When you support Southern Illinois University, you ensure that our mission is carried out in the following key areas:
Access to World-Class Education
Opportunity is at the heart of SIU’s mission. We believe that all students – regardless of their means – deserve access to a world-class education. Students such as Suhas Dantuluri, who is passionate about making sure rural areas have adequate health care. Suhas greatly appreciates the ability to study medicine, “without having to worry about keeping the lights on. I can focus on my studies.”
Today, SIU has a record number, about 90 percent, of deserving students seeking financial support. This large increase is largely because federal and state grants no longer cover the cost of attendance for many SIU students.
Your support helps us to attract bright minds to SIU, so that our students can continue to include the most talented, regardless of financial need. Most importantly, though, your gift opens doors of learning and changes lives.
1. Watch this video to meet Kayla, an SIU scholarship recipient.
2. See how scholarship support helped Michelle Montano continue her SIU education and pursue a future in veterinary medicine.
Attracting and Retaining Excellent Faculty
The SIU story is about professors and students who make each other better as they explore and learn. It’s about a faculty member going the extra mile to help a student grasp new knowledge, find an internship and connect with a prospective employer.
SIU’s goal is to ensure that we continue to attract and retain faculty who are as focused on the student experience as they are on their own fields of expertise. Many of our faculty are considered to be national and international leaders in their fields, and their reputations and knowledge raise our students as well as the university’s reputation.
Your support provides resources that help our faculty hone and share their expertise to benefit students. In addition, investments in endowed faculty chairs will help attract top educators and scholars to core programs across campus.
1. See how Saluki faculty work to create value in an SIU degree and encourage their students to be even more successful in their field.
2. Watch how advanced computing resources help SIU attract and support outstanding faculty while expanding research and learning opportunities for students.
Advancing Research
Every day, SIU faculty and students are on the leading edge of research that contributes new knowledge for the greater good. In fact, SIU ranks in the top 5 percent of all U.S. higher education institutions for research. Many of our research studies and faculty have gained national and international attention.
SIU prides itself on engaging students in research as early as the freshman year. REACH, our Research-Enriched Academic Challenge program, offers students opportunities to work on independent creative activities or research.
Your contributions support research that addresses real-life problems while giving students hands-on experience that will advance their careers.
1. See how SIU research programs enrich students’ lives and create a lasting impact on the world.
2. Discover how the Susan C. Thrasher Research Award helps SIU undergraduates pursue meaningful research alongside faculty mentors.
Enriching Programs
From aviation to zoology, SIU’s strong academic programs are founded on real-life, hands-on learning opportunities within and beyond the classroom. That’s why SIU alumni have a habit of making their mark in the world, many as innovators and entrepreneurs. Their time here at SIU taught them the habit of getting their hands dirty and making things happen.
Some of the most memorable lessons our students learn take place beyond the walls of the classroom. Internships, study abroad, research and creative activities, community service and Registered Student Organizations all provide learning opportunities that extend and enrich the learning experience.
Your investment in academic and student support programs ensures that SIU students are well-rounded and well-prepared for life after graduation.
1. See how John and Jayne Simmons’ $10M gift to the SIU School of Law is helping our students change the world.
2. Learn how SIU’s Automotive Technology program gives students hands on experience, expert instruction and a strong start in the industry.
3. Read the article below and watch the video to see how Charlotte Thompson Suhler’s historic gift is enriching hands on learning and preparing SIU students to lead in journalism and advertising.
Read more of Charlotte's story
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale made history Tuesday, Sept. 9, as more than 100 people gathered to dedicate the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising in the College of Arts and Media. The ceremony, held in the hallway of the journalism and advertising wing near the advisement office, honored Suhler’s generous gift to the school and marked the first time in SIU’s history that a school has been named for a woman.
“This doesn’t happen every day. In fact, this is an extraordinarily rare thing,” SIU System President Dan Mahony said. “Charlotte Thompson Suhler’s story is one of pioneering spirit, media leadership and steadfast philanthropy — a legacy that now inspires future generations of Salukis.”
SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane said the naming ensures Suhler’s story will continue to inspire.
“Charlotte, your legacy will live on in these halls,” Lane said. “Years from now, students will walk through this space, see your name and be reminded of what is possible when Salukis dream big, work hard and give back.”
From Mount Vernon to New York media
Raised in Mount Vernon, Illinois, Suhler grew up working at the Mount Vernon Register-News, where her father and grandfather managed the paper. By age 16, she was managing advertising accounts and helping in the editorial department.
“I’m proud to be from SIU and Southern Illinois — and happy to be here today,” Suhler told the crowd.
At SIU, Suhler became one of the first women to major in advertising. She served as president of Tri Sigma sorority, helped organize the university’s first student protest and was in a headline-writing class the day students practiced fitting headlines on President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
During her senior year, she met John Suhler, a Kansas University student, at a professional conference in St. Louis. They later married and built distinguished careers in New York media, working alongside icons such as Clay Felker, Milton Glaser, Gloria Steinem, Jimmy Breslin and Tom Wolfe.
“This big, tall, good-looking guy walked up to me in St. Louis and said, ‘Hey, I hear it’s your birthday. It’s my birthday too. How would you like to celebrate?’” Suhler recalled. “I thought it was either the best line or the worst line — but it was true. We’ve been celebrating together ever since.”
In 2009, the couple co-founded the Suhler Family Investment Office to make equity investments in select small and early-stage media companies. Mr. Suhler also founded Veronis Suhler, an investment banking firm specializing in communication properties.
A legacy of leadership
Throughout her career, Suhler broke barriers for women in media and philanthropy. She helped connect Steinem with publisher Betty Harris, a pivotal meeting that helped launch Ms. Magazine. She later co-founded the Fairfield County Community Foundation and the Fund for Women and Girls, now the largest of its kind on the East Coast.
“I had the advantage of being the advocate and spokeswoman for women,” Suhler said. “I carried on communication in the best way I could — speaking up for women in ways they sometimes could not.”
Her ties to SIU remained strong. She served on the SIU Foundation Board, participated in the Dean’s National Industry Council and created a scholarship to support women in their junior and senior years.
“This is history for our school, our college and our entire university,” said Dr. Hong Cheng, dean of the College of Arts and Media. “The first school at SIU named after a woman honors a pioneering alumna and elevates a program already known for excellence.”
“Charlotte Thompson Suhler is the perfect role model for our students and Salukis everywhere,” said Jan Thompson, director of the Charlotte Thompson Suhler School of Journalism and Advertising. “She achieved remarkable success working alongside some of the most celebrated journalists of her time, and her charitable work reflects a selfless dedication to improving American life — all from a girl who grew up in Mount Vernon, Illinois.”
Former scholarship recipient Anne Fairfield, a 1999 graduate, credited Suhler’s support with giving her crucial opportunities.
“After receiving the Charlotte Thompson Suhler and Dorothy Morris Scholarships, I was able to achieve a personal goal by working for the Daily Egyptian in my final semester,” Fairfield wrote. “Aside from the financial support, there’s an intangible value to the example set by women supporting women.”
Strengthening SIU’s mission
Suhler’s gift will advance the school’s mission, which emphasizes lab-based learning where students gain professional experience in newsrooms, advertising campaigns and media projects from their first year.
“Charlotte Thompson Suhler’s remarkable generosity and pioneering spirit embody the very best of SIU,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “Her gift not only honors her legacy as one of our trailblazing alumni but also ensures that future generations of Salukis will have the resources and inspiration to pursue their own bold paths in journalism and advertising.”
SIU is one of only 21 universities nationwide — out of nearly 4,000 — recognized by the Carnegie Classification as both a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University. Suhler’s gift reflects that dual mission, strengthening opportunities for students to learn, create and lead in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
The dedication also supports Imagine SIU 2030, the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, more than $422 million has been raised toward the $500 million goal.
Campus Improvements
Quality facilities also contribute to the quality of campus life. Whether students volunteer at Touch of Nature, practice on the soccer field, play basketball at the Student Recreation Center or simply walk around Campus Lake, your support ensures that we provide an outstanding environment that will contribute to student satisfaction and retention.
1. Watch The Impact Report to see the completed Tedrick Welcome Center, celebrate its grand opening and learn how donor generosity brought this new gateway to SIU to life.
2. Learn how Bob and Pat England helped bring a student led vision to life, creating a new space where Salukis can study, create and gather.
3. Read the article below and watch the video to see how Chuck Trover’s generosity is helping create a new Wildlife Habitat Education Center where students, families and young people can learn about conservation year round.
Read more of this story
MAKANDA, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale broke ground Friday, Aug. 29, on the Wildlife Habitat Education Center at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, a major step forward for hands-on conservation learning made possible by a $3 million gift from SIU alumnus Chuck Trover, who graduated in 1967.
Approved by the SIU Board of Trustees on April 17, 2025, the project is being managed by the SIU Foundation in partnership with the university. The new facility will serve as a hub for environmental education, a visitor check-in point and an indoor activity space so programs can continue year-round. Early plans include interactive exhibits and classroom features to support schools, families and SIU students in biology, environmental science, zoology and forestry.
Speaking to guests gathered at the SIU Credit Union Trailhead, Brian Croft, director of Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, highlighted the center’s unique role at SIU.
“If you’re not familiar with Touch of Nature, we’ve been around since 1952,” Croft said. “We are the only outdoor education center in Illinois that is owned and operated by a university. This really is one of those things that makes SIU special.”
Croft shared how Touch of Nature changes lives, recalling an incoming student who chose SIU after visiting as an eighth grader with a St. Louis school group.
“It really shows the value we bring to the university,” he said. “Today, we’re excited about this new venture. It’s been a long time in the making.”
Chancellor Austin A. Lane praised the collaboration behind the project and the momentum at Touch of Nature.
“Many of the things we’re accomplishing, we could not do without the SIU Foundation,” Lane said, noting the Foundation’s role in accelerating projects and providing critical support to donors. “They work tirelessly to connect generosity with opportunity, and this project is a perfect example of that partnership at work.”
Addressing Trover directly, he added, “The legacy you are leaving is tremendous. Your name and what you stand for will live on here for generations. Because of your vision and generosity, Touch of Nature is entering a new era of impact.”
For Trover, the center is deeply personal. He announced that the Wildlife Habitat Education Center will be dedicated to his mentors, his best friend’s father, Bob Alexander, and his uncle, Jim Trover, who first opened his eyes to the natural world.
“My love for the outdoors came from these two incredible men, who taught me to hunt, fish and appreciate wildlife,” he said. “Without them, I probably wouldn’t be doing this for SIU today. This center will give future generations the chance to build that same connection.”
Trover reflected on his own childhood in rural Illinois, where the outdoors was his classroom. He recalled long nights hunting raccoons, summers spent fishing rivers for catfish, and autumns exploring fields and woods for mushrooms, ginseng and small game.
“Those years shaped everything,” Trover said. “They laid the foundation for my respect for nature and wildlife and for what I’m doing at SIU today.”
Trover credited the SIU Foundation team for guiding the project since 2019, navigating COVID-19 disruptions, supply chain challenges, inflation and tariffs to reach the groundbreaking.
“They took the bull by the horns so this could be built to my satisfaction,” Trover said.
He described his vision for the center: “The dream is to reconnect youth with habitat and animals. Kids today don’t always get the exposure many of us had. This center will help them discover and care for the natural world.”
Trover also referenced the ideas in Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, noting the growing disconnect between children and nature.
Croft closed the program by inviting attendees to the ceremonial shovel turn and underscoring the center’s long-term impact.
“With this project, Touch of Nature is on a tremendous upswing, thanks to the support of SIU’s leadership, our SIU Foundation partners and Chuck’s generosity.”
The project aligns with SIU’s rare distinction as one of only 21 universities out of nearly 4,000 nationwide recognized by the Carnegie Classification for both Research 1 (Very High Research Activity) and as an Opportunity College and University, reflecting the university’s commitment to advancing knowledge while expanding opportunity for all. It also supports the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has secured more than $422 million toward its $500 million goal. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the student body.
“Receiving the scholarship was hugely impactful in my life. I was faced with having to fund my undergraduate education by myself, so when I found out that burden was lifted, it shaved a lot of worry and stress from my life.”
—Colton Newlin, Chancellor Scholar