In this episode, we explore how students prepare for life after graduation through reflections from both spring 2025 graduates and accomplished SIU alumni. The episode opens with interviews from this year’s graduates, sharing their thoughts, hopes, and questions just before crossing the stage. President Mahony is then joined by three distinguished SIU alumni: Bill Luan (SIUE, class of 1984 & 1985), a senior program manager at Google; Terita M. Walker (SIU Carbondale class of 2001), principal of Denver East High School and 2025 Colorado High School Principal of the Year; and Dr. Kevin M. Simon (SIU School of Medicine, Class of 2015), chief behavioral health officer for the City of Boston and assistant professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Each guest shares how their student experiences at SIU shaped their careers, offering meaningful advice to this year’s graduating class.

In this episode, SIU System President Dan Mahony shares what he learned when his daughter went through the college admissions process. And to explain more about the modern-day college admissions process, President Mahony chats with his guests, SIU Carbondale Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Wendall Williams and SIU Edwardsville Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Andy Benoit.

SIU System President Dan Mahony talks with SIU Carbondale student Lidell Miller about how SIU’s ADEI initiatives helped him turn his academic career around. He’s joined by Dr. Jasmine Haywood from the Lumina Foundation and Dr. Allison Kadlec from Sova Solutions to discuss student success strategies, financial barriers and the power of inclusive education.

SIU System President Dan Mahony talks with SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane and SIU Edwardsville Chancellor James T. Minor about their career paths and the lessons they've learned along the way. They offer some wisdom that's helpful for students, faculty, staff and anyone else open to inspiration.