CMU's Amy McGinnis earns Alma College’s highest alumni honor

Amy McGinnis has received Alma College’s Hugh Brenneman Distinguished Alumni Award, the college’s highest honor, recognizing her professional achievements, leadership, and service. 

For her colleagues and students at Central Michigan University, that commitment is familiar. As a management faculty member, director of Student Engagement and Professional Development in the HUB, and director of the Queller Leadership Scholars Program, McGinnis helps students find opportunities and people who will support them as they take their next steps.

A 1992 Alma graduate, McGinnis was recognized as part of the college’s 2026 Tartan Awards during Homecoming in September.

“Dr. Amy McGinnis exemplifies the very best of what it means to be an Alma College alum,” said Alma College President Joe Odenwald. “Her career has been defined by a deep commitment to student success, leadership and service, and she has carried the values and relationships she developed at Alma into every aspect of her professional and community work. Amy’s dedication to creating opportunities for students reflects the transformative impact of an Alma education. We are proud to recognize her achievements and her enduring commitment to Alma.”

McGinnis knows how much it matters to have someone in your corner. As a first-generation student at Alma, she was still learning how college worked. Scholarships and financial aid made attending possible. Friends, faculty, and advisors helped her find her way once she arrived.

“I can remember being in college and feeling like I wasn’t in the know about things,” McGinnis said in an earlier interview. “And it wasn’t until later in life that I attributed it to being first-gen.”

She remembers the people who helped her move forward when she made mistakes or wasn’t sure what came next. Those experiences continue to shape how she works with students at CMU. Through the HUB, McGinnis and her colleagues help business students explore their interests, connect with student organizations, and build relationships with peers and professionals. Sometimes that means finding a leadership opportunity. Sometimes it starts with a conversation about where to begin.

“We might not be experts in all things, but we will get you connected to the right people on campus,” McGinnis said.

Her work with the Queller Leadership Scholars Program brings that support to first-generation business students through scholarships, mentorship, professional development, and connections with business professionals. In helping develop the program, McGinnis drew on both her own experience and research on what helps first-generation students succeed. The goal is to give students room to explore, ask questions, and try something unfamiliar—with support along the way.

“I’ve worked with Amy for more than five years, and I see firsthand how much she cares about our students and her colleagues,” said College of Business Dean Chris Moberg. “She’s making a difference in people’s lives every day, so it’s no surprise to me that she’s received this well-deserved recognition. It reflects the impact she has here in the College of Business and in the community around her.”

McGinnis’s work at CMU has also supported the people who make those student experiences possible. Before joining the management faculty, she worked in human resources and organizational development, helping launch service and supervisor training initiatives. She now brings that experience to her teaching and student development work.

“I love being in the classroom with students, and I learn so much from them along the way,” McGinnis said.

Her commitment extends beyond CMU. She has stayed connected with Alma through mentoring, workshops, student programming, and alumni panels. Her community service includes the West Midland Family Center Board of Trustees and the Business Professionals of America regional competition. Through human resources organizations, she also helps connect students with professional development opportunities across Michigan.

The Alma recognition celebrates those contributions and the relationships that have shaped them. For the students McGinnis works with today, her encouragement starts with a simple invitation.

“One of our mottos is say yes to opportunities,” she said. “You’re going to figure out if you like this or if you don’t like this. You’re going to learn from that experience.”