Meet Your Admissions Coordinator | Undergraduate Admissions | SIU

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Central Illinois
Population: Freshmen Students

Email: terrance.bishop@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-5814

Education: Colorado State University, Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, 2017.

Hobbies: Cooking, eating, playing video games, and cuddling his cats Cappuccino and Huxley.

Best of SIU: The academic challenge, social support, and unique community combine for a one-of-a-kind experience.

Advice for choosing a college: When you visit a campus try to take some time exploring the city. Grab a delicious meal, check out some community theater or whatever floats your boat. Do anything that gives you a sense of what living in that town might be like.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Southern Illinois
Population: Transfer Students

Email: seandvcooney@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-2990

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Master of Science in Education, Higher Education, 2019. Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Bachelor of Science, Sport Administration, 2017.

Hobbies: Watching any sports, Music, Traveling

Best of SIU: I love the relaxed atmosphere of the beautiful campus that also provides so many great programs for students to choose from.

Advice for choosing a college: Really try to imagine yourself as a student on the campus when you're visiting and visit multiple schools, even if you are a transfer student! You want to be somewhere that feels right to you and hopefully that place is SIU.

Admissions Coordinator

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Territory: Northern Illinois
Population: Transfer Students

Email: rdiaz@siu.edu
Phone: 773-481-6659

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Bachelor of Science, Speech Communication, 1992.

Hobbies: Fishing, hiking, biking, and hunting.

Best of SIU: The people, the school spirit, and the weather.

Advice for choosing a college: A campus visit is so important in the process of selecting the right college or university for yourself; please be sure to visit your top schools.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Central Illinois
Population: Transfer Students

Email: carl.franks@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-2935

Education: University of Montana, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, 1995.

Hobbies: Drawing, movies, photography, exercise, watching sports.

Best of SIU: The wide range of opportunities offered and the tremendous amount of support for students.

Advice for choosing a college: I would recommend visiting your schools of interest. Get all of your questions answered. You will get that feeling in your gut telling you what to do. Just know that there is something here for you at SIU!

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Southern Illinois
Population: Freshman Students

Email: brittney.gant@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-2988

Education: Southern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science, Finance (Financial Management)

Hobbies: Traveling, Shopping, Hanging out with friends and family, Watching Saluki athletic events

Best of SIU: I love that you feel like you are at a large school, but have smaller sized classes. I also love the atmosphere and how everyone has so much Saluki Pride. Go Dawgs!

Advice for choosing a college: Visit the campus and ask a lot of questions. Ask what there is to do in the community (outside of campus) and see if that peaks your interest. You are in college for multiple years, you want it to feel like home and be able to go have some fun too.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Metro East (Belleville/Collinsville/East St. Louis area) & Missouri
Population: Freshman & Transfer Students

Email: kayceville@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-4778

Education: Southern Illinois University, MS.ED in Higher Education, 2020. Southern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science in Political Science, 2015.

Hobbies: Singing, reading, cooking

Best of SIU: Morris Library, it's a great place to relax, study, and stay focused.

Advice for choosing a college: Find a place that you can call home, and study your passion all at the same time.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Chicago (Southside and South Suburbs)
Population: Freshmen Students

Email: rachel.jackson@siu.edu
Phone: 773-636-7638

Education: Northern Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts, Cooperate Communications 2010.

Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, volunteering and trying new restaurants.

Best of SIU: The Diversity and variety of food options campus has to offer.

Advice for choosing a college: Visit as many institutions as possible. While on your visit, ask current students about their experience. Pursue a college that makes you feel comfortable, a place that feels like home. I also recommend establishing a relationship with your admissions counselor from those schools. Don't be afraid to ask questions and use your high school counselor or advisors as a resource.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Kentucky & Eastern U.S. (East of the Mississippi)
Population: Transfer & Freshman Students

Email: kennadie.loyd@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-3782

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Master of Science in Education, Higher Education, 2020. Urshan College, Bachelor of Arts, Christian Ministry, 2017.

Hobbies: Traveling, drinking coffee, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

Best of SIU: I love the diversity on campus. There are students, faculty, and staff from all over the world. It enriches your learning experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. Also, the beautiful campus of course.

Advice for choosing a college: Look at multiple institutions and do your research on them. Look at their academic programs, campus life, services, location, and choose the one that prepares you for the future you envision for yourself.

Admissions Coordinator

Population: Freshman & Transfer Students

Email: jason.nugent@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-1008

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Master of Arts in history, 2001. Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Bachelor of Arts in History, 1997.

Hobbies: Writing, reading, and CrossFit.

Best of SIU: I love the atmosphere and the natural beauty of the campus.

Advice for choosing a college: Visit the colleges you're interested in. Get a good feel for the quality of education and campus life. Reach out and ask questions.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, & Alabama
Population: Freshmen Students

Email: thomas.quigley@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-2184

Education: George Williams College of Aurora University, Bachelor of Science, Parks and Recreation, 2017

Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, playing Magic the Gathering, and watching sports.

Best of SIU: No traffic.

Advice for choosing a college: Pick SIU.

Admissions Coordinator

Population: Freshman & Transfer Students

Email: karma.alvey@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-2957

Education: Master of Arts in English Studies, Southeast Missouri State University. Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, Southeast Missouri State University.

Hobbies: Writing, gaming, anything True Crime, and playing with my dog, Sodapop.

Best of SIU: The beautiful campus and extensive research opportunities!

Advice for choosing a college: Make sure you choose somewhere you can be comfortable and feel at home for the next few years. Visit on your own to explore campus and the surrounding town to see if it's the right place for you!

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Western U.S. (West of the Mississippi)
Population: Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: julie.strauss@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-7137

Education: Southern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science, Curriculum & Instruction, 1991

Hobbies: Dog Showing, fishing, boating, kayaking, camping and spending time with my dogs.

Best of SIU: I love our beautiful campus, surrounding area and how the educators care about your success. You are not a number at SIU, rather an individual masterpiece just waiting to experience a challenging, exciting, and completely unique experience.

Advice for choosing a college: I highly recommend visiting the colleges you are interested in to see if you can see yourself in the environment, do not be afraid to ask questions and above all, step off the curb and get the ball rolling. The faster you get that ball rolling, the more successful you will be. There is no such thing as failure, only learning experiences.

Admissions Coordinator

Population: Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: etabeek@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-2984

Education: Southern Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (International Affairs), 2016.

Hobbies: Reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends, volunteering, Saluki Athletic events.

Best of SIU: Being a Saluki means that you are part of a family that will always challenge you to grow, while continuously supporting you along the way.

Advice for choosing a college: One word: visit. Visit every university that you like or you think you might like. I suggest to visit both public and private, large and small universities no matter what you think you will like. You don’t really know what you will like until you get on campus and get a feel of the university.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Northwest Illinois & Iowa
Population: Freshmen Students

Email: jdt24@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-1302

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Sports Administration, 2018

Hobbies: Traveling, trying new types of food and experiencing different culture. Watching movies with friends, and being immersed in a sporting event

Best of SIU: My favorite thing about SIU and Carbondale is the diversity of people, thoughts, and opinions that you are faced with every day. It challenges you to look within and become the best version of yourself.

Advice for choosing a college: Start putting together a list of schools that you’re interested in early on. Visit your top schools, figure out which ones you are most comfortable at, and see what it would cost for each. Once you have it narrowed down, figure out which one offers you the best mix of opportunity, experience, and education.

Admissions Coordinator

Population: Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: trude@siu.edu
Phone: 618-453-1748

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Radio-Television.

Hobbies: Working out, family, Saluki sports.

Best of SIU: Having worked at the University for over 20 years, there are too many things to say any one thing is the best.

Advice for choosing a college: The place that makes you feel the most comfortable for what you want to do with your studies is where you should go. I hope that place is SIU.

Admissions Coordinator

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Territory: Chicago (Northside)
Population: Freshmen Students

Email: Jhonvallecas321@siu.edu
Phone: 773-231-8251

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Bachelor of Arts, International Studies, 2015.

Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, visiting new places, playing sports, learning about new cultures

Best of SIU: I appreciated the passion and dedication that the faculty possessed throughout my undergraduate experience

Advice for choosing a college: If possible, visit a handful of different universities in search of that good fit. It is always wise to exercise all of your options before making a decision. I hope that during your search, you find SIU to be the right fit for you.