Alumni

An SIUE-led research team is taking a statewide look at what lingers in the tap—measuring and mapping potential contaminants in Illinois drinking water using advanced chemical and geospatial analysis. The initiative, “Sustaining Illinois through Safe Drinking Water for All: A Detailed Chemical and Geospatial Analysis of Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Contaminates in Drinking Water Across Illinois” brings together faculty and students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsvi...

 
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Halie Hebron earned the title of First Runner-Up at the Miss Missouri 2025 competition receiving multiple honors recognizing her excellence, leadership, and artistry. 
  
Hebron, from O'Fallon, MO, is the first recipient of both the Simone Esters Mentor Award, voted on by teen contestants, and the Photogenic Award in the Miss division. She began competing in the Miss America Organization in 2018. Since then, she has held ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Makayla “Mak” Mallon, currently pursuing her graduate degree in African American Literature, has spent this summer as a Servant Leader Intern for the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® hosted on SIUE’s campus. Mallon graduated SIUE with a bachelor’s in history (’24) and also co-founded the student organization Black Literary Analysis Club (BLAC). “I was also privileged enough to...

The Savannah Bananas brought their world-famous baseball entertainment to St. Louis for the first time, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville fans of Banana Ball were right in the middle of the action. With two sold-out nights at Busch Stadium and more than 90,000 fans in attendance, the SIUE Alumni Association hosted a memorable gathering for hundreds of alumni to celebrate the occasion and support fellow Cougar, Matt Graifer (’10), who now serves as Cast Director and Chief Pota...

Here are some of the recently published stories featuring Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students, alumni, faculty, and broader initiatives showcasing SIUE’s regional impact:

1. SIUE Alumna Dr. Tandra Taylor Profiled as a St. Louis Character
   St. Louis Business Journal
   
   SIUE’s own Tandra Taylor, PhD, historian and director of the Institute for Community Justice and Racial Equity, was featured as a "St. Louis Character" for her community-based scholarship and leadership. The a...

Here are some of the recently published stories featuring Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students, alumni, and initiatives:

1. WGEL: Clinton County 4-H Foundation Awards Scholarships to SIUE Students
    WGEL Radio highlighted the Clinton County 4-H Foundation’s 2025 scholarship recipients, including two SIUE students recognized for academic achievement and community service. The Foundation's support helps rural students access higher education, reinforcing SIUE’s stron...

 
Students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville won top awards at the second edition of the Wildey Short Film Competition, held April 17 at the historic Wildey Theatre located in downtown Edwardsville.

“I am incredibly proud of our students. Their creativity, dedication, and storytelling talents stood out in their films,” said Suman Mishra, PhD, chair of the Department of Mass Communications.

The annual competition, hosted by Friends of the Wildey, a nonprofit organiz...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, conferred Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degrees upon 55 graduates of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM). The commencement ceremony was held Saturday, June 7 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus. The Class of 2025 represented the 50th graduating class of SIU SDM, which held its first comme...

“I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for SIU,” said Major Elester Latham (’75). “SIU was everything to me.” Latham, who graduated 50 years ago with a degree in theatre  was one of more than 40 Golden Graduates at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2025 spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 10. Latham, began his career as a United States Air Force and commercial airline pilot eventually returning to his first love ...

Messages of girl power, positive self-esteem, healthy body image, community activism and more were packaged in sparkly, eye-catching motion and decorative costuming during the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts’ (ESLCPA) 2025 Spring Dance Recital. 

Students took to the stage at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15 in the Multipurpose Room of Building D of the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Center. Social justice was the theme of the d...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville conferred degrees upon 2292 eligible graduates during May 2025 commencement exercises, held Friday and Saturday, May 9-10 in the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center. The SIUE spring commencement weekend included six graduation ceremonies, led by Denise Cobb, PhD, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and respective deans. Throughout the ceremonies significant moments included inspiring keynotes, recognition of the 2025 Distinguish...

Free Information, Screenings and Prizes; Fraternity Gives Clinic $7,000  

Metro East residents received valuable information, participated in health screenings, enjoyed free haircuts, beauty services, clothing, lunch, and major door prizes during the Spring Forward Health and Wellness Fair, co-hosted by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis. 

The WE CARE Clinic partnered with the East St. Louis (IL) Alumni Cha...

SIUE will host its fourth annual One Day One SIUE celebration on Thursday, April 24. The event, which combines the University's day of giving with a vibrant outdoor celebration, will take place on the Stratton Quadrangle and feature music from the Red Jackets Band, a BBQ buffet, and an INDYCAR showcase presented by World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in a fun raceway themed celebration.

“The fundraising festival has rapidly evolved into one of the University’s most antici...

The Fuller Dome Presents Five-Day Conference, 90^th Day Programs  

The man with an ingenious ecological and humanitarian idea that became a movement, caused his concepts to travel around the world and earn him the title, “Father of the Modern Sustainability Movement.” The pioneering legacy of the renowned visionary inventor R. Buckminster Fuller was applauded and his theories and beliefs revisited and discussed during a five-day conference at the Fuller Dome, Center for Spirit...

It was a Time of Information to Inspiration, Engagement to Enjoyment  

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville concluded its annual Wom*n’s History Month (WHM) on Monday, March 31. This year’s theme was Moving Forward Together! Wom*n Educating and Inspiring Generations.  

Speakers, presentations, activities, observances and more were woven throughout March to acknowledge and celebrate women and their contributions. WHM was also a time to inform, inspire and chall...

The Franklins Read “Ella’s Sunday Song” to Audience at SIUE’s Lovejoy Library and Early Childhood Center

The reading voices ran the scale from sounding strong to resolute, excited to pensive, and were punctuated with masterful and melodious tunes along the way. They relayed an old, important American story with a new twist, as told through the words of a fictious child and her grandmother. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Communications Director Nicole ...

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 Faculty, Staff and Students Receive ACCESS Awards

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office for Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) hailed the late disability rights activist Ed Roberts as a hero and pioneering leader. ACCESS also praised SIUE faculty, staff and students for their part in moving access rights forward during its 6th Annual Ed Roberts Champions of Accessibility Celebration and Awards on Monday, March 17. Roberts contracted polio ...

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,...

Silvia Torres Bowman is passionate about helping small businesses become competitive in the global marketplace. As director of the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Bowman has assisted southern Illinois businesses in making over $175 million in international sales during the past five years alone. For these accomplishments, Bowman has been named the recipient of the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month Outstanding Commitment in Education award b...

The southern Illinois region has long needed a customized, action-oriented export training initiative to put local businesses on the international map. Now, five regional businesses have benefited from such an opportunity, EXPORT NOW.

Presented by the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in partnership with the Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council, LR International and the Illinois District Export Council, with financial support...

Choosing the right distribution channels can be difficult for businesses, whether a small-scale custom t-shirt design company or a giant producer of goods. A virtual conversation with Southern Illinois Businesses will offer expert advice on Gaining Sales Channel Partners for Exporting.

The free webinar is part of an ongoing virtual roundtable series hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and t...

A longstanding Collinsville-based manufacturer of industrial ink jet printers and other products is expanding its exporting to three additional countries, thanks to funding and expertise via the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Marsh Shipping Supply Co., LLC (MSSC) – the maker of industrial printing, marking, sealing and stenciling products – has been exporting its products for decades to more than 250 distributors worldwid...

Small businesses in southern Illinois are invited to take a strategic look at the world and create a plan to expand their business internationally with guidance from industry leaders during the new, virtual, action-oriented series EXPORT NOW.

EXPORT NOW is presented by the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in partnership with the Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council, LR International and the Illinois District Export Council.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is partnering with the Southwestern Illinois Trade and Investment Council (SWITIC) to host a virtual roundtable conversation on “Selecting the Right Logistics Partner and INCOTERMS 2020.”

Southern Illinois businesses are encouraged to participate in the free discussion being held via Zoom from 10:30 a.m.-Noon Thursday, Feb. 25. Register via email at i...