderful children. My daughter Elaine is a sophomore in Architecture at The University of Illinois and my son Neil will begin work on his Music degree in the fall at Illinois State University. Every Saluki Has a Story... and that's mine. Go Salukis!!!!

BRIAN O'MARA
B.S. Journalism '83

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  Finishing my B.S. before my husband retired from 
  his military career was my goal and SIU made it 
  possible - I finished core requirements of a B.S.I.T.
  degree as a "Carbonite". I had worked many years
  but was in a "holding-pattern' to start work as a
  professional with a real career and my own retirement
  with benefits. In 1989 I was hired as an Upward
  Mobility Environmental Engineer for the Department
  of Army. Next, I took a position with Air Force Space
  Command as a program manager where I received
  Civilian, Team and Manager of the Year awards. 
  I went on to fill a position with the US Army Corps of
  Engineers (USACE) from which I will myself, retire, 
  unless another adventure looks too appealing to pass
  up. You see, I supported the USACE Chief of Engineers' Campaign Plan and deployed to Iraq on 4 January for six months - the 'Yankee Engineer' ran an article about my deployment - September 2009 - Adventures in Iraq...(a grandmother deploys- Yep, that was me!). I received the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Metal, Commander's Metals and the GRD Pin for Civilian Service in a Combat Zone. I now work at a Corps Resident Construction Office as a Project Engineer. So my story is simple, it's one of 'it's never too late' and one of 'continuing to enrich one's life each and every day'

SHEILA HOLT
B.S.I.T. '95

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After graduating from University of Mississippi with a BS in Math, I was not sure what to do. SIU awarded me an assistantship that gave me the opportunity to get a Master's degree in Math. In addition to my math focused course load, I was fortunate enough to take several graduate level Ed Psych classes where I learned a variety of skills that have helped form my career. Initially, I got started in my professional life doing some computer programming work for Merrill Lynch. After several years of learning about corporate America, I proceeded to the Pharmaceutical Industry to focus more seriously on data integration to perform various Statistical techniques. The Pharmaceutical Industry has some very interesting offerings for folks with Statistical exposure. My strong Math background coupled with the programming language and analytic techniques I learned in the Ed Psych classes at SIU put me on the road to many years of conducting multivariate Statistical analysis. It is a lovely feeling to use my education in my career.

DEVRON REIMER
M.S. '94 Mathematics

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  I'm one of those referred to as Carbonites! I grew up in
  Carbondale and went to High school at CCHS. I began
  my journey at SIUC in 1992 as a freshman in Community
  Health Education. Not satisfied after finishing my BS
  degree in 1996, I went on to pursue my MS degree in
  Rehabilitaion Counseling. After graduating with my MS in
  1999, I decided to pursue my career in Higher Ed. I got my
  start as a student worker in Woody Hall working in
  Admission and Records. Ten years later I'm the
  Dean of Admissions for the Morris Graduate School of
  Management at Robert Morris University Illinois.
  August 15th, 2009, I married another Saluki,
  Brandon G. Sanders. While we originally met in
  1990ish....it took a good 17 years before we would actually become a couple. I like to think of it as our own Saluki love story! It was as much as of a Saluki wedding as it could have been. Our DJ was a friend we met at SIUC and we had many friends and family members that were SIU alums there celebrating with us as well! SIU has and always will hold a special place in my heart....I grew up there, I was educated there, I had my first born there, I met my husband there and some of my best friendships to this day were formed there. Thank you SIU for all that you have contributed to my life!

COURTNEY KOHN SANDERS
B.S. '96 Community Health Ed
M.S. '99 Rehabilitation Counseling

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Dr. Carl E. Anderson Received the coveted Laurel Wreath award of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., At their 79th Grand Chapter Meeting in Washington D.C. on August 4th, 2009. The laurel Wreath is the highest award given by the fraternity in recognition of outstanding achievement and meritorious service to the Fraternity and the community. Dr. Anderson, a native of St. Louis, Missouri received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and the Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Southern Illinois University in  1956 and 1958 respectively.  He received the Doctor of Education  degree in  Student Personnel Administration in  Higher Education from the University of Maryland in 1969. He has been honored by other institutions with their coveted Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. In his senior year at SIU Carl received the Service to Southern Award.He began his thirty-two(32) years professional career at Howard University where he served as Vice-President for Student Affairs; Acting Dean of Students; Associate Dean of Students for Administration and Student Life; Director of Student Activities, and Head Resident Counselor. He also served concurrently as Vice President for Student Affairs for the Howard University Foundation.Following retirement from Howard University in 1990 he served as a member of the professional staff of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives until 1995. Dr. Anderson has received over 100 awards and citations for significant and meritorious contributions presented by community, educational, student, professional and fraternal organizations. Some of the awards include the Outstanding Service to Howard University Award, the Nelson Mandela Award for Leadership in Higher Education, the National Leadership Award in Education for the Decade, the John E. King Award for Outstanding Contributions and Service to Higher Education and the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean in 1990 from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrator. In 2002, he was selected by the University of Maryland as Outstanding Leader in Education. Dr. Anderson was a founding member of the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund, Inc (KSEF), the charitable scholarship program of the Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; serving as its President from 1994-2005. Since the establishment of KSEF in 1984, he has chaired its signature fund raising event, The Annual Celebrity Auction and Soul Good Feast, which has attracted a sell-out audience of 700 guests for twenty-five (25)consecutive years. To-date, KSEF has awarded more than $1,000,000 in scholarship assistance to over 430 District of Columbia High School graduates. the endowed assets of the foundation currently exceed two million dollars. In February 2006, Dr. Anderson was honored at a White House ceremony in which President Bush presented him with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his work with KSEF. He has been a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity since his initiation into the Gamma Upsilon Chapter at Southern Illinois University in 1953. He holds numerous professional affiliations, past and present. He is a founding member and formerly served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of University Administrators and the International Board on Counseling Services. He has held similar positions with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the American College Personnel Association, the American Association for Counseling and Development, the Higher Education Group of Washington,D.C., the Middle States Accrediting Association for Colleges and Universities and the Peer Review Panel of the U.S. office of Education. Dr. Anderson has been invited speaker and presenter at many professional,fraternal and community meetings and conferences. He and his wife Ida Anderson have three adult children; all of whom are graduates of Howard university.

DR. CARL E. ANDERSON
B.A. '56
M.S. '58

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  My intention of earning my Bachelor's degree was long
  overdue. However, at the time, I was single and head of
  household, my earnings were decent, and felt that I did not
  need a to go back to school to acquire my Bachelor's degree.
  I had already graduated (back in the day) with my
  Associate degree and now I am working for a fortune 500
  company for last 15 years with great benefits, pay and
  incentives. Until one day, the company decided that there
  were going to follow the trend of all other major companies
  and downsize the company. Now, here I was without
  a degree, older and afraid. I knew out there in that jungle,
  I had to compete with younger recent college grads. Even
  though, I had the skills, knowledge and experience, it was a requirement that companies wanted you to have a Bachelor or higher. I had a few negative friends around me telling me I was too old and probably would not be successful. (whew), I am so glad I had a few other positive friends that pushed and supported my decision to return to school. One of my friends was a graduate from SIU. and recommended that I research their curriculum for a major/minor. I did, and found that I wanted to get a degree in Workforce Education, Training and Development. This program appeared to be the perfect fit for me to acquired my Bachelor's degree. My purpose of utilizing this degree program was to enhance my knowledge, years of experience, skills and training that I have accomplished over the years. I was at a critical point in my career and reaching that framework was through hard work and perseverance. I have earned opportunities to move-up, take on new challenges and increase my responsibility. BUT, without a Bachelor's degree, I had been looked over for a promotion, the better assignments went to my peers with more education. Earning my degree helped me make an impact on my new job, achieved my career goal, boost my earning power, authenticated a commitment to my self-improvement, and emotional discipline. I graduated in 2005 with a GPA of 3.9. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, the reward enhanced my personal competency and it gave me a feeling of dignity and honor. There are many reasons people seek degrees in today’s day and age. As a grown adult, it may seem like an unrealistic goal, but it is achievable. You may be sick of your job, you may want more money, or you may just want to try something completely different from out of left field. All of these are justifiable reasons to seek out a higher education. Even if your reasons are not related to your job or potential career, getting an education is beneficial regardless if it is only for the sake of learning. After all, knowledge is power and the more you know, the easier time you will have in life. The only thing you really need when seeking out a degree or an education is a goal. A goal will keep you on track and prevent you from giving up. Set a goal and stick to it no matter what, you are the only person you need to impress.

LINDA A FOX
B.S. 05' WED (Workforce Education, Training and Development)

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I started my SIU journey at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in 1992. I was on my first shore duty and SIU ran a program where instructors came in and taught classes on Sat & Sun. I took all my upper division classes through the program. I proudly displayed my "I am a Saluki" sticker, after first finding out what a Saluki was. I finished my classes and then was sent to Hawaii. I didn't complete my under grad classes during that tour. After retirement I wanted to go back to school but couldn't find the time. Then in 2001 I was laid off and decided to complete my degree. After talking to folks at the campus I determined what classes I needed, took them at my local college and graduated in 2005. I am proud to be a Saluki and I urge everyone who may have put their education on hold, go back and finish. It is a great feeling and it has let me pursue a career I love in tech training.

WALTER LETHIN
B.S. 05' Industrial Engineering

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My experience at SIUC, including my interaction with both faculty members and students, helped make me more of an independent thinker and a more open-minded and freer thinking individual and journalist. I was a graduate student in journalism at SIUC during the tumultuous period of student protest over the Vietnam War and a number of other important local and national issues. I have written a small book titled "SIUC's Days of Dissent: A Memoir of Student Protest." In it I recount some of the issues which were dealt with at SIUC in the late 1960s and early 1970s -- issues of war and peace, race, women's equality, civil liberties, law and justice and more. This was an incredible time and a time like no other before it or since!

ALLAN H. KEITH
M.S. '71  journalism

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I attended SIU-C for a year and a half, from August of '93 to December of '94, and I left before defending my Master's thesis. I'd
been offered a job as a researcher at Prevention Magazine, and I was excited about it; I was sure I could get
back to Carbondale to defend my thesis at some point in the near future. Months and then years passed, and
my dream of completing my thesis and obtaining that degree seemed less and less attainable; my new job and
new life, including a young marriage and then my first child, had become all encompassing. Years later, established as a freelance health writer, I decided to contact the Psychology Department to see if anything
could be done; I'd been so close, and not a week went by that I didn't regret not completing my degree requirements. Luckily, they provided me with an opportunity, and in 2006, after writing a comprehensive paper
on my thesis topic, I was granted my Master's degree. Since then, I've continued writing--writing health articles, yes, but also writing fiction. My debut novel, "The Last Will of Moira Leahy", will be published by Random House (Shaye Areheart imprint) on October 13th of 2009. The novel took six years to write. I've come to learn that anything worth having is worth the struggle to try to obtain it.

THERESE WALSH
M.S. '06 Psychology

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I transferred to SIU from a Chicago City Junior College 1n 1966. I was a January graduate from High School at a time when most schools did not admit students in mid year. I was a pre-law student at a time when SIU had no law school. I completed my degree in December of 1968 and was accepted to three law schools when President Johnson revoked the draft graduate deferments. I never made it to my graduation because I was at Ft. Polk La. in the summer of 1969. In the Army during training there is no TV, radio, or newspaper so I vaguely heard about a man on the moon and a place called Woodstock. My future wife came to see me at SIU for the Spring Dance in 68 and I asked her to marry me while we were in my apartment at 806 College. I received a great education at SIU which afforded me the privledge of attending DePaul University College of Law. I am a life member of the Alumni Association and I am proud to say I went to SIU.

PAUL PLOTNICK
L.A.S. '69 History

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  I taught in southern California junior high schools, 1961-1995,
  with academic year 1963-4 for Masters work.I Heard Sergeant
  Schreiver speak in my senior year about Peace Corps. Felt my
  mission was working with early adolescents. I Retired after
  serving 34 years in education work. Worked three years in
  New Mexico with the historic steam railroad/ historic
  preservation work 2000-2003.

  HOWARD BUNTE
  B.S. '61  Education
  M.S. '64 Education

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Exactly 50 years ago today I came to Thompson Point, as a incoming Freshman. My mother and my brother unloaded by suitcases and I entered Pierce Hall, second floor, 4 man room, near Lenz Hall. What a view, lake and all. I went over to Lenz Hall for my first meal, and saw a young blonde, who also, was an incoming freshman,standing in line, picking up her food. I later learned she was staying at Stegall Hall two dorms down from where I was staying. Two years later, as Juniors, we married, a year and a half later, our first child, a daughter, was born in Carbondale. Now 48 years later, both my wife, who graduated in 1963, elementary education, are SIU Life Members of the alumni association. I was on campus last month and walked the same grounds and revisited by Thompson Point 2nd floor room, now, housing women. What a memory I shared with my wife, who was babysitting our grandchildren back here in Springfield, Virginia, where we have lived for the past 31 years. Thanks SIU for giving my wife and an education which provided the foundation for a long-lasting marriage and successful careers, i.e., I retired from the Air Force, 35 years, which started by my being commissioned by the SIU ROTC program in August 29, 1964. My wife, Mary, still substitutes gifted children here in Fairfax County Virginia. We have three grown children, and five grandchildren.

RONALD BAKER
B.S. '64 Marketing

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STEVE SATTERFIELD
B.S. '62
M.S. '65 Forestry and Economics

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I worked as a student photographer at SIU from '61-65' and traded being a night-watchman at the photo service for a free room. An old bath tub was mine to use when it was not tied up with washing photos too large for the print washer. some evening I would return to find a note on the door to do some work, such as developing an important roll of film. One note asked me to please help the homecoming queen out of the bath tub, sadly not her, just a picture.

Charles Bertram

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I arrived at SIU in 1967. I completed all my course work in three years, taking up to 21 credits in a quarter.I finished long before my graduation date of 1971 (I majored in Black American Studies and to this day am the only person to major in this area from SIU! Why!) The three years I spent at SIU laid a foundation for what was to be my life experiences. I was already an athlete from an elite high school track team in New York (Boys High). I ran track and did football briefly at SIU. In track I trained with world record holder Ivory Crocket (9.1 100 yds) Chuck Benson (drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. In football, I trained with Jim Hart (St. Louis Cardinals) and Lionel Antoine (Bears, Cardinals). I had talent but I was more focused on my academics. I felt more like I was not at SIU to play games so I left the teams. I remember the team manager thought I was nuts because I was a walk on with a great chance of getting an athletic scholarship. The point here is that after leaving SIU I ended up running track and road races for 22 years! My closest friends in life right now are people I met at SIU from New York and Chicago. I continued my educational pursuits at Columbia University Teachers college getting an M.A.. ED.M. and Doctoral course completion for the ED.D.I published a manual entitled "Writing" for the Ocean Hill Brownsville School District in Brooklyn, New York and was commissioned by the Chancellor (Alvorado) of New York City Schools to put a writing program in place for the school system. I was very politically involved at SIU. My involvement continued in New York where I helped to get the first Black elected officials in office in the newly charted electoral districts in the history of Brooklyn politics. This included congress people, senators, city council people, assembly people and county committee people. I was a campaign manager in three of the campaigns. There was only one Black elected official when I started. He was Assemblyman Thomas Fortune, the father of SIU alumni Roger Fortune ('69). Another SIU Alumni Roger Green ('72) became an Assemblyman resulting in part from these endeavors. SIU was always noted for the educators it produced. The Vietnam War was going on as I was about to leave college. I was drafted number seven out of the thousands of numbers given in the draft. I served in education because it was necessary for the national health, wealth and interest of our country. It was one of my obligations as a conscientious objector to war. I ended up in almost every facet of education imaginable including being a teacher, supervisor, Special Education Placement Officer, school Principal, district office and central board administrator. I worked in well over 100 schools and participated in every marked educational gain of the times. I saw a film when I attended SIU about how a teacher used affective qualities of students to motivate them to learn. The film location was Junior High School 57 in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. It's the same school where I began my teaching career! I retired after 32 years and built a new career as a Jazz composer, conga player, vocalist and recording artist. Yes, It all started at SIU! I participated in a drum and dance show at SIU. When everyone got paid for the show. I asked the head man, Jim Jones, if I could have a conga drum instead of the check. He agreed. Otis Gould, SIU alumni ('71) and later drummer for the famous Chicago group" The Chil-lites," taught me how to play in a band and my voyage into music began. My CD "In Your Own Time." became the number one Jazz CD aired on radio fall of 2006 by CMJ radio charts. My 7th and 8th CD's were recently released. Alumni at The SIU BAG Reunion July 2009 were the first to be exposed to the new release entitled "The Eric Frazier Quintet Live at Cecil's Jazz Club (two CD set)." Visit www.ericfraziermusic.com and find out what else I'm up to. That's my story! What's yours?

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  I arrived in Carbondale in 1998: an awkward, homesick
  18-year-old kid who'd never lived a day outside of California.
  My father flew out with me to SIU. He rented a car and moved
  me into my dorm. On the day he left he told me plain: It was a
  big world out there and people got lost in it all the time. But
  that didn't mean you kept out of it. I remember the awful
  sense of uncertainty as I stood on the curb of Schneider Hall
  and watched him drive away--the feeling that I'd entered into
  something I wasn't nearly prepared for. For the rest of that
  first year uncertainty would be my permanent condition.
  Gradually that condition would change. Uncertainty would
  fade to confidence, confidence to curiosity. Since that
  time I have lived in Italy, Ireland, Korea and Newfoundland.
  I have written stories about places and people I could never have imagined
without first seeing them with my own eyes. After so many years and adventures it becomes important to find the beginning, the alpha, that point, place, and time from which all your journeys and adventures sprung. For me, SIU is less an institution than a genesis. It is the place where the world first unveiled itself promising and diverse, a large grand
thing worth entering.

TIMOTHY MARSH
BA '02 Administration of Justice
MFA '06 Creative Writing

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I was just visiting in Jordan in the Middle East and on Mt. Nebo, where Moses is said to have been buried, they had on display a Roman floor mosaic depicting slender dogs helping a hunter bring down deer and bears. I asked the guide what kind of dog it was (although I suspected I already knew the answer) and he confirmed my suspicion that it was an Egyptian Saluki. He added this dog was known as an excellent hunter because of its speed and intelligence.(click photo to review at the whole mosaic)

RONALD NAVERSEN
89' Speech Communication

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I attended SIUC through the Off Campus Degree Completion Program with my "home campus" located at the Dam Neck Navy Base in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As a young person, I was not prepared for nor encouraged to go to college, instead I ended up doing a 30 year career as a Sailor in the U.S. Navy. I spent many weekends at Dam Neck with a Professor who traveled all the way from Carbondale to teach the distant Salukis. Dr. Marsha Anderson comes to mind - what a fantastic professor to have. I finished up my program at Dam Neck, graduating in 2005 - nearly 29 years from when I had graduated from High School. I was fortunate to receive great encouragement from Dr. Bob Dotzler and his magnificent assistant, Sandee Barton (who I also had as my Physical Science Professor) - she's quite the rock lady and knows a lot about them. Thank you SIU for the great experience. Maybe someday I'll get to actually visit Carbondale.

BRIAN ASHPOLE
BS '05, Workforce Education

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  Coming from New Jersey and living in the mid west was a
  great change for me. Living at Thompson Point
  in the dorms was a thrill, the first football game at night, the
  first Saluki basketball game, walking around
  campus being one in the crowd. The first day pushing my
  wheelchair across campus myself, I knew then
  that I would make it at Carbondale I had unfair advantages
  but the third day I got my motorized chair and
  I was on my way. The first class was math at 8 am in the
  morning my last class five years later was 11 am
  in the morning.. What a difference 4 years makes.. cannot
  forget the many friends at Thompson Point,
  the Alpha and Kappa brothers that were friends, the risk
  games in Brown Hall and the wheelchair football games on sat mornings at the arena parking lot.

GARY NORRIS GRAY
BA '78, History

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Journalism School was the best! Working as Production Manager of the Daily Egyptian helped me with skills that gave me great opportunity over the years. Marcia Bullock of USA Weekend fame worked alongside me during those school days and I was part of the launch of that publication in later years. Her talent attests to the quality of education provided by our faculty then. After years of editing and publishing products, I am now finishing a career as a Special Education teacher in Virginia, telling my students the many stories I learned from Journalism professors like Cliff Lawhorn, Harlen Mendenhall and Lenny Granato. I also fondly remember Philosophy Professor Paul Schilp and Political Science Professor John Jackson. Both gave me knowledge about life that has made it so meaningful and fulfilling.

ROBERT SMITH
BS '73, Journalism

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PATRICK STALEY
BA '87, Radio-Television

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After leaving Illinois with a B.A. in French, I hit the road and studied in France. Then I moved to San Francisco where I got an M.A. in Education teaching Southeast Asian refugees ESL before moving to Tokyo, Japan. There I taught ESL for 25 years. In recent years I have morphed into writing travel feature articles and photo essays. My photo site and my photo blog links have samples of my work.

JOHN LANDER
BA '78, Special Major 

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Everything I have in my life I can pretty much trace back to going to SIU...my career, my wife, my friends. I work for WBEZ-FM (the NPR station in Chicago). I interviewed for a job as an engineer in 1986, a few months after graduation, and landed the gig because of the skills I acquired working for the Broadcasting Service. I met my wife because I played pickup volleyball with a friend from SIU. Most of my close friends are Salukis. We all got together working at Channel 8 and WSIU-FM and have remained close ever since. We see each other regularly through weddings, kid’s parties, Cubs games, trips to Memphis and elsewhere. Tell the same stories over and over and laugh every time. Loved the campus the first time I visited and still do.

STEVEN WARANAUSKAS
BA '86, Radio-Television

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  I remember the day my father left me outside Warren Hall. It
  was my first time away from home, and the campus seemed
  to extend to infinity. I was fortunate to settle into campus
  life, completing both a master's degree in Administration
  of Justice and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. I loved
  the Ed. Psych program because they allowed me to tailor
  my degree to gain the research and statistics tools that I
  wanted for a career in research. In 1984, I was hired to work
  in the Office of Institutional Research and Studies. Over the
  years, I held many positions at SIU, all employing the
  research and statistical skills acquired through my education.
  I decided to "rewire" in 2000. I quit the university and started
  my own small business. As an artist, the creative side of me
  needed more than pie charts to attain satisfaction. While I built my business, I also had
  the opportunity to teach Sociology at the Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida. Nearly ten years later, my small business, The Drum People, thrives, even in hard economic times. My husband, Keith Little Badger builds Native American drums, which I paint. We spent about six years traveling the country selling our artwork at Native American powwows and Art Festivals. Now we rely solely on the Internet for sales. I learned all of my computer skills "on the job" at SIU. These skills were invaluable in developing a web site, assessing my customer base and becoming an international company. You can find us at http://www.thedrumpeople.com. Both my education and my work experience at SIU have allowed me to pursue my dream of being an artist and actually making a living at it! Thank you, SIU, and hello to all my old friends.

CHERYL FARABAUGH
MS '82, Administration of Justice
Ph.D. '89, Education

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My first time at SIUC was a complete culture shock at first. It was my first time away from home. My best memories of SIUC was being apart of the SOAR Staff and living in the resident halls and experiencing everything that is Saluki.

BIANCA ADAMS
BS '06, Rehabilitation Services

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