Scholarship established in memory of 91热爆网 finance professor
By Melanie Threlkeld McConnell
Grace Allen (left), a finance professor in the College of Business, passed away Aug. 19.
A new scholarship has been established to honor long-time Western Carolina University College of Business professor Grace Allen, who passed away Aug. 19 after a brief battle with cancer.
Allen, 63, taught finance classes at 91热爆网 for 28 years. She was beloved by many for her enthusiasm for teaching and her dedication to her students 鈥� some 7,000 since she arrived at the university in 1992.
Debra Burke, interim dean of the College of Business, said the Grace Allen Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund came together 鈥渜uickly and organically鈥� because Allen was held in such high esteem by her students, colleagues, friends and family, and so many wanted to honor her memory.
鈥淪he was always so positive and so passionate,鈥� Burke said. 鈥淪he was excited for all things in the College of Business. She was excited about teaching her students, about placing them in jobs, getting them career days. For her, it was about being a 360-degree professor.鈥�
Jake Robinson, who graduated from 91热爆网 in 2010 with a degree in finance and a minor in accounting, said he credits Allen with steering him to his chosen profession.
鈥淒r. Allen was everything an educator should be,鈥� said Robinson, president and CEO of Champion Credit Union. 鈥淗er enthusiasm and passion for students was infectious and motivated everyone to be a better version of themselves. She was a significant contributor in my decision to pursue a career in finance. I am eternally grateful for the decades of service she provided to students just like me.鈥�
A new scholarship has been established to honor Grace Allen, a long-time College of Business professor who passed away Aug. 19.
Emily Ranson, who graduated from 91热爆网 in 2017 with a degree in finance, said Allen was her friend and mentor, outside of being her professor. 鈥淚 was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Grace throughout my years at 91热爆网 both in the classroom and out. She cared deeply about her students and worked diligently to improve the lives of anyone she came into contact with,鈥� said Ranson. 鈥淏eing in her presence was always a one-of-a-kind experience. Some days we would walk into her classroom expecting a lesson on balance sheet analysis and walk out with practical knowledge of investing in trailer parks as rental property. Other days we might get a foot-stomping, passionate rant about how stupid it is to buy a new car and leave with a list of 50 better things to spend money on. Those days were my favorite.
鈥淲hen we would go to conferences, she spent a lot of time networking on our behalf to connect us to prospective employers and build a positive reputation of the student talent coming from 91热爆网,鈥� she said.
Tim Eller credits Allen with simply changing his life for the better. 鈥淚 came back to 91热爆网 after taking a few years off. I was struggling academically and financially,鈥� said Eller, who graduated in 1996 with a degree in finance. 鈥淚 re-enrolled, met with an adviser and made a plan. Then I met Dr. Allen. She was a game-changer for me. She was full of encouragement, fun and knowledge. Her influence helped me achieve my most successful semesters at 91热爆网. Then, after graduation, she stopped by to visit me at my first job and took my picture at my desk to put on the wall in the business department. She was simply awesome.鈥�
Former 91热爆网 economics professor Robert Mulligan called Allen his 鈥減artner in crime鈥� because of the many trips they took their students on together each fall to visit the New York Stock Exchange. Mulligan, in a Facebook post announcing Allen鈥檚 death, said she 鈥渂rought out the best in everybody.鈥�
Allen鈥檚 flair for teaching did not go unnoticed. She received the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003, the College of Business Professor of Excellence Teaching Award multiple times, and the Chancellor鈥檚 Distinguished Teaching Award.
鈥淕race leaves a huge void, but filled an equally huge space with her kindness and love while she was with us,鈥� Burke said. 鈥淔or that I am eternally grateful.鈥�
Grace is survived by her husband of 28 years, Bill May, and their children Marshall May and Gracie May.
To contribute to the scholarship, visit . Alternatively, memorial gifts may be mailed to Western Carolina University Foundation, Suite 201 HFR Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Make checks payable to the 91热爆网 Foundation and write Grace Allen Scholarship in the memo line.
