Allie’s been dreaming of becoming a social worker since 7th grade. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother Peg (Prosser) Black, who graduated from Union in ’71 and has been a social worker ever since. Allie started as a double major in Sociology and Psychology but later decided to add Substance Abuse Counseling so she would be better prepared to serve clients with chemical dependencies.
“I didn’t have to take 22 credit hours,” she says, “but I’m a 3.8 GPA student, I have people around me to motivate me, and I was like, I can do this.”
Allie’s commitment to service, community engagement, and academics aligns with Union’s core values and runs deep in her family. Not only did her mother and grandmother attend Union, but her father Kenton Wiliams ’98, uncle Philip Black ’92, and grandfather Ed Black ’64 all graduated from Union, as well.
[PHOTO: Left to right — Frances, Peg, and Allie]
In fact, after first coming to Union in 1960, Ed Black stayed for 40 years until his untimely death in 2000. He not only earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and honorary doctorate from Union, but he also served in a variety of well-respected faculty positions. Alumni remember Ed for his engaged role on campus or know the Edward H. Black Technology Center named after him.
Ed passed before Allie’s birth, but since being in Barbourville, Allie has gotten to know him in a new way. Customers at the local restaurant she used to work at would often realize they knew her grandpa and tell her, “Oh my gosh, I loved him,” and, “He was such an inspiration to me!” One day a customer even brought Allie a photo of himself with Ed when they were in their 20s, and he shared memories from 60 years ago.
When Allie takes alumni on tours of campus, the stories pour in then, too. “It’s always so sweet to hear that people still remember him,” she says.
Realizing the incredible impact Union College has had on her and her family, Allie wants to be a catalyst in spreading this magic to others. In her various roles on campus, she helps to plan and carry out events, leads tours, and supports freshmen in their transition to college. When she notices a student struggling to adjust, she encourages them to get involved on campus.
