SIU Alumni Association to honor 2024 distinguished alumni Sept. 20

September 17, 2024

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The SIU Alumni Association will honor six individuals and two groups at the organization's 2024 SIU Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony at a banquet on Friday, Sept. 20, at Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the SIU Alumni Association's highest honor. Nominations are solicited, and the candidates are selected by a committee of members on the association's national board of directors.

This year's recipients include a law enforcement officer with a storied career, a Hollywood producer, an international alumna working for the Fulbright Commission in Ecuador, a career educator in higher education and a notable voice in Chicago sports radio. Other recipients are a junior at Southern Illinois University Carbondale who is a pre-medicine student pursuing a bachelor's degree in physiology, the SIU Alumni Band Group and "Captain's Club" fundraising group.

"There's no shortage of Saluki success stories, and each year the association commits to recognizing individuals whose impacts stand above the rest," said Molly Hudgins, SIU Alumni Association executive director. "We're always glad to honor these individuals and are certainly proud to tell their stories as shining examples of how SIU helps change lives and inspires people to do great things."

Honorees and their awards are:

Paul E. Echols '81, MPA '02 (Distinguished Alumni)

A native of Cairo and seventh-generation Southern Illinoisan, Echols - whose fourth great-grandfather William Echols signed the Illinois Constitution in 1818 - dedicated his life to public service as a law enforcement officer and higher education criminal justice instructor for more than 40 years.

Echols is a two-degree SIU Carbondale graduate - graduating from the then-School of Technical Careers in 1981 and in 2002 from the Master of Public Administration program. He was a member of SIU's Saluki Patrol while a student and has fostered a network of law enforcement officials with a strong investment in SIU, resulting in fundraising and scholarships.

Echols was a member of the Carbondale Police Department from 1981-2009 starting as a police officer and rising to the rank of investigations commander. Utilizing new procedures to test old evidence, including DNA technology, Echols' work on cold cases included the identification of an incarcerated inmate as the serial killer responsible for nine murders in four states, including in Southern Illinois, and the 1982 murder of SIU student Deborah Sheppard. Another victim was SIU graduate Joyce Tharp, who was living in Paducah, Kentucky.

Echols co-authored the 2011 book, "In Cold Pursuit: My Hunt for Timothy Krajcir," which detailed the investigation, arrest and sentencing. Proceeds from the book went to establish the Nine Angels Memorial Scholarship for students pursuing degrees in criminal justice. While not having a role in the initial investigation in the 1981 murder of SIU senior classmate Susan Schumake, Echols picked up the cold case, and 23 years later arrested a suspect in Detroit, who was later convicted in Jackson County.

Echols also worked with the Illinois Innocence Project to secure a posthumous exoneration for a man who was convicted of murder in Mount Vernon, Illinois, receiving the organization's 2018 Defender of the Innocent award.

In 2008, after exhuming the body of a different serial killer seven years earlier, Echols was able to coordinate the testing of a new DNA technique to prove that man was responsible for the 1975 and 1976 murders of SIU students Theresa Clark and Kathleen McSherry.

Echols taught as an adjunct criminal justice instructor at both SIU Carbondale and Shawnee Community College. He has received numerous awards and commendations throughout his law enforcement and teaching career and presented his investigative experiences to police officers and forensic scientists across the United States, with many cases featured on multiple crime shows shown internationally.

Echols received an SIU Carbondale Distinguished Service Award in May 2024. He is married to Sheila Wehmeyer Echols, and the couple has two grown children. Everyone in the family is an SIU graduate. Sheila Echols retired from SIU after 32 years of accounting and business management.

Todd Abrams '90 (Volunteer Excellence)

A freelance post-production producer working in Hollywood since 1990, Abrams has worked with the likes of Dick Clark, Jerry Lewis, George Lucas, Ridley Scott and Mark Burnett on a variety of Emmy Award-winning shows and Oscar-winning movies.

Abrams graduated from SIU with a bachelor's degree in radio/TV in 1990, and by 1995, he was involved with the inaugural SIU Hollywood Studies program - an internship program that placed 40-60 undergraduates and graduates throughout Hollywood television and movie productions. Abrams supports SIU graduates whenever possible, with at least one SIU alum collaborating with him on every show. During a stint as head of post-production at Relativity Television, Abrams employed 26 alumni on 30 simultaneous productions. Some of the graduates Abrams helped went on to win Emmy Awards.

Abrams organizes regular SIU Alumni Cubs/Dodgers baseball outings, an ongoing tradition for 24 years. These gatherings recently expanded into outings with games involving the St. Louis Cardinals, basketball between Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers, and football with the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Chargers. There are also summer bowling outings which serve as opportunities to connect Hollywood SIU interns with alumni working in the business.

In 2006, Abrams was recognized for his work in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with the President's Volunteer Service Award. He has provided recent SIU graduates a place to live in his house, rent-free to help them get a start in Hollywood, and continues to meet with the SIU Foundation and the College of Arts and Media to help reignite a new Hollywood Studies program.

"Receiving this Volunteer Excellence Award from SIU was totally unexpected and deeply appreciated," Abrams said. "What I do for the alumni and students I never would even think to be recognized for. I hope the students and alumni I have helped will continue this call to service back to the SIU community in future years."

Mitchel D. Livingston '69 (Diversity and Inclusion)

As a highly motivated higher education professional, Livingston views education as the most important tool for creating just and caring communities. When told by a high school counselor that he was "not college material," he countered with a passion and career that would ultimately tell a different story.

Through his work at six different universities over a 43-year career, Livingston served and taught thousands of students who led accomplished lives and careers through their exposure to higher education and beyond.

The driving force behind this kind of transformation was a "Just Community" model Livingston developed. The principles for this approach included knowing oneself and practicing the tenets of a just and caring community to become an educated citizen contributing to society. Livingston has published articles on this approach, lectured on its design and implementation, and spoken nationally and internationally about its success.

Livingston's work as vice president for student affairs, chief diversity officer and professor at the University of Cincinnati, complemented by service on corporate and community boards, has been recognized by several organizations, including being named a Great Living Cincinnatian by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. The "Just Community" program at the University at Albany received the Governor's Educator of the Year Award, and Livingston received a leadership award from the President of the Ohio Senate, among others.

Livingston believes we all have talents and abilities that extend beyond "working with our hands," as he was counseled to do. As someone who started his career as a carpenter and who ultimately taught others how to discover the fullness of their humanity, he benefited greatly from the opportunities presented by professors, Coach Lew Hartzog and many others at SIU Carbondale who invested in him and supported him throughout his experience as a Saluki. He credits SIU for its willingness to take a risk and challenge him as an undergraduate and master's student to learn and achieve.

Prisha Kittu (Outstanding Student Council Award)

Kittu, who is from Carterville, is a junior in physiology and pre-medicine student who hopes to continue her education by attending medical school after SIU. Kittu is known for her deep commitment to community service and unwavering dedication to positively impacting those around her.

Kittu closed out her first year as a Student Alumni Council member with over 65 volunteer hours for the fall and spring semesters. That included working with Gum Drops, regular Adopt-A-Spot clean-ups, being present at alumni association board socials and presenting at the association's group leaders retreat. She also provided alumni tours, helped with all of the association's 2023 Homecoming activities, recorded Day of Giving videos and attended this past year's Saluki Ball fundraising event in Chicago.

As a member of the Student Alumni Council, Saluki Science Ambassador and Saluki Ambassador, Kittu has taken on leadership roles that extend her influence beyond the classroom. She has worked diligently to bridge connections between current students and alumni, fostering a sense of community and belonging within the university. Her role as a Saluki Science Ambassador allows her to inspire young minds and promote STEM education, contributing to the next generation of scientists and innovators.

Kittu's ability to balance a rigorous academic schedule with her extensive volunteer work is a testament to her strong work ethic and commitment to personal and professional growth.

Dominique Crespo-Mijares '16 (Young Alumni Achievement)

Crespo-Mijares was born in Quito, Ecuador, and identifies as a global citizen. She moved to the U.S. to broaden her education, aiming to bring fresh ideas back to her homeland. As the daughter of two SIU Carbondale alumni who met during their undergraduate studies, Crespo-Mijares chose SIU Carbondale as her academic home and graduated in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in intercultural communication.

During her time at SIU, Crespo-Mijares worked at the Center for International Education, where she assisted over 100 international students in successfully navigating their experience at the university. She also contributed to the Sustainability Center, aiding in the planning and strategies for the opening of SIU's first Sustainability Hub. She was deeply involved in community service, volunteering for initiatives such as Keep Carbondale Beautiful and leading recycling campaigns across the town.

After graduating, Crespo-Mijares continued her work in social development in Chicago, where she served as a case manager at a mental health facility, supporting youth in treatment. This experience inspired her to return to Ecuador, where she founded a nonprofit organization to address the challenges of migration. Her first project, "Las Reinas Pepiadas," focused on integrating migrant women into the local economy during a peak in migration from Venezuela to Ecuador.

To further strengthen her expertise in international relations and cooperation, Crespo-Mijares pursued a master's degree with a scholarship from the U.K.'s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. While in London, she recognized the power of public diplomacy in enhancing foreign affairs, particularly through culture and academia. During this time, she also won a startup-led award to finance a project that used diplomacy as a tool to promote multinational security with a focus on gender equality and peace.

Crespo-Mijares now works for the Fulbright Commission in Ecuador under the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, where she aims to make a lasting impact on Ecuador and the U.S. geopolitical relations and higher education, as well as support professional development through cultural exchange and funding opportunities.

Marc Silverman '93 (Saluki Spirit)

Silverman, a native of Skokie, Illinois, attended SIU from 1989 until 1993 and graduated as a Top 25 Most Distinguished Student. After graduation, he worked for WGN Radio in Chicago from 1995 until 1998, covering NBA star Michael Jordan and three Chicago Bulls championship seasons. For 26 years, he has been a notable voice on the air for ESPN 1000. He's a co-host on the afternoon drive show "Waddle & Silvy," the longest-running sports talk show in Chicago history. He also hosts the Chicago Bears' pregame and halftime shows on the Bears Radio Network.

Silverman and his wife, Allie, and their two sons are described as "big Saluki fans," who've attended numerous basketball games and witnessed SIU football team wins against Northwestern and Northern Illinois University.

Silverman is an advocate for SIU. Besides frequent mentions on the radio, he has volunteered at several university events around the Chicago area, including recent Saluki Takeover Tours and serving as an emcee the last two years at the Saluki Ball.

SIU Alumni Band Group (Innovation Award)

The association's Alumni Band Group features dedicated, former Marching Salukis. The group is designed to bring a diverse mix of alumni back to campus. For years, the group came together during an annual reunion at Homecoming, led by the late Mike Hanes, the retired director of the Marching Salukis. In addition to the reunion, the group performed on the field with current members of the marching band during the Homecoming football game. Thanks to a donation, alumni band members are even given T-shirts and fedoras that match the current Marching Saluki members for these performances. In this way, the Alumni Band Group engages alumni in a manner few other organizations can manage.

In 2023, facing rising costs and changes in the operating structure, the group faced challenges in continuing its annual Homecoming tradition, but members were determined to continue the reunion, which is the largest fundraiser of the year and supports scholarships for current Marching Salukis.

Group members found a perfect and cost-effective solution in open space within Altgeld Hall, home to the SIU School of Music. The group was able to use practice room space and turn it into a venue to host more than 100 returning band alumni. As in the past, many alumni had not been to campus in years, and for some, it had been even longer since they had returned to Altgeld Hall, the building that held many memories for them.

Thanks to the efforts of the leaders and members of the group, their activities have a new blueprint for success in the future.

Captain's Club Fundraising Group (Innovation Award)

The Captain's Club Fundraising Group is made up of alumni and friends in the aviation industry living all over the country. It has a long history of working in support of SIU. Founded as a formal fundraising group for SIU aviation programs by the SIU Foundation in the mid-2000s, the group has grown to 23 members, all but one of whom graduated from SIU Aviation degree programs.

The group's primary mission is to raise money for scholarships for SIU students in the aviation flight, aviation management, and aviation technologies degree programs. Over the years, the SIU aviation programs have worked with the Captain's Club to host aviation alumni gatherings for Chicago area aviation alumni in the fall.

These get-togethers were used as annual "launch" gatherings for an annual aviation-focused golf scramble held each June. The 2023 SIU Aviation Golf Scramble raised about $65,000 for aviation scholarships.

These efforts help ensure current and future generations of students interested in pursuing aviation careers are supported by the generosity of fellow Salukis.

The SIU Alumni Association accepts nominations for Distinguished Alumni awards each year. For more information about the awards and to nominate someone, visit siualumni.com/alumni/distinguished-alumni/.

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