October 24, 2008
Thorne hired to assist with fundraising efforts
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A Southern Illinois University Carbondale College of Engineering graduate from the class of 1984 has been hired to assist in fundraising efforts for the college.
Eden Thorne assumed the position of associate director for institutional advancement at the College of Engineering on Oct. 15. She is responsible for coordinating fundraising activities for the college. Thorne will work closely with the assistant vice chancellor for institutional advancement and the dean of the College of Engineering to address funding needs.
“I have been involved with fund development throughout my professional career,” Thorne says. “Although I assisted each group in a different way, there was always one obvious factor: I was able to enter into the organization and successfully raise funds and friends.”
Before accepting the position at Southern, Thorne was employed at the Illinois Department of Transportation for 17 years, where she rose from a design technician to becoming a relocation and property manager and staff negotiator. She was also employed as a design engineering technician at Clarida Engineering Co. and R.A. Nack and Associates, Inc.
“We are pleased that Ms. Eden Thorne will be joining us as an associate director for institutional advancement. She brings a wealth of experience as a fundraising organizer for various charitable and social organizations,”Ramanarayanan Viswanathan, interim dean of the College of Engineering, says. “As an engineering alumna of the college, in addition to being an IDOT professional staff member for several years, she is poised to convey many great things happening in the college and impress upon alumni and corporations the need for increased philanthropy and partnership towards building strong and innovative programs.”
Thorne brings a solid knowledge of fundraising to the position. Shortly after graduating from Southern, she served as co-chair of the SIU Athletics Booster Club. She was director and president for the Illinois Association of Highway Engineers Carbondale Chapter for the past 17 years. She later organized the Marching Saluki Alumni Band Group, eventually developing a relationship between this group and the SIU Alumni Association. Thorne was also instrumental in developing the Mike Hanes Endowment Fund through the SIU Foundation.
She is currently president of the Marching Saluki Alumni Band Group and a board member for the Inspiring Women organization.
Thorne’s experience as an engineer and her University and community involvement will be an asset to Southern, according to Jeff Lorber, associate vice chancellor for institutional advancement.
“Eden’s connection to the College of Engineering, in addition to her previous professional and development-related experience, will be beneficial to our fundraising efforts,” Lorber says. “Her background will help procure funding to assist the college in reaching a higher level of excellence.”