Brandon Inabinet '04
Sometimes life comes full circle, and that is certainly true for Dr. Brandon Inabinet '04. He chose to attend Furman in part because of its size—small academic programs, a close-knit community, and a place to be at home and not get lost in the crowd. Now, as Professor of Communication Studies and Chair of Furman's Faculty Council, he is able to provide the same kind of opportunities for current students to learn and grow in an environment where they will be known and seen.
His full-circle moment, however, goes beyond his service on the faculty. As a student, Brandon saw the impact of philanthropy all around him, but especially in his own experience. After his freshman year, he found himself in need of additional financial aid in order to stay at Furman. He worried he would lose not only the opportunity to continue his academic pursuits, but also the social connections and relationships with faculty that had already begun to impact him. Fortunately, he was awarded the Trude and Max Heller Scholarship, allowing him to continue his education at Furman. Through his involvement in the Collegiate Educational Service Corps, now Heller Service Corps, Brandon was afforded opportunities to meet the benefactors of his scholarship and to learn their story of perseverance, success against all odds, and, of course, impactful philanthropy.
Inspired by examples like the Hellers and Mary Judson, who funded a library at the Greenville Women's College, Dr. Inabinet now also views philanthropy as an important part of his participation in the Furman community. He admits that as a young alumnus, he viewed giving to Furman as more of an obligation than an opportunity. However, it now brings him joy to choose how to support current students with his annual gifts in ways that are important to him and which he knows will make an impact. He has even committed to help secure Furman's future through a philanthropic estate gift.
Dr. Inabinet believes that philanthropy provides routes of access to a Furman education for many students, not unlike himself, who may not otherwise be able to pursue it. In addition, he understands that support through gifts of time, talent, and service are just as valuable. He sees the impact of these gifts through his work with students and knows that both financial gifts and gifts of service help ensure that Furman continues to be successful in its mission to "support lifelong learners through rigorous inquiry, transformative experiences, and deep reflection to lead lives of meaning and consequence" in the next generation any beyond.
Life comes full circle, indeed. What began as joy in benefiting from philanthropy as a Furman student has transformed into joy for giving in ways that create and transform the Furman experience for current students. With examples like Dr. Inabinet, perhaps the circle will come around again as the students impacted by philanthropy today will one day move on in the world and find their own ways to joyfully support what has made their Furman experience so meaningful.
