September 24, 2007
Rottschalk leads association's board of directors
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Doris Rottschalk of Du Quoin is the new president of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Alumni Association's national board of directors following her election on July 1.
Rottschalk received her bachelor's degree from SIUC in speech communication in 1969. A coal miner's daughter, Rottschalk said she always wanted to be a teacher. She picked SIUC because it was "close enough for comfort but far enough for independence," she said. "It was silly to look at other schools when there was an excellent college right in my own back yard."
She didn't realize then, of course, that attending SIUC would profoundly shape her life or that she would stay actively connected with the University for nearly 40 years. Her commitment to the University is exemplified by her participation and leadership on many committees, including the University's Strategic Development Planning Task Force, the Southern at 150 Planning Committee, the College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board, the SIU Museum Ambassadors, and Inspiring Women Scholarship Committee.
In her current role, Rottschalk heads a slate of officers serving on the association's executive committee. Committee members who began their duties July 1 are: Randy Ragan of Springfield (president elect); Sherri Hunter of Carterville (immediate past president); MiMi Wallace of Beverly Hills, Calif. (past president); Ray Serati (first vice president); J.C. Garavalia (second vice president); and Michael Kasser of Carbondale (treasurer). Judge Julius Johnson of Washington, D.C, Howard Schlechte of Strasburg, and Howard Speigel of Buffalo Grove serve as members at large.
Other newly elected members include: Roy Heidinger, representing the College of Science, Charles "Chuck" Keel, representing the College of Medicine, Tamasha Udugama, representing the Student Alumni Council, Steve Middleton, representing the Graduate and Professional Student Council, and Demetrous White, representing the Undergraduate Student Government.
The 39-member national board of directors governs the programs, activities and services of the SIU Alumni Association. Founded in 1896, the SIU Alumni Association represents 220,000 graduates living in more than 130 countries worldwide.