The Grandparents Are In

The University of Utah Professors Emeriti Club proves that retirement can be the start of a new kind of impact. More than 1,000 strong, the group contributes an average of $4.4 million annually to the U and established the Professors Emeriti Completion Scholarship fund, helping undergraduates within 12 credits of graduation overcome financial and personal hurdles. Many emeriti also remain active in research, publishing, and mentoring graduate students.

But their impact isn’t limited to scholarship. Each week, emeritus volunteers set up in the Union and residence halls for two-hour sessions, where students drop in to talk about everything from coursework to life decisions. “So often, students just need someone to say, ‘You can do this,’ ” says Ken Jameson, who served as president of the Emeriti Club in 2022-23. “Whether they’re questioning their major or navigating personal challenges, we try to help them see possibilities they may not have considered.”

Committed to lifelong learning and mentorship, these retired faculty members continue to shape the university community beyond the classroom. Here’s a sampling of the advice they pass along.