Senior U.S. District Court Judge J. Phil Gilbert will receive an honorary degree from the institution that has meant so much to his family.
The SIU Board of Trustees approved the honor today (Thursday) for Gilbert and four others who will receive honorary degrees and distinguished service awards.
Judge Gilbert, who is chair of the Board of Trustees, said it means the world to him because SIU-Carbondale has been a part of his family for over 100 years. He said his grandparents, parents, sisters, children, nieces and nephews all graduated from SIU-Carbondale.
Ironically, Gilbert was the one member of his family who did not have a degree from SIU. He went to the University of Illinois and then to law school in Chicago because he didn't want to wait another year for the start-up of the SIU School of Law.
Gilbert has more than five decades of legal experience as a private attorney, state and federal judge, and higher education leader. He has served on the SIU Board of Trustees since 2015, including seven consecutive terms as chairman. He will receive an honorary Doctor of Law.
Former Saluki basketball star Mike Glenn will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Glenn was twice named an Academic All-American, played 10 years in the NBA and is still SIU’s fourth-leading scorer.
But, he also founded the nation’s first and only free basketball camp for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, an author, historian and curator.
James J. Miller is receiving an honorary Doctor of Science. He is an internationally recognized leader in aviation, aerospace and navigation policy.
Miller also remains connected to SIU, facilitating the sponsorship of a NASA Wings program through SIU Aviation.
Distinguished Service Awards are going to Cheryl Green, who served as Governors State University’s sixth president and Kathleen Pericak-Spector, who is credited with advancing mathematics education and continues to support SIU and regional outreach initiatives, including Southern Illinois Regional Science Fair, Math Field Day, Expanding Your Horizons and the Science in the South Conference.
All five honorees will be recognized at SIU-Carbondale’s commencement in May 2026 or at a future ceremony.
