University News

Stewart Named to Cecil P. McDonough Professorship at WIU

July 16, 2019

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MOLINE/MACOMB, IL -- The Cecil P. McDonough Professorship in Western Illinois University's College of Business and Technology (CBT) has been awarded to Management and Marketing Professor Susan Stewart for 2019-2021.

The Cecil P. McDonough Endowed Professorship in Business is designed to recognize the highest level of scholarship and University instruction by providing support for faculty income, research and instruction materials and professional development. The Cecil P. and Helen McDonough Academic Development Fund provides long-range academic program support and supports innovative instruction and research projects. 

McDonough completed his business career in Indianapolis, IN, and, in 1983, named WIU as beneficiary of a $1.4 million charitable remainder trust to establish the professorship and an academic development fund. McDonough's ties to WIU are through a connection to former WIU Foundation Board President Jim Garner, of Macomb. 

McDonough and Garner's mother grew up in the same hometown, and at Garner's mother's funeral service, McDonough introduced himself to the then Foundation Board president. The two shared stories about Garner's mother and learned that they had a common interest in the insurance business. A friendship grew and the two began exchanging letters. Garner mentioned to McDonough that he and other WIU representatives were seeking private support for the College of Business and suggested that such a project might be worthy of McDonough's consideration. 

Just prior to Memorial Day in 1983, Garner received a note from McDonough indicating he was in failing health; and in a follow-up telephone conversation later, McDonough told Garner he had made some estate plans and would be willing to meet with WIU Foundation staff for possible provisions to Western. The meeting resulted in the endowed professorship -- the first for the WIU College of Business and Technology -- and the academic development fund. McDonough died in June 1983.

To qualify for the McDonough Professorship, faculty members must conduct outstanding research, teaching and/or public service that is widely recognized; exhibit an extraordinary level of productivity and impact in his/her field of study that goes beyond the existing expectations for full professors; have a level of productivity and impact that has been demonstrated for an extended period of time; and serve as a role model for faculty and students. 

Stewart earned a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and has been teaching human resource management (HRM) and management courses at WIU for 11 years. She founded the HRM Program at the WIU-Quad Cities campus, and is actively involved in placing students into internships and jobs as well as serving as advisor to the award winning student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  She also teaches a study abroad course titled "Business Practices and Culture of Ireland," which includes a one-week trip to Dublin, Ireland. 

Stewart has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, business cases, magazine articles and actively present papers at professional conferences. Her research has appeared in publications such as the books "Counterproductive Workplace Behavior" (by the American Psychological Association) and "Human Resource Management: An Experiential Approach" (by Irwin/McGraw-Hill) as well as in journals such as the "Journal of Applied Psychology," "Journal of Organizational Behavior," "Journal of Management," "International Journal of Selection and Assessment," "Journal for Human Resources Education" and "Educational and Psychological Measurement."

Posted By: Olivia Morris (om-morris@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing