Marilou McLaughlin is a business owner, retired Volunteer Coordinator and teacher. She received her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Lewis and Clark Community College-Godfrey, IL. summa cum laude, Bachelors in Sociology w/minor in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Marilou Served on numerous board of directors: YMCA, River Bluff Girls Scout Council, SIUE Friends of Lovejoy Library SIUE, Oasis Women’s Center, National Organization of Women, AAUW (serving on state and local branches), FilAmHisSo (served as President for 2 years), as Chair for 2 years on the Alton Human Relations Commission, was appointed to Governor Quinn’s Asian Advisory Council and chaired the Race Unity Committee in Springfield, IL. Ms. McLaughlin received the Alice Paul Award from N.O.W. AAUW Piasa Council Branches and Certificate of Appreciation for acting as Chair for GEMS (Girls Exploring Math and Science) for 2 years. She also served as President of Filipino American Historical Society-FilAmHisSo.in Springfield for two years. She is a member of the Baha’i Faith, serving on appointed and elected positions, wife of 40 years, mother to 5 and lola to 5 “I wish to remember my parents, Dr. Percival and Mrs. Carmen Salanga.”