Meet Your Admissions Coordinator | Undergraduate Admissions | SIU

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Central Illinois

Population: New Freshmen Students

Email: terrance.bishop@siu.edu

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

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

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

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: Missouri & Western Kentucky

Population: Transfer Students

Email: kayceville@siu.edu

Education: Southern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science in Political Science, 2015.

Hobbies: Singing, reading, cooking

Best of SIU: Morris library

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: St. Louis/Metro East 

Population: New Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: cerra.goree@siu.edu

Education: Southern Illinois University, Master of Education, Higher Education Administration, 2011. Eastern Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts, Communications Studies, 2008. 

Hobbies: Spending time with my family and friends, shopping, attending sporting events, cooking and trying new recipes.

Best of SIU: The history of the University and the diverse student body.

Advice for choosing a college: Do as much formal and informal research as you can. Visit a campus. While on a campus visit, try and connect with faculty in the area in which you would like to study. Find out what their passions are and if they resonate with you. Connecting with alumni in your community is another great way to get a feel for the student experience. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS! Work with your admission counselor and support staff at the high school or community college that you attend. We are here to support you through the process.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: On-Campus Admissions and Events

Population: New Freshman & Transfer Students

Email: brittney.gant@siu.edu

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: Chicagoland

Population: New Freshmen

Email: rachel.jackson@siu.edu

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 the 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: Indiana

Population: New Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: cody.lennon@siu.edu

Education: Ohio University, Master of Science in Recreation & Sport Sciences, 2019. , Bachelor of Science, Outdoor Recreation, 2016.

Hobbies: Cycling, Climbing, Fishing, and Backpacking!

Best of SIU: The recreational opportunities! Southern Illinois is filled with beautiful topography, lakes, trails, bluffs, and all kinds of historical hidden gems! Go explore and find them!

Advice for choosing a college: Try to get a holistic view on the schools you are considering. Visit different schools, eat at the local restaurants, and try to imagine where you might find your place in the community.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Chicagoland 

Population: New Freshmen Students

Email: mosornio@siu.edu

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Bachelors of Arts, Cinema and Photography, Minor, Philosophy, Forensics Science, 2018. City Colleges of Chicago, Associate Degree 

Hobbies: Running, trying new restaurants, hiking, attending film festivals, reading, making art, volunteering.

Best of SIU: The campus and surrounding Southern Illinois area are amazing! I find having a campus lake is one of the best things to enjoy while living on campus. Most importantly is the community of social activist living in the area.

Advice for choosing a college: Visit campus, but really get to know the staff and faculty. Find people that share ideas like yours, because finding a family away from home can be a game changer in your college experience. Don’t forget to step out of your comfort zone, this will make your college experience more unique.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia

Population: New Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: thomas.quigley@siu.edu

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

Territory: Northeastern Illinois and Wisconsin 

Population: New Freshmen Students

Email: quintanillaj23@siu.edu

Education: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Bachelor of Science, Communications Studies (Intercultural) 2019.

Hobbies: Traveling, running, reading, outdoor activities, spending time with family and friends.

Best of SIU: Being part of a community that emphasizes the academic success as well as well-being of its students.   

Advice for choosing a college: Choose the one that feels the most like home. Scheduling campus visits will definitely help find the best fit!

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: On-Campus Admissions Coordinator

Population: New Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: etabeek@siu.edu

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 and Iowa

Population: New Freshmen Students

Email: jdt24@siu.edu

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

Territory: On-Campus Admissions Coordinator

Population: New Freshmen & Transfer Students

Email: trude@siu.edu

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

Territory: Chicagoland

Population: New Freshmen Students

Email: Jhonvallecas321@siu.edu

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.

Admissions Coordinator

Territory: Southern Illinois 

Population: New Freshmen Students

Email: traviswashington@siu.edu

Education: Southern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science, University Studies, Minor, Africana Studies, Speech Communications, 2017. Master Degree in Education Administration, 2019.

Hobbies: Watching movies, reading world news, and collecting comic books and historic magazines.

Best of SIU: The diversity and the community.

Advice for choosing a college: Pick SIU. It is the place where ordinary people do extraordinary things!