Western New England University will celebrate an historic milestone this fall with the investiture of Dr. Sharianne Walker, Dean of the College of Business, as the Janet Johnson Bullard Endowed Chair in Finance—the University’s first endowed chair. The ceremony will take place in Campus Center Room A and welcomes students, faculty, alumni, trustees, and community leaders to honor both Walker’s distinguished career and Janet Johnson Bullard’s transformative philanthropy.
An endowed chair is among the highest honors a university can bestow on a faculty member. Endowed through a significant financial gift, the position provides permanent funding to support the chairholder’s teaching, research, and program development. Endowed chairs strengthen the University by ensuring long-term academic excellence, attracting and retaining top faculty, and creating enhanced opportunities for students.
The inaugural endowed chair is made possible by Janet Johnson Bullard ’69, a pioneering alumna, philanthropist, and trustee whose generosity continues to shape the University’s future. Her generosity has already established multiple scholarships and funds that advance financial literacy, support women in business, and strengthen the College of Business.
“This endowed chair represents not only a tremendous honor for me personally, but also a new era of opportunity for our students and faculty,” Walker said. “Janet’s generosity ensures that we can continue to innovate, build meaningful industry connections, and prepare Golden Bears to lead in the world of finance and beyond.”
Bullard also shared her perspective: “My time at Western New England gave me the foundation to build a career in finance at a time when few women had that opportunity,” Bullard said. “It is a privilege to support future generations of WNE students by helping to provide the resources and leadership that will guide them into successful and fulfilling careers.”
Dr. Walker, who has served as dean since 2020, has guided the College of Business through AACSB reaccreditation—a distinction held by fewer than 5% of business programs worldwide, launched innovative programs such as the FinTech Incubator and Future of Work Week, and deepened industry and community partnerships. She will share remarks on the significance of her new role during the ceremony, highlighting how the chair will create fresh opportunities for students and faculty alike.
Bullard, a 1969 graduate of WNE’s College of Business, is a Chartered Financial Analyst and former president of A.T. Whitehead, Inc. Her career has spanned more than five decades in investment management, and she remains a steadfast supporter of WNE and its students. She will also address the audience, reflecting on her own WNE experience and her vision for the future of business education.
Additional remarks will be offered by Interim President Michael B. Alexander and Provost Lisa Celovsky, underscoring the University’s ongoing commitment to academic distinction, student opportunity, and the transformative power of philanthropy.
With this investiture, Western New England University enters a new chapter in its history, setting the stage for a future defined by innovation, excellence, and enduring support for generations of Golden Bears.
