A commitment to leadership, service and student success is taking on new meaning in the College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) through the creation of the Matthew and Emily Theriot Family Endowed Scholarship.
The gift reflects both a personal and professional investment in the future of CHPS students who are preparing for healthcare careers centering around prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of people of all ages.
Matthew Theriot was appointed interim dean in 2024 and selected to lead the college permanently the following year.
“Our students are entering fields that demand not only technical expertise, but also compassion, adaptability and a commitment to improving quality of life for others,” says Matthew Theriot. “One of my roles is to create pathways to help them build a successful future, and a scholarship gift is a small but impactful way my family and I can support a student on their educational journey.
For Theriot and his wife Emily, the decision to create the scholarship is deeply rooted in both leadership philosophy and lived experience. That connection extends beyond the classroom and into the real-world impact of healthcare, says Theriot, a father of three, who notes that his family has personally been helped by the kinds of care CHPS graduates will one day provide.
“Our students really do save lives,” says Matthew Theriot. “They heal people and families, they strengthen communities, and they change the world. It’s exciting to help students launch their careers. Who knows how many lives will be impacted?”
“Our family has benefitted from so many of the professions in CHPS, from speech-language pathologists in schools to physical therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and more,” says Emily Theriot. “I think our experience is true for so many other families. To be part of this college, and to support these amazing students who will go on to help more families like ours, is truly an honor.”
Endowed scholarships are uniquely powerful because they provide support in perpetuity. Rather than a one-time gift, they create a sustained source of funding and a recurring scholarship that continues to benefit students year after year.
“Higher education has opened so many doors for us and given us so many gifts,” says Emily Theriot. We are so excited to give back and to pay it forward for future generations of college students and healthcare providers.”
For Theriot, who has more than two decades of executive leadership in higher education at large research universities, this long-term impact aligns with the people-centered approach that has long defined his leadership style. Throughout his career, he has emphasized the importance of teamwork — not just in achieving outcomes, but in shaping the experience along the way. The scholarship aims to inspire students to move into leadership roles, reward them for that initiative, and recognize their potential to make a difference.
“I think it’s important to reward our students who are passionate about stepping up,” says Matthew Theriot. “Leadership can manifest itself in many different ways, but the common denominator for me is serving with authenticity, which is truly believing in what you do and how you can pave the way for others.”
For many students, scholarships are a critical factor in making a college degree attainable. They help ease the financial burden of tuition and expenses, allowing students to focus more fully on their academic and professional development as well as participate in rich campus experiences. A college education can set students up for a lifetime of success, and the success of the generations that follow them.
By establishing the scholarship, the Theriot family hopes to inspire and grow emerging leaders while supporting the college’s mission to prepare skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals who will build stronger and healthier communities both near and far.
The Matthew and Emily Theriot Family Endowed Scholarship will support undergraduate students enrolled in CHPS programs. It is open to students across all majors within the college, with selection based in part on a brief essay highlighting leadership experiences or a passion for leadership, as well as consideration of financial need. Applications for the scholarship will open in Spring 2027 with the scholarship awarded for the first time in Fall 2027.
