A Lifelong Commitment: Sue Murphy's Enduring Aquinas Legacy

Sue's Experience as an Aquinas Student

Her journey began in the late 1970s, when she decided to return to college through the Encore program, an initiative that helped women re-enter the workforce.

At the time, she was a junior in college, thinking that she would need to make the long drive from Grand Rapids to Allendale to attend Grand Valley. However, her plans changed when Jane Idema, the future founder of Aquinas' Women's and Gender Studies Center, encouraged her to enroll at Aquinas instead. Jane helped her get into the program and also find scholarships.

Sue was also close friends with Margaret Idema, Jane's daughter, and has maintained this friendship for close to 15 years. "I've been the class reunion co-chair with her for many years, and I remind her all the time about how much I loved her mother and what she did for me," said Sue.

One professor stood out as having a profound impact on her life: Dr. R.J. Bennett. He was her first accounting professor and the one who inspired her to pursue accounting as a career. "He was quite a character," Sue remembered. "He had been in the military, and he had this slang—alpha, bravo, charlie… I was Aunt Sue, and there was Uncle Pete, and he just had this whole lingo that was lots of fun."

…As a Professor

Later in her career, Sue returned to Aquinas as a business professor, teaching accounting and finance until she retired in 1998. She taught with the same sense of purpose that shaped her own educational experience, and she loved getting to know her students.

She always made time for them, whether that meant answering late-night phone calls or meeting outside of class to help them through a tough assignment. "I was getting a lot of calls," Sue remembered, "And I had students sometimes, particularly the night students, maybe they were traveling and they couldn't come in during my office hours. I would come to school specially to meet with them."

Sue often runs into her former students around Grand Rapids—usually at a local coffee shop or restaurant—which she always enjoys. Reflecting on those moments, she shared, "I think you recognize that you did have some meaning in what you did for a job. I think some people lack that in their jobs. They might get a paycheck, but they don't know if they've made a difference in other people's lives. I think, clearly, with teaching, you do know that you have a connection."

…And as a Lifelong Learner

Since retiring, Sue is still involved on the Aquinas campus.

Most notably, she serves on the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) board, a role that helps her stay connected to the Aquinas community.

She had taken many OLLI classes herself and described the experience as "very enjoyable," sharing how much she appreciates the chance to keep her mind active. The program also offers her a great way to reconnect with old friends and meet new people, something she values deeply after years of teaching and mentoring students.

A Legacy of Giving, Passed Down through Generations

Sue believes that "life would be empty without philanthropy," and feels a deep responsibility to model that belief for her children.

As a child herself, Sue's parents were involved in their community. They gave to their church regularly, as well as some other causes, and this modeled the spirit of giving within her from a young age. "It was just the way I was brought up, that you're part of a greater community, more than just your immediate family, and that you kind of owed it to where you lived if you wanted it to remain a good place," she explained.

Her husband shared this value and frequently donated to his own alma mater, which was a much larger university. "And he came to believe," shared Sue," That it was more important to give to Aquinas. Anything we gave to them was just a little tiny drop in a bucket."

She began giving back to her community as soon as she was able, right after graduating from Aquinas, and she hasn't stopped since.

A Lasting Difference for Future Saints

Sue's giving journey became a reflection of something deeper, an appreciation for the kind of place Aquinas is. For Sue, it wasn't just about nostalgia. It was about the genuine kindness that filled the campus, the way people held doors open, said hello, and made space for one another.

"I just think Aquinas is a very, very special place. It's hard to get that across, but when you walk on campus, it's sort of like somebody's opening their arms and giving you a big hug," she explained.

She had remembered taking master's classes at another college and explained that the students seemed more closed off, that it was easier to get lost in the crowd. Such things are commonplace at bigger schools, but at Aquinas, that's virtually impossible. If there's an empty seat, the professor knows who's supposed to be in it.

In conversations with AQ alumni, regardless of whether they had taken classes with her or not, she hears about how impactful this community support was for them. Frequently, these Saints share stories about how a department helped them, how they received support for disabilities, and about professors who spent extra time with them during office hours. "I hear those stories quite a bit," she states.

These experiences led Sue and her husband to establish their own scholarship for the accounting students at Aquinas. She noticed that, even though many students were in the business department, the available scholarships of the time didn't represent them. So, she designed this scholarship to fill that gap and continue to attract students to this program.

Sue's most recent gift builds on the legacy she and her husband began with their scholarship for accounting students, and it is the culmination of her 45 years of giving and a lifetime dedicated to her community.

Her generosity ensures that the Catholic and Dominican education she cherishes will continue to inspire and empower future generations, keeping the spirit of prayer, study, service, and community alive on campus for years to come.

Ready to Learn More?

To talk with someone about making an impact at Aquinas College through your will or estate plan, please contact Jeff Puckett, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, at 616.632.2816 or [email protected].