The Laney Graduate School and Goizueta have recently established the Allison Gilmore Fund for Business Doctoral Education. Allison Gilmore, director of admissions and student services at Goizueta, has worked tirelessly with doctoral candidates at Emory for over a decade, providing guidance and encouragement for students and alumni from the uncertain days of recruitment to graduation and beyond.

A veteran of improvisational comedy, Gilmore uses her intrepid stage presence and business acumen to train students in the art of intuitive and spontaneous thinking. Her close work with students has established lasting friendships, and those relationships have been a source of strength for her — and for them. The fund, which has an initial fundraising goal of $100,000, honors Gilmore and all she does to champion and support her students. Its purpose will be to provide needed funds to doctoral students who are seeking additional support for their research, or to offer financial assistance during critical times of their degree program.

“It has been a pleasure working for a decade or more with our doctoral students. Since this is a five-year program, I get to know them on a deep and meaningful level. And I have a tremendous sense of pride when I see them achieve their goals of becoming scholars and landing faculty positions at business schools around the globe,” she said. “Navigating the program doesn’t come without its challenges, though — both personally and financially — which is why this new fund will be so instrumental in helping those students who might be struggling without this support.”

–Breckyn Wood