Office Hours with SIU System President Dan Mahony

As Illinois lawmakers work toward a May 31 budget deadline, conversations surrounding how the state funds public universities have taken on renewed importance. In this episode, A Fairer Formula: Rethinking Higher Ed Funding, SIU System President Dan Mahony discusses with experts about how higher education funding models operate across the nation and the efforts underway at the Capitol to modernize the way Illinois distributes fundi...

 In this episode of Office Hours, SIU System President Dan Mahony explores one of the most misunderstood aspects of higher education: how leadership and decision-making work. 

While many assume the president sits at the top, universities operate through a more complex structure, one that includes governing boards and shared leadership. 

Joined by Dr. Felecia Commodore, an expert in higher education governance from the ...

 What is the future of college athletics—and how do we get there?

In this special episode of Office Hours, SIU System President Dan Mahony takes the guest seat as faculty leaders Cherese Fine (SIUE) and Julie Partridge (SIUC) lead a thoughtful discussion on the current state and future direction of college sports.

As a lover of sports and higher education leader, President Mahony shares his perspective on:

• The financial...

In this episode of Office Hours, SIU System President Dan Mahony explores one of the biggest questions facing students and families today: How do you pay for college? Many people believe college is becoming less affordable, but the reality is more complex. National data shows that net tuition and fees at public universities have declined in recent years, and most students receive some form of financial assistanc...

In this episode of Office Hours, SIU System President Dan Mahony explores how leadership, service and involvement outside the classroom help students develop the skills employers value most — including communication, teamwork, problem-solving and leadership. Joining the conversation are student affairs leaders from SIU Edwardsville and SIU Carbondale, along with student trustees from both campuses. Together, th...

In this episode of Office Hours, SIU System President Dan Mahony explores the deep and evolving connection between agriculture and higher education and why it matters to every Illinoisan.

From economic impact to cutting-edge science, this episode reveals how agriculture fuels innovation, resilience and opportunities across the SIU System and beyond. You’ll hear from:

• Illinois Department of Agriculture Director and SIU alum Je...

 International students are a vital part of the SIU System — enriching our classrooms, driving research and innovation, and strengthening our regional workforce and communities. In this episode, President Dan Mahony sits down with SIU faculty who once began their journeys in the U.S. as international students themselves. 

Hear firsthand stories from: 

· Dr. Elza Ibroscheva (SIUE) — Associate Provost for Acc...

 In this episode of Office Hours, SIU System President Dan Mahony talks with Dr. Chris McDowell and Dr. Jayna Patel from the SIU School of Medicine about how medical schools train the next generation of doctors, expand access to care across Illinois and drive innovative research that’s improving lives locally and beyond. 

👩‍⚕️ Learn how SIU Medicine serves 66 counties in Illinois
 🏥 Explore the impact of it...

 Have you ever had a professor who doesn’t say a word during class or participated in a chat storm? In Episode 8 of Office Hours with SIU System President Dan Mahony, we step inside today’s classrooms with award-winning collaborators Dr. Jyotsna Kapur (SIUC) and Dr. Eric Ruckh (SIUE). From moving beyond the “sage on the stage” to sparking engagement, navigating silence, teaching online, using AI respons...

As students come back into the classrooms for the semester, we know the university also has a significant impact on the communities where the universities are located beyond the education of students. In addition to the large economic impact on the state, there are many ways that the university helps support growth in the region.  In this episode of Office Hours with SIU System President Dan Mahony, we hear from Michael Jessup...

College athletics is undergoing one of the most dramatic transformations in its history, from athlete compensation to transfer rules and the impacts of the House v. NCAA settlement. In this episode, SIU System President Dan Mahony, a longtime sport management professor, sits down with athletic directors Tim Leonard (SIU Carbondale), Andrew Gavin (SIU Edwardsville), and Dr. Ken Halpin (Purdue University) to discuss how these changes...

In this episode we dive into a topic that’s reshaping higher education and the world at lightning speed: artificial intelligence (AI).

Whether it’s ChatGPT in the classroom, AI-powered medical simulations or new interdisciplinary courses, AI is already transforming how we teach, learn, research and operate across the SIU System. In this episode, I talk with two academic leaders who are heading up our system-wide AI taskf...

In this episode, we explore how students prepare for life after graduation through reflections from both spring 2025 graduates and accomplished SIU alumni. The episode opens with interviews from this year’s graduates, sharing their thoughts, hopes, and questions just before crossing the stage. President Mahony is then joined by three distinguished SIU alumni: Bill Luan (SIUE, class of 1984 & 1985), a senior program manage...