Alumni Networking Groups

Current Alumni Networking Groups

Wherever you go, there’s a Saluki near you. With more than 260,000 living alumni of SIU, the Association has many networking groups around the country. Find out more about the Salukis in your home region and reach out today.

Alumni groups are made up of graduates, former students, and friends of SIU, all of whom share a special mutual interest and gather as an organization to serve the University. This initiative illustrates a collaboration between the University, our alumni around the world, and current SIU students.

Contact Catherine Mieldezis by email or at (618) 453-2408 if you are interested in becoming a representative of one of the current groups.

Affinity Groups

Alumni Band Group

Representative: Rachel Bartleman
Contact: Email
Facebook: Alumni Band Group – SIU Alumni Association Group

The SIU Alumni Band has been an official constituency group of the SIU Alumni Association since 1989. The group operates with five main goals:

Improve communication between alumni and the SIU bands
Increase interaction among alumni
Assist in promoting the SIU bands and attract new students to the band program
Hold an annual reunion for band alumni and guests on homecoming weekend
Increase the role of band alumni in halftime activities of the SIU homecoming game

The first Alumni Band Group officers were Janice Gahagan (president), Mardi Huffstetter (vice president), Karen Driver (treasurer), and Bruce Arnold (secretary). The current officers are listed below.

To meet fellow SIU alumni and participate in future activities, email the SIU Alumni Association or call 618-453-2408. Check out more information on the Marching Salukis webpage.

Officers

Officers
President:	Sean Cooney	VP Communications:	Caleb Hallock
VP North:	Brian Svec	VP South:	Amber Ronketto
Secretary:	Rachel Bartleman	Treasurer:	Ivan Vargas

Black Alumni Group

The Black Alumni Group (BAG) has been an official constituent group of the SIU Alumni Association since 1988, helping maintain, nurture, and advance initiatives while assisting SIU Carbondale.

BAG seeks to keep alive professional, social, and educational relationships developed while at Southern, by providing, assistance, guidance, and support to alumni. The organization solicits gifts to be used for and on behalf of SIU, its faculty, students, and staff; and assists SIU in the recruitment, retention, financial assistance, and career development of students of Black African descent. Held biennially in odd-numbered years, BAG hosts a reunion on a weekend in the summer. A myriad of social and educational events are scheduled during the reunion weekend, as well as a business meeting, and the election of officers. To meet fellow SIU alumni and participate in future activities, email the Black Alumni Group or the SIU Alumni Association or call 618-453-2408.

Don't forget to join the SIU Alumni Association social media platforms to share your SIU traditions, pride and opportunities while also connecting with Salukis from around the world.

Officers

Officers
President:	Richard Gardner	Vice President:	Cynthia Parker-Ferguson
Treasurer:	Daniel Hall	Financial Secretary:	Kevin Buford
Secretary:	Crystal Allen	Parliamentarian:	Todd Bryson

Group History

In 1972, three black SIU alumni met in Chicago to discuss how they could perpetuate the friendships they had developed in Carbondale and assist black students planning to attend SIU. Dwight Campbell, Eric Grant, and Dan Thomas helped to organize what was to become the not-for-profit corporation, "The Black Association of SIU."

From 1975 to 1978, this organization held two fundraiser's each year – a Thanksgiving dance and a Las Vegas Night – to raise funds for scholarships. Eighteen students were awarded $500 each during this period, and in 1978 this group also helped organize a black alumni reunion on the Carbondale campus when approximately 200 persons attended. The group became inactive in 1980.

In 1985, a group of SIU alumni based in California (including Sharon Banks, Rose Garnett, and Stevie Stephens) helped plan a black alumni reunion for 1986 in Carbondale. They contacted SIU alumna Pat McNeil and asked for assistance in contacting other alumni. These efforts resulted in a July reunion that was attended by more than 350 persons. The keynote speaker was William Butts, then president of the SIU Alumni Association Board of Directors, and it was decided that another reunion would be held in 1988.

A group of black alumni soon petitioned to be recognized as an official SIU Alumni Association affiliate group. As the 1988 reunion was being planned, several meetings were held between this group and members of the Association's Board of Directors, and a charter was soon issued to The Black Alumni Group of the SIU Alumni Association.

BAG's first officers were: John Holmes, President; Richard Hayes, Vice President; Linda Flowers, Secretary; and Doris Weaver, Treasurer. At the 1988 reunion, approximately 400 people were in attendance and the first Support Black Undergraduate Education scholarships were awarded. A vote was taken to hold the reunions biennially during odd-numbered years beginning in 1991.

Carbondale in the ‘80s and ‘90s (B.E.E.R.) Group

Organized originally as a Facebook group for alumni interested in reminiscing about their time in Carbondale, the group quickly mobilized to raise funding for a new scholarship to assist students with attending SIU. The Balancing Education, Experience, and Reality (or B.E.E.R.) Scholarship was established with an endowment in 2019 and more than $50,000 raised by members of the group. The group also hosts a tailgate on Saluki Row during Homecoming Weekend.

To meet fellow SIU alumni and participate in future activities, email the Carbondale in the ‘80s and ‘90s Group or the SIU Alumni Association or call 618-453-2408. You can also connect with the group by "liking" or "joining" their Facebook page Carbondale in the ‘80s and ‘90s (B.E.E.R. Group).

Don't forget to join the SIU Alumni Association social media platforms to share your SIU traditions, pride and opportunities while also connecting with Salukis from around the world.

Lavender Group

Representative: Juniper Oxford
Contact: Email
Facebook: Lavender Alumni Network – A Group for LGBBTQ+ Salukis

The LAN group started in the fall semester of 2023 with alumni and founder Juniper Oxford and numerous alumni connected online. The LAN now numbers over two hundred Salukis strong and meets annually for the LGBTQ+ Saluki Reunion Weekend during Pride Month in June. Interest LGBTQ+ alumni are encouraged to join the Facebook group.

Officers


President:	Nakkiah Stampfli	Vice President:	Tyler Knupp
Treasurer:	Stacy Jill Calvert	Secretary:	Vic Hammond
Historian:	Juniper Oxford

Law Alumni Group

Established in 2019, the SIU School of Law engages alumni in programs and activities that support future generations of Salukis interested in pursuing a legal career. To meet fellow SIU alumni and participate in future activities, email the SIU Alumni Association or call 618-453-2408.

Don't forget to join the SIU Alumni Association social media platforms to share your SIU traditions, pride and opportunities while also connecting with Salukis from around the world.

Saluki Veterans Alumni Group

Representative: Paul Copeland
Contact: Email
Facebook: SIU Veterans – SIU Alumni Association

The SIU Alumni Association’s Saluki Veteran’s Alumni Group is dedicated to the military veterans who have and continue to serve their country. The Association’s National Board of Directors formally chartered in 2014, as this was the culmination of work that began when alumnus Ryan McKennedy ‘13 approached the Association looking for a way to connect veteran alumni and students.

Regional Alumni Groups

San Diego Group

Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: San Diego – SIU Alumni Association

San Francisco Bay Area Group

Representative: Makela Clay
Contact: Email
Facebook: San Francisco Bay Area – SIU Alumni Association

South Cali-Bay Area Group

Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: South Bay Cali - SIU Alumni Association

Central Florida Group

Representative: Jarrod Echols
Contact: Email
Facebook: Central Florida – SIU Alumni Association

South Florida Alumni Group

Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: South Florida – SIU Alumni Association Group

Chicagoland Group

Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: Chicagoland - SIU Alumni Association

Peoria Tri-County Group

Representative: Mike Munge
Contact: Email
Facebook: Peoria Tri-County – SIU Alumni Association

Prairie Capital Group

Representative: Melissa Haun
Contact: Email
Facebook: Prairie Capital/Springfield – SIU Alumni Association

Rockford Group

Representative: Pat Wilhimi and Andy Fruth
Contact: Email
Facebook: Rockford - SIU Alumni Association

Southern Illinois Group

Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: Southern Illinois - SIU Alumni Association Group

Williamson County Group

Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: Williamson County, Illinois - SIU Alumni Association

Greater Michigan Group

Representative: Zac Winstead and QuintenSchiff
Contact: Email
Facebook:

West Michigan Group

Representative: Blaine Bensil
Contact: Email
Facebook: West Michigan – SIU Alumni Association

Greater Nashville Alumni Club

Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: Greater Nashville – SIU Alumni Association

Memphis Area Group

Representative: Tecora Murray
Contact: Email
Facebook: Memphis – SIU Alumni Association

Austin/San Antonio Group

Representative: Sean Lervaag
Contact: Email
Facebook: Austin/San Antonio - SIU Alumni Association

Dallas/Ft. Worth Alumni Group

Representative: JoAnn Paulek and Marco Perez
Contact: Email
Facebook: Dallas/Fort Worth – SIU Alumni Association

Houston Group

Representative: Bram Duffee
Contact: Email
Facebook: Houston – SIU Alumni Association

Current Alumni Networking Groups

Affinity Groups

Alumni Band Group

Black Alumni Group

Carbondale in the '80s and '90s

Dawg Pound Group

Hispanic Group

Lavender Group

Law Alumni Group

Saluki Veterans Alumni Group

SCOA Salukis of America Club Group

Regional Alumni Groups

Arizona Networking Group

California Networking Groups

Colorado Networking Group

DC/MD Networking Group

Florida Networking Groups

Georgia Networking Group

Illinois Networking Groups

Kansas Networking Group

Michigan Networking Groups

Minnesota Networking Group

Missouri Networking Group

New York Networking Group

Pennsylvania Networking Group

Tennessee Networking Groups

Texas Networking Groups

Washington Networking Group

Wisconsin Networking Group

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