#SalukiPride

Susan Wills is an outstanding business manager for the School of Education, an excellent role model and mentor for staff members and student workers, and widely respected among peers, said M Cecil Smith, dean of the school.

For Jacari Henderson, going to work at SIU was all about service and giving back to an institution that has done so much for her personally and professionally.

Jessica Crowe, associate professor of sociology, is an innovative teacher and an influential researcher and author. In fact, Crowe and SIU colleagues received $1.7 million from the National Science Foundation’s S-STEM program for the Upper Delta Region Biodiversity Scholarship Program, to provide educational opportunities in biological sciences for students, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

Cherie Watson, the outreach and instruction librarian at Morris Library, not only works with students to enhance their learning experiences but also teaches an online course on introduction to library research. In encouraging students to become lifelong learners, she always makes time to meet with individual students for personalized research assistance.

Science education professor Senetta Bancroft is determined to make STEM opportunities accessible to everyone. Her efforts have drawn accolades from her colleagues and the 2021 Shining Star Award from the School of Education.