“Life is about people. It has no meaning except for its effect on others.”
Professor emeritus of accounting Donald “Don” McFall, MSA ’91, embodies this approach to life, focusing on ways he can connect with and make a difference for others. He retired from Kent State University in 2012 after 28 years of teaching and mentorship, but he remains closely connected with the people and program he loves so dearly.
With the help of and in honor of his former students, Don created the Accounting Department Student and Alumni Engagement Fund, which will receive additional support through his generous bequest. This fund supports accounting students and alumni engagement, providing scholarships, facilitating activities, covering travel costs and enhancing the educational experience for current students while fostering continued, meaningful alumni connections.
As part of this gift, Don helps young alumni stay engaged with the program and involved in its recruitment efforts, championing and inspiring future generations of accountants.
“Don's involvement means a great deal to me and to everyone connected with the Young Accounting Alumni Advisory Board,” said Jordan Burns, ’19, ’20. “Don genuinely cares about students and alumni. His generosity, energy and commitment to Kent State's accounting community have helped build a strong network that continues to benefit students, alumni and the program.”
Giving back is a part of who Don is. In 2010, he received the Outstanding Teaching Award, and he was named an Outstanding Faculty Advisor in 2011. When he was awarded $5,000 for that honor, he chose to give it back to the university to support accounting scholarships.
“I don’t work to live; I work to give,” Don explained. “It’s important to put your money where your heart is.”
His former students look back fondly on Don’s teaching and mentorship style as both a teacher and the advisor for Beta Alpha Psi, a national fraternity for students and professionals in accounting, finance, management and information systems. They say his support was a major influence on their educational and professional development.
“Don, who we lovingly refer to as ‘Coach,’ has impacted not just my life but the lives of countless others during his time at Kent State,” said Melissa Carlisle, ’06, MSA ’07, Ph.D., CPA, associate professor of accounting at Case Western Reserve University. “He has always believed in me, oftentimes more than I believed in myself. I still look to him for advice as I navigate my role as an educator. Coach is the first person to cheer someone on, but the last person to take credit for the positive result.”
Erin Hamilton, ’05, MSA ’06, Ph.D., CPA, professor of accounting and EY Faculty Fellow at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, echoes Melissa’s sentiments.
“Don was my biggest cheerleader and mentor during my time at Kent State,” Erin explained. “As a first-generation college student, I didn’t have a lot of confidence when it came to my career aspirations, but Don gave me opportunities to grow and encouraged me to aim high. I now teach many first-generation college students myself, and I hope I can be the type of mentor to them that Don was for me because it changed my life.”
As a true coach, he has created the framework for his students to succeed, while letting them lead and develop relationships and skills that benefit them far into the future.
“Teaching is a profession that continues to give,” Don said. “It’s all about the students. I believe that if I have accomplished anything, it is because I have been surrounded by great people. I give because I am thankful for all I've received, and I want to encourage the futures of Kent State students and alumni.”
To learn how you can make an impact and leave a legacy while supporting something you believe in, please contact us at giftplan@kent.edu or 330-672-1000, or visit www.kent.edu/planned-giving.
