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Joe and Susan Walters establish professorship in marketing at WKU By Tommy Newton Joe and Susan Walters, of Campbellsville, KY, have made a gift to establish the Joseph L. Walters Professorship in Marketing in Western Kentucky University's Gordon Ford College of Business. Joe Walters, a first-generation college student from Green County who received a Bachelor of Science in Management from WKU, started working at the bookstore on campus in 1976 even before he started taking classes. He credits the guidance counselor at his high school for helping direct him to WKU. "If I wasn't in class, I was working," said Joe Walters. "In 1980, when I was close to finishing my degree, I was offered a full-time job. It took me until 1983 to finish my degree while working full-time." Susan Walters' father, Dr. Ralph Tesseneer, a professor of psychology, held his first teaching position at WKU, and she was born in Bowling Green. Although she didn't grow up here, her parents shared fond memories of Bowling Green. When Dr. Raymond Cravens offered Susan a graduate assistantship, she said accepted the offer. She received her Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) while working as the International Student Advisor at WKU from 1979 to 1986. "I had a wonderful experience at Western," said Susan Walters. "My main memories are of people: meeting Joe, the different kids I worked with and meeting my dearest friend Mary Ann McCelvey and her husband, Dr. George McCelvey, who was an English professor." Joe and Susan Walters were married in 1985 at First Baptist Church in Bowling Green. In 1988, the couple moved to Louisville while Joe Walters attended Southern Baptist Seminary. A son, Ralph, was born in Louisville, but the family would soon move to Virginia when Joe Walters found a position as a pastor. In late July 1993, Joe and Ralph Walters were in a car accident that killed Ralph and left Joe severely injured. Joe Walters was in and out of the hospital for the next year. "So much of what we do as a couple is because of Ralph," said Susan Walters. "I want Ralph to be proud of his mama. We were blessed to be his parents, and Ralph is the reason we do what we do." After moving back to Kentucky, Joe Walters ventured into the world of construction, opened his own business, worked as a commercial lender at a regional bank and even served as a fundraiser at Campbellsville University. From his first position as a pastor to his current endeavor developing a subdivision, time and again, Joe Walters has utilized the lessons on how to run a business and lead people he learned in his undergraduate degree program. "I realized in life that I am a bridge builder. I go in and I can help get something going, but I don't tend to stick with it for too long," laughed Joe Walters. "Every time it is a totally different field of experience, but my degree from Western helped me make each of those transitions." Joe and Susan Walters have made a gift of $1.1 million to establish the Joseph L. Walters Professorship in Marketing through a combination of a current gift and a provision in their estate plans. As a fundraiser, Joe Walters encouraged people to develop their estate plans in addition to current giving. It was important for Susan and him to identify the institutions they wanted to support and make the decisions about how their funds will be used. "Western is where I had the first opportunity to grow into who I am today," said Joe Walters. "The opportunities I was given as a student and employee were a factor in all of my life, and I wanted to give back to the University. "In the discussions about what I could do to help the Gordon Ford College of Business, we ended up focusing on the Department of Marketing," he continued. "Marketing is such an important part of any organization, and I wanted to be able to help students through a professorship to gain experience and be able to be in the profession they choose." "The Joseph L. Walters Professorship in Marketing is an exciting opportunity in our Marketing Department," said Dr. Cathy Carey, Interim Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business. "With the addition of the Joseph L. Walters Professorship, all departments in the Gordon Ford College of Business now have endowed professorships. Mr. Walters graciously directed that his philanthropy go where it was most needed." "Endowed faculty positions, like the Joseph L. Walters Professorship in Marketing, enhance our ability to attract and retain nationally prominent faculty, which is essential in preparing highly skilled graduates and strengthening the WKU experience," said WKU President Timothy C. Caboni. "At the core of everything we do is our goal to transform the lives of our students, and we are grateful for Joe and Susan Walters' generous gift and the ongoing support they provide to help us achieve this mission." "The Marketing major has been growing consistently in the last five years as companies realize the importance of differentiation in today's competitive business environment," said Dr. Patricia Todd, Chair of the Department of Marketing. "The gift from Joe and Susan Walters will allow us to provide our marketing students with the best quality content, and, in turn, provide employers with the best quality student." "Philanthropy is a part of everyday life, no matter how small or big," said Joe Walters. "I think it includes much more than dollars. It includes our time and support for individuals and institutions, whether it be in our community or alma mater. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to support the Gordon Ford College of Business with my estate and for the rest of my lifetime." "Joe is enjoying this so much," said Susan Walters. "He is enjoying this involvement with the University. I love this giving because my husband loves this giving." "I have known Joe and Susan and their family for many years, and their philanthropy is as thoughtful as they are and encompasses all elements of our people, our Hill, and our community and beyond," said John Paul Blair, Interim Vice President of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement. "We are most grateful for their continued support of WKU." Joe Walters says he is looking forward to the opportunity to interact with the Professor of Marketing and other Gordon Ford Business College faculty, but he is most looking forward to interacting with students and the opportunity to mentor students. "Giving back becomes part of your life and that's why I think it is important for us to be examples for younger people that may have an opportunity later in life to be philanthropic," added Joe Walters. "Alumni should try to be involved and try to support their alma mater during their lifetime but also consider including the University in their estate plans no matter the size of the gift." For more information, contact John Paul Blair at (270) 745-6208. This story was posted on 2018-10-17 09:46:27
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