Retired professor, staff member spouse endow scholarship for psychology students
Heather and Windy Gordon
By Bill Studenc
An estate gift from a retired 甜瓜视频app faculty member and his spouse, a current WCU staff member, will establish an endowed scholarship fund to provide financial support to students working toward undergraduate degrees in psychology.
The leadership gift from the Sylva residents will create the Winford and Heather Gordon Psychology Endowed Scholarship Fund for students in WCU鈥檚 College of Education and Allied Professions.
Recipients of the scholarship must have verifiable financial need. Preference will be given to first-generation students studying psychology, with special consideration for those in groups that are underrepresented in the psychology profession.
The fund will make much-needed scholarship assistance available to students in one of WCU鈥檚 largest undergraduate programs, helping them attain the first level of education needed as they pursue careers in more specialized fields, said Kim Winter, dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions.
鈥淲e are grateful for Windy and Heather Gordon鈥檚 generous donation in support of psychology students here at 甜瓜视频app. This gift is particularly special for us as Dr. Windy Gordon served the college as an engaged and beloved faculty member,鈥� Winter said. 鈥淗e and Heather have a long history of serving the needs of students at this university, and the generosity they are demonstrating through their estate gift will ensure that their impact continues in perpetuity.鈥�
Windy Gordon, who joined the WCU psychology faculty in 2004 and retired in 2022, previously served as director of undergraduate studies in psychology. The university鈥檚 Chancellor鈥檚 Distinguished Award recipient in 2018, he also received the 2020 Faculty Award for Excellence in Student Service presented by the Office of Student Success.
Heather Gordon, who earned her master鈥檚 degree in public affairs from WCU in 2016, is associate director of WCU鈥檚 DegreePlus program, an educational enhancement initiative housed in the Center for Career and Professional Development.
Married for 38 years and with no children of their own, the Gordons said they both feel fortunate to have worked with and taught many remarkable students at Western, and they have a shared commitment to their students. Establishing an endowed scholarship fund was a natural next step in caring about generations yet to come, especially those who are the first in their families going on to higher education, they said
鈥淚 was a first-generation college student. I have taught and advised many first-gen students at Western. I think first-gen students face some challenges that legacy students don鈥檛 feel,鈥� Windy Gordon said.
鈥淢oney won鈥檛 provide an instant understanding of the complexity of completing a college program, but, hopefully, the scholarships will show families that the university wants to join them in supporting their deserving daughters and sons,鈥� he said. 鈥淩emoving some of the financial burden may give first-gen students and their families a little breathing space to figure things out and succeed.鈥�
As a teacher of psychology, he said he wanted to direct the gift to benefit students in that major because he believes the discipline offers a vital understanding of human behavior.
鈥淧sychology helps us see why we do what we do. The application of psychological knowledge advances mental health work, education, medicine and every other critical part of society. Who I am, and what and how I think are all born of what I know about psychology. How can I want anything else for students I care about?鈥� he said.
鈥淎t a more personal level, I was the director of undergraduate studies in psychology at WCU, and I guess I still want 鈥榤y program鈥� to recruit and graduate the best students. A few scholarships might help that happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淗eather also studied psychology and supports students learning more about themselves and the world around them in order to become agents of change in the world.鈥�
The endowment鈥檚 focus on supporting students from underrepresented groups is an intentional and personal decision, he said.
鈥淚f we 鈥榳alk the talk鈥� about thinking like a psychologist, then of course we want anyone from any background to have access to Western鈥檚 psychology major. Studying in a culturally diverse group gives our students a better chance at learning to live with, work with and care about all people,鈥� he said. 鈥淔urther, it is ethically essential to remove barriers that may hinder talented students, regardless of who they are. Hard work should have significant consequences. We can think of no better consequence than attending Western.鈥�
The donors say they envision that future recipients of scholarships made possible through their gift will persist in earning their degrees and go on to do great things in their lives, their communities and beyond.
鈥淚t is our hope that we can help carry on the legacy of getting a good education for students who deserve it,鈥� Heather Gordon said. 鈥淓ven in our absence, we hope to encourage students to work hard and find joy in the journey of college by helping to ease the financial burden.鈥�
She is among the growing list of WCU faculty and staff making financial contributions to the place where they teach, conduct research and provide services to students.
鈥淕iving is a great feeling, and we encourage anyone 鈥� no matter how much money you have 鈥� to support the people and things you love,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are all in jobs at WCU that support student learning and engagement, and what better way to continue that support for future students. It takes all of us to help.鈥�
Prior to joining the WCU faculty, Windy Gordon worked as a faculty member and administrator at Warren Wilson College, Brevard College, Bethune-Cookman University and Tennessee Wesleyan University.
An accomplished whitewater canoe racer, he earned a spot on the U.S. National Team three times, each with a different partner, and won numerous medals in national championships across almost two decades of competition. In 1996, he competed in the trials for the Atlanta Olympic Games.
He holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Wofford College and a doctoral degree in experimental psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
A staff member at WCU since 2022, Heather Gordon previously managed youth development programming in the Western North Carolina summer camp industry, served as a regional coordinator for WNC nonprofit Pathways and was the 4-H agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Center in Jackson County.
Through DegreePlus, she helps provide opportunities for students to add to the content of their academic studies through experiential opportunities in leadership, teamwork, professionalism and cultural responsiveness. She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree at Warren Wilson College.
Announcement of the estate gift establishing the Winford and Heather Gordon Psychology Endowed Scholarship Fund comes as WCU is in the midst of its ongoing 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs.
For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.
