Alumni Networking Groups

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Last Updated: Feb 23, 2026, 02:13 PM

alumni at siu football tailgate

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.

  • Chicagoland Group
  • Greater Nashville Alumni Group
  • Hispanic Group
  • Kansas City Group
  • Law Alumni Group
  • New York City Group
  • Philadelphia Group
  • San Diego Group
  • South Cali-Bay Area Group
  • South Florida Alumni Group
  • Southern Illinois Group
  • Washington DC/Baltimore Group
  • Williamson County 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:

  1. Improve communication between alumni and the SIU bands
  2. Increase interaction among alumni
  3. Assist in promoting the SIU bands and attract new students to the band program
  4. Hold an annual reunion for band alumni and guests on homecoming weekend
  5. 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

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

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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: Greater Atlanta - SIU Alumni Association

Illinois Networking Groups

 

 

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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

Representatives: 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

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