Cal State LA’s College of Business and Economics is proud to announce the creation of an endowed scholarship in memory of Information Systems Professor Knox Bradford Wasley.
The Knox Bradford Wasley Memorial Scholarship Endowment in Information Systems was created through the generous contributions of Knox’s wife Terri O’Brien, his brother James Wasley, and sister-in-law Pam Schermer. Together, these donors contributed $25,000 to establish the endowment which will honor Professor Wasley in perpetuity.
The Knox Bradford Wasley Memorial Scholarship Endowment in Information Systems will be awarded first in the 2025-2026 academic year to an incoming sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student majoring in Information Systems, with preference for a student-athlete. Recipients must demonstrate financial need and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Professor Knox Wasley grew up excelling as a quarterback on the football field and basketball player on the court, which led him to enroll as a student-athlete at Claremont Men’s College (now Claremont McKenna College). After a skiing accident forced him to withdraw from school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with distinction in both Vietnam and Germany. Returning from military service, Professor Wasley completed his B.S. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and stayed to earn his MBA and CPA in 1977. For the next ten years, he worked as an auditor, relocated to Los Angeles, and obtained a second master’s degree in Information Systems from Claremont Graduate School. After finding his true passion for teaching, Professor Wasley spent the next 40 years at Cal State LA enriching and uplifting students and colleagues every minute he spent on campus.
The impression Professor Wasley left on his colleagues and students is a true testament to his character, with Professor Joseph Otto stating, “Knox was larger than life - both as a great man and as a very talented teacher. I heard from many students of his effectiveness in teaching and as a mentor for their blossoming careers.” Professor Partow-Navid stated, “Knox was a great teacher, a teacher’s-teacher” and Professor Nanda Ganesan, who joined Cal State LA three years after Professor Wasley, shared, “Knox was a friend, a colleague who I miss sharing a laugh or quick chat over the copy machine and consulting with on his honest, unbiased feedback and advice.” Professor Knox Wasley was an outstanding Information Systems professor loved by his students and respected by his peers. His memory lives on today in the offices, among faculty, in the copy machine room, and in the classrooms of Information Systems. We are delighted and honored to have the Knox Bradford Wasley Memorial Scholarship Endowment in Information Systems at the College of Business and Economics, where we will continue to recognize achievements and grant opportunities to the next generation of thinkers.
“Knox always loved being a teacher. He found such joy in sharing his knowledge and nurturing the minds of his students. He particularly appreciated hearing from former students, learning about their path in life, and how his teaching and mentorship impacted their careers and contributed to their success.”
— Terri O’Brien Wasley, widow.
Establishing this scholarship reflects his family’s desire to carry on the legacy of Professor Knox Wasley, and they welcome others to make contributions in his memory. To make a gift, visit the College of Business and Economics’ giving page, select your donation amount, and type “Knox Wasley Scholarship” in the “Designation” field. You can also mail a check payable to “Cal State LA Foundation” to Cal State LA, Attn: Susana Moreno, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032, and write “Knox Wasley Scholarship” in the memo line.