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.
If you are interested in becoming a representative of one of the current vacant groups below, contact Catherine Mieldezis by email or at (618) 453-2408.
| San Diego Group | Chicagoland Group | New York City Group |
| South Cali-Bay Area Group | Southern Illinois Group | Philadelphia Group |
| Washington DC/Baltimore Group | Williamson County Group | Greater Nashville Alumni Club |
| South Florida Alumni Group | Kansas City Group | Hispanic Group |
| Law Alumni Group |
Affinity Groups
Alumni Band Group
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
| President: | Sean Cooney | VP Communications: | Caleb Hallock |
| VP North: | Brian Svec | VP South: | Amber Ronketto |
| Secretary: | Rachel Bartleman | Treasurer: | Ivan Vargas |
Black Alumni Group
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
| 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
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.
Dawg Pound Group
Dawg Pound Group
Representative: Dylan Chambers
Contact: Email
Facebook: Dawg Pound Alumni
Hispanic Group
Hispanic Group
Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: SIU Hispanic/Latino Alumni Group
Lavender Group
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
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
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.
SCOA Salukis of America Club Group
Salukis of America Club Group (SCOA)
Representative: Kip Meyer
Contact: Email
Facebook: Saluki Club of America (SCOA) - SIU Alumni Association
Regional Alumni Groups
Arizona Networking Group
Greater Phoenix Group
Representativse: Danny Griffin and Thom Rindahl
Contact: Email
Facebook: Greater Phoenix – SIU Alumni Association
California Networking 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
Colorado Networking Group
Denver Group
Representative: Terita Walker
Contact: Email
Facebook:
DC/MD Networking Group
Washington DC/Baltimore Group
Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: Washington D.C./Baltimore - SIU Alumni Association
Florida Networking Groups
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
Georgia Networking Group
Atlanta Group
Representatives: Dalton Cobb and Fred Andrews
Contact: Email
Facebook:
Illinois Networking Groups
Chicagoland GroupRepresentative: (Vacant) |
Peoria Tri-County GroupRepresentative: Mike Munge |
Prairie Capital GroupRepresentative: Melissa Haun |
Rockford GroupRepresentatives: Pat Wilhimi and Andy Fruth |
Southern Illinois GroupRepresentative: (Vacant) |
Williamson County GroupRepresentative: (Vacant) |
Kansas Networking Group
Kansas City Group
Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: Kansas City - SIU Alumni Association
Michigan Networking Groups
Greater Michigan Group
Representatives: Zac Winstead and QuintenSchiff
Contact: Email
Facebook:
West Michigan Group
Representative: Blaine Bensil
Contact: Email
Facebook: West Michigan – SIU Alumni Association
Minnesota Networking Group
Minnesota Group
Representative: Todd Johnson
Contact: Email
Facebook: Minnesota – SIU Alumni Association
Missouri Networking Group
St. Louis Area Group
Representatives: Leslie Patterson, Ayanna Flowers, Sophia Westrich, and Jodi Schindewolf
Contact: Email
Facebook: St. Louis – SIU Alumni Association
New York Networking Group
New York City Group
Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: New York City – SIU Alumni Association
Pennsylvania Networking Group
Philadelphia Group
Representative: (Vacant)
Contact: Email
Facebook: Philadelphia - SIU Alumni Association
Tennessee Networking Groups
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
Texas Networking Groups
Austin/San Antonio Group
Representative: Sean Lervaag
Contact: Email
Facebook: Austin/San Antonio - SIU Alumni Association
Dallas/Ft. Worth Alumni Group
Representatives: 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
Washington Networking Group
Seattle-Tacoma Area Group
Representatives: Michael Tow and Darin Barr
Contact: Email
Facebook: Seattle-Tacoma – SIU Alumni Association
Wisconsin Networking Group
Milwaukee Group
Representative: Susan Drone
Contact: Email
Facebook: Milwaukee - SIU Alumni Association