Purpose Through Service and Scholarship: Susan Atkinson Gregory 77Ox 79C Gives Back
Chair-elect of the Board of Counselors Susan Atkinson Gregory 77Ox 79C arrived at Oxford expecting two years of college. She left with lifelong friendships, a calling to serve others, and a connection to the college that has shaped nearly every chapter of her life.
"I loved it from the moment I walked onto campus," Gregory recalls. "It was just the right size. The faculty knew my name, and they knew if I didn't show up for class. There was accountability, but it came from a place of care."
That sense of community would shape her Oxford experience. Gregory immersed herself in campus life, serving as a resident advisor, participating in student government as the vice president, chairing Conduct Council, and more. Looking back, she laughs about how involved she became.
"I just like to be active in places I love, by the end of my sophomore year, I was exhausted, but I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything."
Beyond leadership opportunities, Gregory remembers a campus culture that encouraged connection. Weekend traditions ranged from floating down the Alcovy River to transforming campus spaces into makeshift dance halls and themed parties. Faculty invited students into their homes for cookouts and conversations, blurring the line between classroom and community.
"It felt like more than a college community," Gregory describes. "It felt like a town community.
Among the many people who influenced her during her time at Oxford, one stands out in particular: history professor Dr. Neil Penn.
"He was hard but fair, an excellent teacher, incredibly funny, and a wonderful mentor," Gregory explains. "I became close not only to him but also to his family. Those relationships lasted a lifetime."
After completing her two years at Oxford, Gregory transitioned to Emory University's Atlanta campus. Though the move from a student body of roughly 500 students to a much larger university was an adjustment, she found encouragement from her new advisor, Dr. Bill Fox, and other faculty who valued Oxford students and welcomed them into the broader Emory community.
Following graduation, Gregory worked in the admissions department at Oxford, and later, in student services at Emory's School of Nursing before pursuing a master's degree in social work and a certificate in gerontology at the University of Georgia. Her decision was deeply influenced by a commencement speech delivered by then-newly appointed Emory President James Laney during her Oxford graduation.
"He emphasized living an ethical, service-led life," Gregory recalls. "That message stayed with me."
Gregory spent her career in medical social work, helping patients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives. She worked in hospitals, assisting patients and families with counseling, discharge planning, and accessing resources. Later, she specialized in oncology social work, supporting young adults diagnosed with cancer.
"When you're 23 and facing cancer, it can be very isolating," Gregory illustrates. "We tried to connect people with other young adults who understood what they were going through and help them see that they still had a life to live."
Though the work was challenging, Gregory found meaning in knowing she could make a difference.
"I couldn't solve every problem," she contends. "But I could help. And that was enough."
Today, Gregory remains deeply connected to Oxford through her service on the Board of Counselors, where she has served for more than two decades. Inspired by the board members she met as a student, she embraced the opportunity to give back to the institution that had shaped her life.
Over the years, she has chaired various committees. She and her husband, Luke Gregory 76Ox 78C, along with the help of family and friends, established several scholarships to support future generations of Oxford students.
One initiative particularly close to her heart is the Luke Gregory Memorial Compassion Fund, established in honor of her late husband, Luke Gregory 76Ox 78C. The fund provides confidential emergency financial assistance to Oxford students, faculty, and staff facing unexpected hardships.
"Life doesn't stop happening because you're in college. Sometimes people hit bumps in the road, and financial concerns should be the least of their worries."
The Luke Gregory Memorial Compassion Fund has helped Oxford College community members cover emergency travel expenses, replace essential technology lost in disasters, purchase medications, and address other urgent needs. Gregory intentionally designed the fund to serve not only students but also faculty and staff, reflecting the sense of shared community that defined her Oxford experience.
For Gregory, serving on the Board of Counselors offers more than an opportunity to give back—it provides a chance to stay connected to Oxford's future.
"We leave campus with big smiles on our faces," she said. "Meeting current students, hearing about their dreams, and seeing what they're accomplishing is so rewarding."
Reflecting on her own journey, Gregory credits Oxford with changing the course of her life in ways she never could have predicted.
"It introduced me to lifelong friends, extraordinary professors and supportive staff, my husband, and opportunities to learn and serve others," she said. "Oxford completely changed the trajectory of my life."
Her advice to current and prospective students is simple:
"Don't waste a minute of your time here. Be open to new experiences, explore different interests, and trust yourself. You don't know all the ways your life is going to change when you step onto this campus—and that's what makes it so exciting.”
