This spring, Portland State said goodbye to an alumna, philanthropist, and giant among Rose City’s financial institutions. Shirley Dunn (B.S. Business Administration, ’75) passed away on April 18, 2022 at the age of 73. After earning her degree, Dunn was hired at Arthur Anderson, the internationally lauded accounting firm and member of the “Big Eight.” Dunn was exceptionally talented and worked relentlessly, eventually sinking her teeth into crisis and turnaround management at Hamstreet & Associates, where she served as Principal Accountant and remained until her retirement over three decades later.
Fellow PSU graduate Judy Dauble met Dunn in the Accounting program almost 50 years ago. After graduation, both women moved into the business world and became friends while building their careers. “She was never one of those people in business that needed everyone to like her,” Dauble recalls. “She wasn’t afraid to make tough decisions. She was always a leader, always rose to the top.”
In retirement Dunn was no less energetic and joined The School of Business’s Accounting Advisory Board. Longtime PSU Accounting Professor and board liaison Elizabeth Almer met Dunn in 2009. “She immediately impressed me. She had been a single mom in the 1970s and didn’t tell anybody [at Arthur Anderson] she had a child.” At that time, there were very few women in business leadership, and even fewer who had children. “It was women like Shirley who enabled me to have [this] kind of career. The generation of students I teach don’t necessarily understand the path women like Shirley paved for us.”
Dauble remembers how important the University was for students at the time, particularly women, who worked and parented while studying. “Portland State was there for lots of us who needed it. The accounting program was very successful, and if you did well, you landed in a pretty good place. I think Shirley felt a lot of gratitude toward Portland State for providing her with a good education and great career.”
With the help of PSU Foundation, Dunn’s gratitude was transformed into The Shirley Dunn Accounting Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship supports one (junior or senior) Accounting student per year with a 3.2 GPA or greater who also exhibits financial need.
Judy Dauble recalls Dunn promoting the fund socially. “She was pretty proud of it.” Elizabeth Almer remembers Dunn as, “an incredibly generous woman. She believed in paying it forward, helping other individuals with their educations. And she believed deeply in the value of an Accounting degree. She understood how this degree could open doors, and I always got the impression she wanted others to have the opportunity to fulfill their potential.”
Those who did business with Dunn may remember her talent, tenacity, and extraordinary political and business savvy. Others may think on her generosity and vivacity. “Personally,” Almer says, “I always found her gracious, fun, full of life.” “A great friend. Loyal. Strong,” says Dauble. No matter how family, friends, and community members remember Shirley Dunn, it’s clear she will be missed, and that while she was here, she made a lasting impression.