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Friends and colleagues are creating a new scholarship fund in honor of Michael Dougherty, the soon-to-be-retiring dean of Western Carolina University’s College of Education and Allied Professions, to recognize his more than 30 years of service to the university.
The Michael Dougherty Family Endowed Scholarship Fund will provide support for select juniors, seniors or graduate students who have declared a major within the college, and awards will be based on academic merit. Scholarship preferences will go to North Carolina residents, first-generation college students and children of employees of the college.
Dougherty (pictured), dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions since 1998, will be entering phased retirement beginning this fall. Under his leadership, the college has built upon a reputation for high-quality teacher education that traces its roots to the university’s founding as a teacher’s college, said WCU Chancellor John W. Bardo.
During Dougherty’s time as dean, the college has been recognized nationally, most recently with the 2007 Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award presented by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Enrollment in the college has grown by nearly 60 percent under his watch.
“Michael Dougherty has had a lasting impact on WCU, in North Carolina, and nationally as a scholar in counselor education through his tenure as a faculty member in the counselor education program, as a department head, associate dean, and 10 years as dean,” said Dale Carpenter, associate dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions. “As dean, Michael has been tireless and very successful in integrating the various programs, centers and grant-funded projects in the core mission of the college and university.”
Perhaps foremost among Dougherty’s achievements is his role in developing an exemplary model for working with the public schools throughout Western North Carolina, said Anne Garrett, superintendent of Haywood County Schools.
“We have had an excellent working relationship with Dr. Dougherty and the university,” said Garrett. “We are very fortunate for the leadership he has provided for Haywood County teachers and students, as well as schools across the state. He is a visionary. We wish him much happiness.”
Although Dougherty will be retiring soon, his commitment to the college he has led will continue through the scholarship being established in his honor, said David Claxton, professor of health, physical education and recreation, who is helping organize the scholarship fundraising effort. “As we need more quality students majoring in the programs within our college, this scholarship will serve as a way to help attract students into the teaching profession and into the majors in the allied professions within our college,” Claxton said.
For information on how to contribute to the Michael Dougherty Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, contact Brett Woods, WCU director of annual and special gifts, at (828) 227-7124, toll-free at (800) 492-8496, or via e-mail at bwoods@wcu.edu.
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Last modified: Friday, Feb. 22, 2008