Centre receives $1 million gift to endow Jennie Peaslack Carlson ’82 Professorship in Business, Economics and Finance

Jennie Peaslack Carlson ’82 knows firsthand how a Centre College education can change a student’s life. With a generous gift to the College, she and her husband, Richard, will ensure future generations can reap the same rewards.

Through a $1 million gift, the Carlsons are endowing the Jennie Peaslack Carlson ’82 Endowed Professorship in Business, Economics and Finance, honoring her appreciation for Centre’s faculty and the role they played in her successful banking career.

“Centre College owes a debt of gratitude to generous donors like Jennie and Richard Carlson,” said President Milton C. Moreland. “There is no better testament to what we do here than when those who experienced the transformational power of a Centre education give their time and money to ensure others have the same opportunity.”

The education and experiences Jennie enjoyed at Centre set her on a path to personal and professional success, including a law degree from Vanderbilt University and a stellar banking career spanning more than 25 years.

“I love Centre College. It changed my life,” said Jennie Carlson, who now serves on the College’s Board of Trustees. “I was a first-generation college student, and my parents believed that a college degree was a golden ticket to a brighter future, but they didn’t know how to give me that golden ticket.”

Jennie saw firsthand the personal approach Centre used to support students. Hal Smith ’64, then an admissions counselor, paid her family a visit in Northern Kentucky to ensure her financial aid application was in order.

“The paperwork was intimidating for my dad, who was a printer, and my mom, who worked in a call center,” Jennie remembers. “I would not have gotten to Centre without Hal Smith.”

Once she arrived on campus, she quickly flourished under the guidance of Centre professors.

“When I got to Centre, I was very shy, but I loved it and felt right at home,” she said. “What I loved was that I felt listened to, And the faculty were wonderful. They taught me to think critically and made me want to think critically. They made me intellectually curious and a lifelong learner. All those things were important in my career and are still important to make my life what it is today and what I want it to be going forward.

“So I owe Centre a lot.”

That lasting sense of appreciation ultimately shaped how Jennie and Richard chose to give back. They have also endowed a professorship and scholarship fund at Richard’s alma mater, Iowa State University, as well as a scholarship at Jennie’s graduate school alma mater, Vanderbilt University.

"Centre did so much for me I feel like this is a tiny piece, not anywhere near what I got from Centre, but at least a show of appreciation for how Centre changed my life."

After graduating from Vanderbilt, Jennie joined Taft Law before what was then Star Bank, which later became U.S. Bank. She served as general counsel and later chief human resources officer before her retirement in 2018. In all, she devoted 27 years to the company.

“Jennie exemplifies the commitment to lifelong learning in her personal and professional accomplishments. Through their generous donation, Jennie and Dick will educate future students for lives of purpose and meaning. We are grateful for their extraordinary support to enable the next generation of excellence at Centre College,” said Kelly Knetsche, Senior Philanthropy Advisor and Board Liaison.

Like Jennie, Richard can attest to how higher education shaped his future. He attended Harvard Law School after graduating from Iowa State. He and Jennie met while both were living and working in Cincinnati.

“I was lucky to study finance in college because that set me on the path to understanding how, if you set a little aside, it’s going to grow over the years,” he said. “That’s not a function of education at most institutions unless you seek it out.”

Jennie Carlson said her motivation for the gift stemmed in part from her experiences with those who rose to the top levels of U.S. Bank, largely liberal arts graduates who she called “accidental bankers.” She sees how Centre’s academic approach to business education prepares students to be adept, flexible leaders capable of solving the problems of tomorrow.

“We wanted to make this gift now so we could watch it in action. It’s an exciting time for Centre, and we’re really excited about this opportunity,” Jennie Carlson said of the endowed professorship. “I have enormous faith in President Moreland and the staff and faculty at Centre. I have incredible respect for the board. We’re bolstering the best parts of the Centre experience that we all know and love — the residential experience of living, working, and playing together; an outstanding faculty teaching small classes — and increasing our focus on next-level career readiness.”

Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the College Alex M. McCallister said such gifts are crucial for Centre’s highly ranked faculty.

“The Centre faculty are deeply grateful to generous donors like Jennie and Richard Carlson. Our professors are committed to teaching first and foremost, and they are also active scholars and artists pursuing new ideas and skills. They frequently collaborate with our students in that work,” he said. “Endowed professorships like this one are wonderful endorsements of and support for our faculty’s excellent work. The philanthropy of the Carlsons and others like them makes it possible for our professors to continue making positive differences in the lives of Centre students for years to come.”

The Carlsons also hope that sharing their gift will inspire others who have benefited from the Centre experience to support the College and its continuing work to prepare tomorrow’s leaders.

“People sometimes downplay their philanthropy, and they don’t know how inspiring it can be to other people,” Richard said.

“Centre did so much for me,” Jennie said. “I feel like this is a tiny piece, not anywhere near what I got from Centre, but at least a show of appreciation for how Centre changed my life.”