Southern Illinois University Edwardsville honored seven remarkable graduates at the 2014 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 3 in the Morris University Center. These alumni have achieved exploits in their respective fields, are role models and are testament to SIUE’s educational excellence.
The 2014 honorees listed by their college school:
School of Business: John Oeltjen, BS Business Administration/General Accounting ‘75
Oeltjen is highly respected with a professional career that spans 30 years. He currently serves as a shareholder and director of Risk Advisory Services with Mueller Prost PC in St. Louis.
“I am humbled when I look at both this year’s recipients and prior recipients,” he said. “It has caused me to feel extremely nostalgic and think about the many great times I’ve had at SIUE and the many friends that I’ve made.”
Oeltjen is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of CPAs. He is an active participant in numerous professional, civic and charitable organizations, including the SIUE Foundation, having served as board president and chair of the audit committee.
College of Arts & Sciences:
Congressman William Enyart, BA Mass Communications/Gov’t ‘74
“I graduated from SIUE 40 years ago,” Enyart noted. “To be coming back to my alma mater 40 years later to receive this honor is truly marvelous. I certainly didn’t think that back when I graduated in August 1974 that I would become a major general, get elected to Congress and that I’d be coming back to be inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.”
Enyart is a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a member of the Illinois National Guard. In 2000, he earned a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. He was named the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard and oversaw the largest oversea deployment of Illinois National Guard troops since World War Two. After retiring in 2012, he ran a successful campaign for the Illinois 12th Congressional District Seat.
Deborah Slagle, BS Biology ‘89
“SIUE has always had a fantastic science program,” Slagle said. “When I was looking for a school that provided a solid education around the sciences, SIUE truly stood out and was a great value, as well. The curriculum was fantastic. The professors were phenomenal, and I’m still in touch with many of my professors. SIUE prepared me well for a career in industry and in the sciences.”
Slagle joined Sigma Aldrich as an analytical laboratory technician prior to graduating from SIUE. Over the next 25 years, she moved up the ranks of the corporation, serving in roles ranging from technical recruiter, director of process improvement, director of operations and new product transfer. She is currently vice president of North American Operations.
School of Dental Medicine: Dr. LuAnne McClean, DMD ‘80
McClean maintains a private dental practice in Quincy. She is an active participant in all levels of organized dentistry.
“Being inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame is the biggest honor of my career,” McClean declared. “I absolutely believe that dentistry and the School of Medicine have given me more than what I have given back to the profession, even though I have been involved in many areas, particularly access to care. I loved my education in the School of Dental Medicine. The faculty really wanted to see us to succeed. They were there for our benefit.”
McClean is currently the immediate past president of the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS), president of the T.L. Gilmer Dental Society, and a delegate and an alternate to the ISDS House of Delegates. She is also the past president of the American Academy of General Dentistry and the Illinois Academy of General Dentistry, a fellow in the International Academy of Dentists, and an alternate delegate to the Academy’s House of Delegate
School of Education, Health and Human Behavior: Dr. Mary Kay Armour, EdD Instructional Process ‘87, MSEd Elementary Education ‘75
Armour’s career spans teaching elementary school in Illinois as an adjunct professor teaching law enforcement topics at Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland. She currently serves as a supervisory instructional system specialist in the Academic Process Branch with the Department of Homeland Security – U.S. Secret Service.
“This honor reinforces the quality of education I received at SIUE,” Armour stated. “It is a tribute to my professors. I’ve used these skills throughout my career in the airline industry, computer industry, law enforcement industry and in public education. SIUE is a quality university and a great asset to the surrounding community.”
School of Engineering: Vicki LaRose, PE, BS Civil Engineering ‘90
Vicki LaRose began her professional career as a project manager with Sverdrup Corp. (now Jacobs Engineering) in St. Louis. In 1996, she founded Civil Design Inc., which provides responsive, quality-driven civil engineering services. She currently serves as the company’s president.
“I’m from a small town in Wisconsin and back then, my world was quite small,” LaRose explained. “SIUE opened my world to a much bigger place and was the foundation to get me started. Today, I have 30 employees, including 10 SIUE alumni with whom I work every day. I’m very proud that SIUE has given us that foundation to be able to grow, reach new communities and make people’s lives better.”
A registered professional engineer in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, LaRose serves the SIUE School of Engineering through her role on the School’s Advisory Council.
School of Nursing: Barbara Wagner, BSN ‘66
Wagner was a member of the SIUE School of Nursing’s first graduating class. She devoted her career to providing outstanding health care to the residents of the Red Bud area.
“I was one of a very small class, the first class of nurses to graduate from SIUE,” Wagner said. “Our group of students had no clue what the nursing profession would lead us to and the opportunities we would enjoy. Nursing has changed and grown, and the School of Nursing has grown in both quantity and quality. I have the pleasure and honor now of serving the School on the Alumni Advisory Board.”
Wagner served as vice president of patient care services at St. Clement Health Service and Red Bud Regional Hospital. She was named the chief nurse officer at Red Bud Regional Hospital, a position she held until her retirement. She has been a dedicated supporter of the SIUE School of Nursing, serving as a long-standing member of the School’s Advisory Council. She currently serves as president of the Council.
Photo: Front row (L to R): Dr. LuAnne McClean, Barbara Watkins Wagner, Deborah Slagle. Back row (L to R): Dr. Mary Kay Armour, John Oeltjen, Congressman William Enyart, Vicki LaRose.