CARBONDALE — Southern Illinois University Carbondale officially honored Dr. Melvin C. Terrell during a weekend ceremony that brought together family, colleagues and prominent education scholars to celebrate the alumnus's four-decade career advancing minority student success.
Dr. Melvin C. Terrell with Dr. Fred A. Bonner II at the renaming of Faner Hall's attrium in Terrell's honor.
"This recognition belongs to every student whose curiosity was nurtured and whose potential was affirmed," Terrell told the dozens of attendees who converged on the flagship SIU campus. "It belongs to every colleague who chose shared purpose over individual acclaim."
Terrell, vice president emeritus at Northeastern Illinois University, earned his Ph.D. in higher education administration and Black studies from SIU Carbondale. Over four decades in higher education and student affairs, he has built a distinguished career focused on research examining the success of Black, Hispanic and minority students nationwide. His scholarship has informed policies and practices at institutions across the country, making him a leading voice in educational equity and student development.
His career in higher education began at Kennedy-King College in Chicago and included leadership positions at Eastern New Mexico University, Chicago State University, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the University of Toledo, and Northeastern Illinois University. He later founded and chaired the Dr. Melvin Cleveland Terrell Educational Foundation.
Among those attending the ceremony were Dr. Lemuel Watson, senior associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and vice provost for community engagement at Antioch University, and Dr. Fred A. Bonner II, professor and endowed chair in educational leadership and counseling and founding executive director of the Achievement, Research, Creativity, and High-Ability Center at Prairie View A&M University, along with Terrell's family, former mentees and professional colleagues.
"Dr. Melvin C. Terrell has shared with so many of us," Bonner said. "This dedication of his intellectual contributions to academe and beyond will be memorialized here in Morris Library at SIU Carbondale. I am blessed to call him a mentor."
The dedication followed Friday's recognition of Terrell as one of seven Black Alumni Change Makers during the university's Black History Month programming.
At a time when many institutions have shifted away from Black History Month programming and other diversity related initiatives, Dr. Daniel F. Mahony, the president of the Southern Illinois University System, said that SIU will remain a staunch supporter of DEI.The university has a vice chancellor of anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, Dr. Paul Frazier.
Dr. Walter Ray, the exhibit organizer and special collections curator, said Terrell's archived research will enable his mentorship to continue "well beyond this century or his lifetime."
The donation of Terrell's professional papers represents a significant addition to the university's special collections, providing future generations with access to his extensive body of work on minority student achievement, student affairs administration and educational equity. The collection includes research findings, professional correspondence, and materials documenting his contributions to shaping student affairs practice at multiple institutions.
In his remarks, Terrell challenged current students to recognize their worth and potential, invoking President Barack Obama's words about pressing forward despite obstacles.
"You belong in every space where excellence is expected," he said. "Do not allow doubt, circumstance, or the limitations others may place upon you to define your future. Preparation matters. Persistence matters. Purpose matters."
Terrell characterized education as "more than instruction" but rather "affirmation" and "possibility"—a tool for transformation that equips students to "imagine beyond what is and to build what ought to be."
He described leadership as fundamentally about creating conditions for others to grow rather than personal visibility, calling it "quiet, intentional, and anchored in service."
"Whatever success is attributed to me is the product of collective effort, shared vision, and an unwavering commitment to equity, access, and excellence," Terrell said.
Addressing the alumni in attendance, Terrell noted they represent "the living proof of this institution's impact," carrying its values into professional and community settings across the nation and world.
The renamed space, Terrell said, should serve "as a reminder of what becomes possible when leadership is rooted in service, when institutions honor their values, and when we commit ourselves to lifting others as we climb."
