Powering Illinois’ Future Together: SIUE’s Inaugural IIN Fellows Champion Collaboration and Innovation

Powering Illinois' Future Together: SIUE's Inaugural IIN Fellows Champion Collaboration and Innovation

Innovation thrives when people, disciplines and institutions come together around shared challenges. At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, inaugural Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) Fellows Kevin R. Tucker, PhD, and Diane Cox, PhD, are helping create those connections while positioning SIUE at the center of conversations shaping Illinois' future.

Together with SIUE Fellow Sinan Onal, PhD, Tucker and Cox are members of the inaugural IIN Fellows cohort. Tucker and Cox are helping lead the 2026 IIN Annual Conference, "Powering Illinois' Future Together," which SIUE will host October 22-23.

The conference will unite researchers, students, university leaders, industry representatives, entrepreneurs, policymakers and community partners to exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore solutions to challenges facing Illinois and the region.

In this Q&A, Tucker and Cox share their vision for the conference and discuss how interdisciplinary collaboration can strengthen research, workforce development and innovation across the state.

Kevin R. Tucker, PhD

What does being an IIN Fellow and co-chairing the conference mean to you?
The Fellows Program allows me to expand my statewide network and identify new collaborators. Previous IIN funding helped establish lasting partnerships, particularly with colleagues at Northern Illinois University. Personally, I value opportunities that encourage universities to think and work beyond institutional and regional boundaries.

What are the conference's primary goals?
We want to showcase innovative work across Illinois, foster cross-institutional and cross-sector collaborations, and connect university expertise with the state's economic and societal needs. The conference will focus on clean energy, next-generation agriculture, biotechnology, and social and economic innovation.

In addition, the conference allows us to welcome colleagues from throughout the state, showcase the work of our students and faculty, and demonstrate the important role that SIUE and the Metro East region play in Illinois' innovation landscape.

How does your background as a chemist influence your approach?
Chemistry teaches you to examine complex systems, identify important variables and make evidence-based decisions. Environmental challenges also require expertise from multiple disciplines. I approach the conference similarly: bring the right people together, establish shared objectives and allow their expertise to complement one another.

How will SIUE students and faculty benefit?
Students can present their work, explore research and career paths, and build professional networks. Faculty can develop collaborations, grant proposals and educational opportunities while showcasing SIUE's expertise across Illinois.

What voices are essential in shaping Illinois' future?
Scientists and engineers are essential, but so are educators, health professionals, economists, entrepreneurs, social scientists, policy experts, community organizations and students. The strongest solutions combine technical expertise with economic realities, human behavior, public policy, ethics and community priorities.

Diane Cox, PhD

What is the vision behind "Powering Illinois' Future Together"?
The vision is to create a platform where ideas, expertise and partnerships converge to address pressing challenges facing Illinois and the region. We want the conference to serve as a catalyst for connection, collaboration and action.

How does your professional role support collaboration?
As Director of Proposal Development, I work with stakeholders to identify funding opportunities and develop interdisciplinary and interinstitutional teams to pursue them.

What are the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary collaboration?
Identifying common goals and navigating differences in resources and timelines can be challenging. However, collaboration expands expertise, resources and networks, allowing teams to leverage their collective strengths and pursue larger opportunities.

How does collaboration align with your leadership philosophy?
Understanding stakeholders' needs and working collaboratively have anchored my career. No single individual, discipline or organization has all the answers to the complex challenges facing Illinois and the region.

What future do you hope this project helps create?
I hope we create a lasting, scalable model for collaborative innovation conferences that strengthens partnerships and accelerates shared solutions. I am proud to be affiliated with an institution so committed to collaboration and service that its leadership stepped forward to host the IIN Conference.

PHOTO: Kevin Tucker