Alumni

In its tenth-year celebration of alumni who earned their degree 50 or more years ago, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted the 1976 class of Golden Graduates return to campus spring commencement weekend May 8-9. The annual reunion is a milestone that offers alumni an opportunity to reflect on how far they have come, some of whom say due to their time at SIUE.

The celebration kicked off with a luncheon where Golden Graduates&#...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville raised a record-breaking $3,221,709 during its fifth annual One Day, One SIUE celebration on Thursday, April 23, bringing together alumni, students and community supporters for an evening of philanthropy, pride and impact.

Held outside the University’s new Health Sciences Complex, this year’s theme, “Soaring to New Heights,” reflected both the spirit of the event and the growing momentum behind philanthropic support for SIUE st...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted its spring career fair series, connecting students and alumni with employers across multiple industries. 

Hosted by the SIUE Career Development Center, the events are held at the Morris University Center and are designed to support students in their job search and professional development. The fairs are open to SIUE students and alumni, as well as those from partner schools. 

Recent events include the Education Care...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host its fifth annual One Day, One SIUE celebration at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, bringing together alumni, partners and the campus community for a day of giving and an evening celebration that will glow.

In 2025, the SIUE community raised $2,880,842.81. The amount included seven new scholarship endowments, one new program endowment and more than 1,070 first-time donors. Gifts came from 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the United Kingdom, and ...

 
As part of a system-wide initiative, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has partnered with Google and the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) to provide Google Career Certificates to students as co-curricular offerings or embedded into academic programs. SIUE students, faculty and staff now have the opportunity to Grow with Google and earn no-cost training licenses in the form of Google Career Certificates and Specia...

On Saturday, March 7, SIU School of Dental Medicine hosted SIU SDM March Mimosas Brunch 2026 to introduce current students to members of the SIU SDM Alumni Association. The inaugural event brought together practitioners at all levels over chicken & waffles, fresh fruit and champagne.

The scene was set for a welcome break from classes and plenty of networking. 
 
“The SIU SDM March Mimosas Brunch 2026 was a great opportunity for r...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty, students and programs continue to gain regional and national media coverage for their expertise, innovation and community engagement. Recent coverage highlights faculty thought leadership, alumni achievement, student opportunity and the University’s growing role as a civic and cultural anchor across the region.

1. East St. Louis Alumni Panel Inspires Class of 2026
   
   Riverbender highlighted an SIUE alumni panel held at East St. Louis Seni...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Chancellor Emeritus and Former First Lady, philanthropists David and Kay Werner, have donated $100,000 to establish an endowed scholarship in SIUE's School of Education Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB). The first $5,000 award will be announced this semester.

“We are delighted to receive such a generous gift from the Werner family at such a critical time. Nationwide&#160...

Tremolos flared brilliantly at the Annual Jazz Alumni Concert performance in Dunham Hall Theater, Feb. 4. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Concert Jazz Band welcomed back star alumni bassist Carlos Henderson (’96), and trombonist Chris Leach (’96), to fill the theater with lively performances of reworked favorites and a touching tribute to former Professor Emeritus Rick Haydon.

Garrett Schmidt, conductor of the Concert Jazz Band and Jason Swagler, director of Jazz Stu...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Cole Milam, CFP, MBA, (’20, ’24), has built an impressive career defined by determination, discipline, and a drive to help others succeed. A former standout pitcher for SIUE Baseball, Milam’s journey from the Cougar mound to professional baseball and now to successful entrepreneur and wealth planner exemplifies SIUE’s mission of shaping leaders who make a lasting impact.

Milam’s time at SIUE was marked by both athle...

On Tuesday, August 26th, more than 60 students, faculty, staff, and administrators gathered in Lovejoy Library to celebrate the launch of the Hansen Humanities Network established by a generous endowed gift from Julia Y. and Stephen L. Hansen to the College of Arts and Sciences.

Highlighting  the Hansen’s many contributions to the College and University, Dean of the College, Kevin Leonard, PhD, noted that “Over the course of their long careers in the SIUE Department of History,...

Alumni and friends of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came together for a fun weekend at the ballpark in Florida. Coordinated by the SIUE Alumni Association, the two-day event celebrated Cougar pride while giving alumni a chance to connect, reminisce on good times and cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals.

The fun began Saturday, March 22 at the Homewood Suites in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. Alumni and friends had a chance to sit down with friends, share stories and re-connect fueled by their ...

SIUE Alumnus is Credited for Work at SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School 

For being a positive influence and giving students a good view law of enforcement officials, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Sgt. Kasey Hoyd received Fox 2’s “Proud to Serve” award. 

SIUE alumnus Hoyd, who serves as the resource officer at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, accepted the station’s March award and $500 on a live segment that aired on Tuesday,...

A dazzling, unique display of theatrical performances are lined up for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 13^th Xfest from Monday -Thursday, Sept. 9-12. 

Xfest is a five-day festival in September featuring alternative theatre and dance that brings to campus an array of performing artists, who are nationally and internationally renowned, as well as regional emerging artists, according to Xfest Artistic Director Chuck Harper, professor of performance in the SIUE Department of T...

University Communications Intern Ashlyn Cross Went Behind the Cougar Theater Camp Curtain

"Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook,” Disney's “The Lion King JR.,” and “Alice in Wonderland" were the exciting summer musicals on stage for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougar Theater Camp. The Cougar Theater Camp allows children to gain technical skills as well as theater experience, and for some SIUE alum, these musicals are their first jobs after graduating.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) will present its annual Dinner Theater fundraiser on Tuesday, April 19.

Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by an exclusive preview of “Rent” produced by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Departments of Theater and Dance and Music. This will be the final rehearsal and an opportunity to be the first to see the show.

"We are looking forward to the 2022 FOTAD Dinner Theater,” said Oti...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is introducing three new concurrent degree programs to provide students with greater opportunities for learning and career advancement in the health sciences while saving time and money.

The new concurrent degree programs, which will begin in fall 2022, include:

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSPS)
• PharmD and Master of Public Health (MPH)
• MPH and Master of Business Administration (MBA)

“Today'...

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) has developed two post-baccalaureate certificates focused on public health. Beginning in summer 2023, the Department of Applied Health will offer certificates in public health emergency preparedness infectious disease outbreaks and surveillance and in global public health.

A post-baccalaureate certificate provides in-depth training that leads to a specifi...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will honor nine remarkable graduates at the 2021 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony, A Night Among the Stars, on Thursday, Sept. 23. The impressive alumni have made exceptional contributions in their chosen fields, in their communities and at SIUE through their leadership, character and hard work.

 “Those selected for the Alumni Hall of Fame represent the best of SIUE,” said Andrew Ravanelli, PhD, SIUE Alumni Association president. &#822...

With intense expressions and fast fingers, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students were in multiplayer gaming heaven, engaging in both casual and competitive video play in the newly opened Esports Arena, located in Bluff Hall.

The Esports Arena was officially introduced during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event held Thursday, Jan. 16. A crowd of excited students, alumni, SIUE faculty, staff and administrators, and representatives from Scott Air Force Base toured the new space...