Mr. Philip Pfeffer holds two degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale: a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics (1965) and a Master of Arts in economics (1966). He met his wife, Pam Pfeffer, in a physics class at SIU! He went on to do postgraduate work at Vanderbilt University from 1966 to 1968.

Pfeffer has worked for such companies as Genesco Inc.; Ingram Industries Inc.; Random House Inc.; and the Borders Group, Inc. He currently serves as President/CEO of Treemont Capital Inc. He sits on the board of directors of several companies including Ingram Micro Inc., Mailnet Services, Inc.; and Pure Works, Inc.

While a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Mr. Pfeffer was an announcer with the Marching Salukis and was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, National Service Fraternity. He had student jobs delivering the campus newspaper and working in the residence hall payroll office.

Mr. Pfeffer has served on the Southern Illinois University Foundation Board of Directors, the Southern Illinois University Alumni Association Board of Directors, the College of Business and Administration External Advisory Board, and the Moody Commission. He is a 1992 Alumni Achievement Award Winner and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1998. In 1997, Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters.