Emerging Salukis

Notable alumni – Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Business recently recognized the 2017 Emerging Saluki Leader award winners. Pictured, left to right, are: Bryan Mullins, Angela Dowell, College of Business Dean Terry Clark, Kendrick Coleman and Darla Krause.  (Photo provided)

October 26, 2017

Business college honors ‘Emerging Saluki Leader Award’ winners

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Business has chosen as its 2017 Emerging Saluki Leader Award winners.

The award honors alumni who have graduated from the college within the past 15 years for their outstanding work within business, academia or government sectors, nonprofit organizations, and their community service.

This year, the college is honoring three alumni: Kendrick Coleman of Belleville and Angela Dowell, Darla Krause and Bryan Mullins, all of Chicago.

Terry Clark, dean, introduced and recognized the 2017 outstanding alumni during the college’s Oct. 13 Homecoming reception. He praised them for their successful careers and for giving back to their communities in a number of inspiring ways.

Here are a few details about the award recipients and their accomplishments:

Coleman, a double alumnus, earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2010 and his Master of Accountancy in 2011. He is a staff accountant at Rubin Brown LLP, working primarily as a business adviser and CPA for Rubin Brown’s Entrepreneurial Service Group with assurance and tax planning.

Through various avenues, including InSight St. Louis, The Accounting Career Awareness Program, the St. Louis Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, the NAACP East St. Louis Executive Committee and the United Way Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society, Coleman mentors young people and helps them become better equipped as begin their accounting careers.

Dowell earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting at SIU in 2008 and completed her MBA at DePaul University in 2014. She started as an accounting rotational business associate for CNA Insurance and is now vice president of finance for Chicago Community Loan Fund, a community development financial institution that assists low- to moderate- income neighborhoods with community stabilization and development efforts. Her responsibilities include handling accounting and finance operations and fostering investor relationships.

She is active in her community and in giving back to future young professionals -- serving as finance co-chair for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Chicago and as a member of the college’s Minority Advisory Board. In addition, she has taught small business and nonprofit accounting classes.

Krause is also a double alumna of SIU, receiving her bachelor’s degree in finance in 2002 and completing her MBA the following year. She took advantage of myriad services offered by the college’s Business Placement Center to help launch her career, securing a position with MB Financial, a regional bank in Chicago. She is now talent acquisition manager for Wintrust Financial Corporation. Her duties include overseeing corporate recruitment and managing the commercial banking leadership development program and the summer internship program.

Krause engages in a variety of philanthropic activities, including serving as the chief operating officer for Zambia Tomorrow Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports an elementary boarding school in Macha, Zambia. She manages the organization’s scholarship program, social media, donor communications and partnerships with other nonprofit organizations.

Mullins, a 2009 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in finance, is the director of recruiting and player development for the Loyola University men’s basketball team. He coaches, mentors, and manages players’ schedules to help them achieve academic and athletic success. As a member of the Saluki men’s basketball team, Mullins helped the team win two Missouri Valley Conference titles and reach the NCAA Tournament. He went on to play NBA Summer League basketball with the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics, play professionally for four seasons in France for Bourg en Bresse and Chalons Reims, and on the Irish national team in the European Championships.

Mullins’ started his coaching career fall 2013 as the director of operations for Loyola and promoted to his current position two years later. He has worked to build a strong relationship between the Loyola men’s basketball team and Misericordia, a Chicago-based organization that provides services and support to people who have physical challenges or developmental disabilities. In addition, he is working to develop a player mentorship program with the Christopher House organization, a group of schools that strives to prepare low-income children and families for success.

Nominations for ESLA are accepted year-round and recipients are chosen by the college’s external advisory boards. To learn more about the Emerging Saluki Leader Award or to nominate any SIU College of Business graduate for the award, visit www.business.siu.edu/about/saluki-leader/.