Understanding Student Needs First-hand

The adjectives “loyal” and “generous” perfectly describe the 40-year career of Boise State University Professor Emeritus Dr. Ross Vaughn. During his long tenure at Boise State, the former associate dean of the College of Education wore many hats, including chair of the kinesiology department, graduate program coordinator, director of intramural sports and recreation, and head baseball coach.

Dr. Vaughn began his career at Boise State as the head baseball coach and faculty member for the then Physical Health and Education Department. While his positions at Boise State changed over his career, he made significant contributions to developing the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Kinesiology.

Following retirement in 2013, he remained active at the university, serving as a champion for the Boise State Extraordinary Times, Extraordinary Opportunities scholarship campaign.

“I spent a career educating and serving students, and I know first-hand there is great need,” Vaughn said.

Longtime donors to the university, he and his wife, Karen, founded the Dr. Ross Vaughn Kinesiology Endowed Scholarship to support students enrolled in the department he helped found at Boise State.

“I didn’t have any scholarships when I was going through school,” Vaughn said. “I had to borrow a little money just so I could get through. It’s harder today, and costs are much more expensive.”

The scholarship endowment has been funded collectively with cash contributions and planned gifts from the Vaughns and former colleagues and students.

“The collection of gifts made to this endowment is powerful,” he said. “When we all contribute to these endowments and the university, we can build on something great.”