The Paul Simon Institute’s Alexander Lane initiative was featured during a Springfield presentation May 22 at the SIU School of Medicine.
Nearly 100 SIU alumni, state legislators and staff members, representatives of the business community, area residents and medical school faculty and staff attended a pre-event reception in the Pearson Museum on the Medical School campus. Later, they heard a compelling compelling account of Alexander Lane’s life and legacy by Lane biographer and historian, Pamela A. Smoot, assistant professor at SIU Carbondale.
Recognized during the event were major donors to the Alexander Lane Internship fund, including Commonwealth Edison, represented by former state Rep. Marlow Colvin, now vice president of government affairs for the utility. Walgreens, represented at the event by Amir Labib, is also a major donor. Special thanks went to SIUC alumnus Steve Brown of Speaker Mike Madigan’s staff and Mike McClain, a well-respected Springfield lobbyist who volunteers his efforts to support the Simon Institute for helping to organize the event.
To date, nearly $125,000 has been raised or pledged to the Lane Internship endowment fund to provide opportunities for students to jump-start their public service careers by working in Springfield during the spring session of the General Assembly in conjunction with the Legislative Black Caucus.
SIU alumnus and state Rep. Will Davis (D-East Hazel Crest), who is also the joint chair of the Black Caucus, presented the university with a copy of a resolution honoring Dr. Lane. Other legislators in attendance were SIUC alumni and state Reps. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy), Paul Evans (R-O’Fallon) and John Cavaletto (R-Salem) and state Reps. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), Al Riley (D-Olympia Fields), Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley) and Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville).
Special guest speakers included SIU President Glenn Poshard, SIU Carbondale Chancellor Rita Cheng and SIU School of Medicine Dean Dr. J. Kevin Dorsey as well as Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon.
To see more photos of this event, please visit this SIU School of Medicine photo page.
