Amy Whitten Shaw (July 23, 1987-August 12, 2024) had unwavering curiosity, compassion and a deep commitment to making a difference. When she was just 5-years-old, she wanted to bring peace to the Middle East.
Amy’s path to Western Michigan University was one of resilience and discovery. After high school, she began her academic and professional journey in Pittsburgh, later returning to her hometown of Battle Creek, Michigan, to train and receive her license as a nurse aide. Amy cared for residents in two nursing homes, showing tenderness, compassion and a sense of humor. It was there that her passion for gerontology first took root.
Driven to expand her knowledge and help others, she moved to East Lansing. While in East Lansing she studied at Lansing Community College, where she was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She then transferred to Central Michigan University where she discovered an interest in applied behavior analysis. Following her graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, she was admitted to WMU to further study behavior analysis as a graduate student. Here, she worked with Dr. Jonathan Baker, a specialist in gerontology, whom she admired a great deal.
Although she was a nontraditional student, Amy’s younger Bronco peers welcomed her. Her work inspired others and earned her recognition, including receiving the student presenter award at the Association for Behavioral Analysis International (ABAI) conference from the Behavioral Gerontology Special Interest Group.
Whenever her mother had doubts, Amy would say, “You need to see yourself as others see you.” Sometimes, her mother would also repeat that mantra back to Amy. She shared politics and a close bond with her brother, as well as held a student pilot certificate, enjoying flying lessons with her father in his 1946 Champ airplane.
Amy’s life was tragically cut short during a hiking trip, leaving her partner, family, friends and the WMU community grieving the loss of an exceptional student and person. In their profound love and wish to honor her legacy, Amy’s parents established the Amy Whitten Shaw Memorial Scholarship.
This scholarship will support psychology undergraduate and graduate students at Western, with a preference for those who demonstrate financial need, are nontraditional students or are focused on gerontology, the field Amy loved. Through the Amy Whitten Shaw Memorial Scholarship, her passion and impact will live on, benefitting students who share her dedication to improving the lives of older adults.