JALC Dedicates Dr. Marilyn Toliver Early Childhood Education Center
Published on October 29, 2025
A standing-room-only crowd gathered Tuesday at John A. Logan College to honor longtime Early Childhood Education Professor Dr. Marilyn Toliver during the dedication of the newly named Dr. Marilyn Toliver Early Childhood Education Center.
Initially planned for the campus Head Start room, the ceremony was moved to the College’s Conference Center to accommodate the anticipated turnout. That decision proved wise, as family, friends, and colleagues, past and present, filled the Crisp Room, with additional chairs brought in to handle the overflow.
Toliver, who retired earlier this year after more than 40 years in education, including 34 years at John A. Logan College, was recognized for her tireless work ethic, compassion, and lifelong commitment to preparing early childhood educators.
Matt Garrison, Department Chair for Communication, Humanities, and Social Science, spoke about Toliver’s profound influence on both students and the region’s childcare community. Garrison, along with retired faculty members Dr. David Cochran and Dr. Jane Bryant, authored the request to name the Head Start room in her honor.
“It dawned on me years ago as I dropped off my son at daycare and realized that Marilyn had taught the teachers who were now helping him and countless other children,” Garrison said. “That gave me great reassurance that he was in the best possible care.”
Provost Dr. Stephanie Chaney Hartford thanked Toliver for her energy, constant smile, and kindness, closing the ceremony with a fitting quote from poet Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“For more than three decades, Dr. Toliver’s compassion and dedication have made a lasting impression on this campus and the entire early childhood community,” Hartford said.
The dedication marked not only a celebration of Toliver’s career but also a testament to her enduring impact on generations of educators and children throughout southern Illinois.