SPOKANE – William “Bill” Fassett has had many roles throughout his career as a pharmacist: consultant, professor, department chair, dean, mentor, collaborator, and colleague. He has served in leadership positions on regional, state and national pharmacy organizations, and also served as a faculty advisor and mentor to many students. But it was one role in particular that stood out to colleagues this summer: advocate for scholarships to support student pharmacists.
Fassett championed the Marguerite Villars Spokane Pharmacy Association Scholarship Endowment at his retirement celebration held during the Washington State Pharmacy Association Northwest Pharmacy Convention in Coeur d’Alene on May 30.
As a way to honor Fassett’s legacy, guests at his retirement celebration participated in a live and silent auction, which raised over $22,000 to fully fund the Villars/SPA endowment in support of pharmacy student scholarships.
Fassett and his wife, Sharon, have been volunteers for the Spokane Pharmacy Association for many years.
“One of my goals as a Spokane Pharmacy Association board member was to get this endowment funded to honor Marguerite, who is a true pioneer in Spokane’s pharmacy community,” said Fassett.
The Villars/SPA endowment is Fassett’s favorite cause. It had been an annual scholarship that supported students in the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program. Now that the fund has been fully endowed, it will continue to generate scholarship support for students for generations to come.
Fassett, who retired from the WSU College of Pharmacy in May, was with the College for 15 years. He was also honored at an afternoon reception at the WSU Health Sciences campus in Spokane, Wash., on May 21.
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