November 16, 2011

Four alumni elected to SIU Foundation Board

by Greg Scott

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Four alumni of Southern Illinois University Carbondale have been elected to the SIU Foundation Board of Directors.  Their terms began this fall.

Linda G. Allison, a 1981 graduate of the SIU School of Medicine; Marcia L. Bullard, a 1974 journalism alumna; Camelle W. Logan, a 1989 graduate in advanced technical studies; and Matthew S. Solverson, a 1986 engineering alumnus, are the newest members of the SIU Foundation Board.

The board governs the SIU Foundation, an independent organization that provides alumni and friends a means to invest in the University’s future.  Established in 1942, the Foundation solicits and administers gifts from private sources in support of the University’s academic mission.  Private funding is generated through annual giving, planned giving, major giving, corporate and foundation relations, and campaigns.

Dr. Allison, an Arrington, Tenn., resident, has been an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Belmont University since 2009.  Previously, she was a professor and department chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., and an associate professor at Chatham College in Pittsburgh.  Dr. Allison has also taught and practiced at West Virginia University, Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, W.V., The Washington Hospital in Washington, Pa., St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., and SIU School of Medicine. The SIU alumna has published and presented on curricular innovations and educational outcomes, as well as medical ethics and various topics in emergency medicine and toxicology.   She completed her MPH at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health in 1997, and she received the 2008 Physician Assistant Educator of the Year Award from the Regional Physician Assistants of Central New York. 

Dr. Allison’s husband, John G. Benitez, M.D., M.P.H., is also a 1981 School of Medicine graduate.

Bullard is the retired president and CEO of USA Weekend, America’s second most widely circulated magazine.  Under Bullard’s direction, the magazine created and sponsored the nation’s largest day of volunteer action, “Make A Difference Day.”

The Springfield native began her career with the Illinois State Journal.  She also held reporting and editing positions with the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.  She became a Founding Editor of the USA Today newspaper in 1982, and moved to USA Weekend in 1985.  In 2010, after 36 years in the media business, Bullard took an early retirement and turned her management skills to a second career in the nonprofit sector.  She serves on the board of directors of three national nonprofit organizations: Points of Light Foundation, Heart of America and America’s Charities.  In 1998, she was named Revlon Business Woman of the Year.  In 2005, she was honored with a President’s Volunteer Service Award by the White House.

Bullard has served on the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts Advisory Board (1995-2001).  In 1992, she co-founded the Marcia Bullard-Laura Hardy Endowed Scholarship Fund for female students in journalism or art.  In 1987, she received the SIU Carbondale School of Journalism Alumnus of the Year Award.  In 1997, she was honored by the SIU Alumni Association as a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

Bullard lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, journalist Tom McNamara, and has a step-daughter, Emily.

A technology entrepreneur, Camelle Logan founded KC Management Corp. in 2002.  She served as KCMG’s president and CEO, bringing it to the level of being in the top five percent of all management consulting service companies in the U.S.  In 2007, KCMG was acquired by CORE Educational Consulting Services, an educational publisher and consulting partner that provides technology-based products, services, and professional personnel assets for schools, state departments of education, institutions of learning, and select businesses. 

Logan now serves as the President/CEO of TeamingSolution, a management consulting firm specializing in enterprise resource planning systems.  She has resolved performances issues and implemented numerous large-scale applications for a variety of clients including state/local municipalities, school districts and non-profit agencies. 

Logan was the CASA commencement speaker and recipient of the SIU Alumni Achievement Award in 2009.  She is a member of the SIU College of Applied Sciences and Arts Alumni Board and the Information System Technologies Advisory Board.  Additionally, Logan has been a member of the National Black MBA Association, Women’s Presidents’ Organization, Consortium of School Networking, the Project Management Institute, and was formerly on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.  She resides in Roswell, Ga., with her husband, Darnell, and they are the parents of three children.

Solverson is the manager of Medium Caliber Ammunition Programs at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical systems (GD-OTS), a major U.S. defense contractor providing products for the United States military and allied countries.  He has been with the company for 25 years, starting as a research and development engineer, and progressing in various capacities within the company.  In his current role, he manages program teams within the organization devoted to the production of 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm munitions, and serves as a point of contact for U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps customers.

Solverson is a member of the SIU College of Engineering Dean’s Industrial Advisory Board.  He also serves on the Gun and Missile Systems Executive Steering Committee for the Armaments division of the National Defense Industrial Association, an organization dedicated to promoting national security.

Solverson’s wife, Associate Judge Christy Solverson, is a two-degree alumna of the University, earning a bachelor’s degree in radio-television in 1986, and a 1990 law degree.  The Solversons are life members of the SIU Alumni Association, and have been season ticket holders for Saluki basketball and football for many years.  The Solversons have one daughter, and reside in Carbondale.