Double alumna commits $2 million to support CWRU sociology graduate students

Sandra Christie, PhD (GRS ’76, ’83, sociology), has committed $2 million to expand access and support for graduate students studying sociology at Case Western Reserve University’s College of Arts and Sciences. 

In addition to providing scholarships, the Sandy Christie Scholarship Fund will help offset educational expenses, including childcare, that can present barriers to pursuing an advanced degree—support Christie says was critical during her own academic journey.

“This commitment continues a decades-long investment in graduate education at Case Western Reserve that Sandy began before she even completed her PhD,” said Dean David Gerdes, PhD. “She has been a wonderful partner to the College of Arts and Sciences for more than four decades, and we are very grateful to her for enabling us to expand resources for these students at a critical point in their careers.”

In her early childhood years, Christie became fascinated by The Iliad and The Odyssey and was so inspired by Homer’s epic tales that she aspired to be an archaeologist. However, a car accident during her undergraduate studies left her unable to meet the physical demands of archaeology and set her down a path that ultimately led her to earn master’s and PhD degrees in sociology from the university. 

Christie had brief stints in both academia and the corporate world before co-founding and leading a research and consulting business for two decades, breaking through the glass ceiling in an industry in which she was frequently the only woman in the room. Her clients were primarily in healthcare, higher education and politics.

“I definitely had to work harder than my male counterparts to get a foot in the door at first,” Christie said. “But having a Case Western Reserve degree on my resume certainly didn’t hurt. And once we proved that we could do the work and had established a strong reputation, businesses and organizations started to seek us out.” 

Now, Christie is giving back to the university that provided her not only critical education and training, but “unexpected kindnesses” as well, in the hopes that she can do the same for others.

"I hope this gift helps give future graduate students the ability to focus on their studies."

— Sandra Christie

“My parents couldn’t have afforded to send me to college,” Christie said. “The monetary support from Case Western Reserve allowed me to refocus and realize a new set of dreams after the heartbreak of the accident. I hope this gift helps give future graduate students the ability to focus on their studies regardless of what other hurdles may exist in their lives.”