September 29, 2021
Media advisory: Former U.S. Health and Human Services deputy secretary to visit SIU
Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to cover former U.S. Health and Human Services deputy secretary and Southern Illinois native Eric D. Hargan’s visit to Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Friday, Oct. 1, when he will speak to local agriculture students about careers.
Hargan served as HHS deputy secretary from 2017 to 2021. A native of Mounds in Pulaski County, Hargan also served as cabinet-level department’s acting secretary for several months in 2017-2018. HHS is the largest federal government department, with an annual budget of more than $1.3 trillion and more than 80,000 employees.
Hargan will speak at the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences annual FFA Career Day, set to start at 10 a.m. Friday at the SIU Student Center. His address to FFA from throughout the region will focus on his path from Southern Illinois to serving in HHS and sitting in the Oval Office with the president. About 300 high school and college students, along with staff and faculty, are expected to attend.
Hargan, who also recently joined the SIU School of Medicine’s Department of Population Science and Policy advisory board, also will meet SIU School of Medicine personnel, as well SIU School of Law students and faculty in the afternoon beginning at 2 p.m.
In addition to his roles in HHS, Hargan also served on the board of Operation Warp Speed, the effort to quickly bring COVID-19 vaccines to the public.
For more information, contact Susan Graham at 618-790-4474 (cell), 618-453-1764 (office) or sgraham@siu.edu.