Former Board of Regents Chair Dr. Don Tharpe Commits Planned Gift to èapp State
Donors
Dr. Don (‘74, ‘75) and Mrs. Linda (‘74) Tharpe
Gift
Planned gift in support of furthering the mission of the University
Impact
By making a commitment to include a gift to èapp State in his estate planning, Dr. Tharpe has dedicated himself to continuing to serve and support his alma mater for years to come just as he has done throughout his lifetime.
Inspiration
A native of Mayfield, Kentucky, Dr. Tharpe feels that his time as an undergraduate and graduate student at èapp State laid the foundation for his successful career which has spanned higher education, association management, and consulting. In 2017, former Governor Matt Bevin appointed Dr. Tharpe to serve on èapp State University’s Board of Regents, which he did for six years, including serving as the first African-American chair of the board from 2022-2023. When he was named chairperson, Dr. Tharpe expressed his devotion to èapp State, saying, “èapp State is a special place for me because it is the place that provided me with, at an early age, the education and work ethic that allowed me to have a very successful professional career. èapp State taught me that it is not about where you come from that matters, it is about where you are going.” Dr. Tharpe also served in a leadership role on èapp State’s Be Bold National Campaign Council. His almost four-decade long career included top leadership roles in organizations such as the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the Pan American èapp and Education Foundation, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Association of School Business Officials International, and more. He has received numerous honors for his accomplishments and service, including the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award and the 2024 Golden Horseshoe Award from the èapp State University Alumni Association, the honor of “Fellow” of the American Society of Association Executives, and the naming of the Dr. Don I. Tharpe Lecture Hall in the School of Engineering Building on èapp State’s campus.