John A. Logan College Names Head Start Room in Honor of Longtime Educator Dr. Marilyn Toliver
Published on October 15, 2025
John A. Logan College has honored longtime educator Dr. Marilyn Toliver by naming the College’s Head Start Room the Dr. Marilyn Toliver Early Childhood Education Center in recognition of her more than four decades of service in education, including 33 years leading the College’s Early Childhood Education Program.
The John A. Logan College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the naming, and an official dedication ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 28, in the Crisp Room of the College’s Conference Center.
“It is with great pride and heartfelt appreciation that we announce the naming of our campus day care facility in honor of Dr. Marilyn Toliver, a beloved and respected educator who dedicated more than 30 years to teaching Early Childhood Education at John A. Logan College,” said Provost Dr. Stephanie Chaney Hartford. “Dr. Toliver’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of our institution. Her tireless commitment to preparing future childcare professionals has had a profound and lasting impact on our region. Generations of students, many of whom are now educators and caregivers themselves, credit Dr. Toliver not only for their academic success but also for inspiring their passion for nurturing young minds.”
A Carbondale native, Toliver is the youngest of seven children and was the first in her family to earn a college degree. While studying social work at Southern Illinois University and raising a young family, she began her career serving the city of Carbondale. She later returned to higher education to pursue her master’s and doctoral degrees, where her focus shifted toward early childhood education, a field that would become her lifelong passion.
Toliver joined the John A. Logan College faculty in 1992, where she helped shape and expand the Early Childhood Education Program. Her leadership emphasized not only academic preparation but also compassion and care for young learners and their families.
“We need qualified, caring, competent teachers for two reasons,” said Toliver. “Parents need childcare so they can go to work, but children need early instruction so they can be more successful in school. We have children in homes where their parents do not read to them, so they start behind. We also have those with disabilities and learning difficulties who will fall further behind without immediate, qualified teachers giving them the support they need. I feel our program is in a place to do just that.”
Although Toliver officially retired earlier this year, her influence continues to resonate across campus and throughout the community. Former students and colleagues describe her as a mentor, innovator, and tireless advocate for early childhood learning.
Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs Dr. Nathan Arnett said he admired Toliver’s passion for teaching, her students, her family, and her faith.
“One of my favorite memories with Dr. Toliver was when the ECE program brought Pete the Cat author Eric Litwin to campus,” said Arnett. “It was such a joy to see her excitement in creating experiences that inspired both teachers and children alike. She met each day with a bright smile and optimism, always seeing the good, sharing it generously, and inspiring others to do the same.”
Dr. Marilyn Toliver has touched countless lives as an educator, mentor, and community leader. Generations of students will continue to benefit from her legacy, and now future John A. Logan College students will have a permanent reminder of that legacy.
For more information about the dedication ceremony, contact the John A. Logan College Office of Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications at 618-985-2828.