Alumna honoring mother with new scholarship for art, criminology majors

Alumna honoring mother with new scholarship for art, criminology majors

When Gina Gruhn reflects on her experiences at Northwest Missouri State University, she recalls fondly the ways it created friendships, opened doors to her career and laid the foundation for a professional network that continues.

"I knew I had made the perfect decision for me in finding a home away from home," Gina said of her decision to attend Northwest. "I had worldly aspirations but was very 'green' in life experiences. Northwest showed me the art of the possible. That decision continues still today, more than 32 years later."

Gina, a 1993 Northwest graduate who now resides in Morristown, New Jersey, and joined the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors last year, began her career in the real estate banking sector. She quickly moved to healthcare, specifically pharmacy benefits.

"I saw a clear career path and way to make a difference by providing medicine to those who need it, and as health care became increasingly more complex, focus on managing costs and creating access to care and affordability programs became a primary focus," she said.

While most of her career has been in pharmacy benefits - leading large teams serving all types of payors, focusing on client growth, retention and corporate strategy, and tackling complex issues - Gina also has worked on the international level in business insurance, leading change management initiatives and merger and acquisition activity to develop a go-to-market approach for North America.

That interest in international business and the interdependencies of global trade, Gina says, started at Northwest in Dr. Sharon Browning's international business course.

"It inspired me to think beyond my current geography," Gina said. "As I acquired my professional footing, it inspired me to continue to dream bigger dreams. The world is a big place and I want to discover all of it."

After completing a Master of Business Administration degree at Baker University, Gina relocated to New Jersey for a new role with a larger company in pharmacy benefits. She climbed the corporate ladder, assuming more responsibilities in executive roles.

That is when her hobby of international travel took shape. She and her husband, Randy Hurley, often jet for long weekends to Europe to discover a new city and experience different cultures.

"It has really opened my eyes to be exposed to new cultures, ways to approach a business problem and understanding traditions - again, an inspiration rooted in learning about international business, cultures and leveraging my curious nature."

With her appreciation for Northwest - and as a tribute to her mother who modeled dedicated service to others - she and Randy recently gifted $28,000 to the Northwest Foundation to support students pursuing higher education by establishing the Karen Gruhn Scholarship. The scholarship is available to first-generation students coming to Northwest as residents of Iowa or Missouri and who have declared a major in art or criminology.

"Northwest is in my blood and I'm so proud to be a Bearcat," Gina said.

It was Karen who instilled in Gina from an early age the importance of serving and assisting other people. Karen worked various office jobs around Des Moines, Iowa, before turning her focus to raising Gina and her older brother while helping to maintain the family farm in Osceola.

"Education was always important to her," Gina said of her mother, who died in 2023 at the age of 77. "As I grew up, she always pushed education and a strong work ethic, and she really encouraged me to pursue college. More importantly, she worked really hard to ensure that she supported me in school. She was my biggest cheerleader. She saw the value of a four-year degree."

Karen did not have a chance to pursue higher education, which is why she was determined to ensure her children attended college. She was industrious and self-taught in nearly everything she did. She enjoyed sewing, refinishing furniture and painting, which garnered several awards.

"She created beautiful artwork that many of our family members have in their homes today," Gina said, noting that interest as a reason the Karen Gruhn Scholarship is designated for art students. "I truly believe that the world needs more beautiful things and that is usually an area that is not so well-funded for scholarships, and I wanted to support that in her memory."

Gina's father, Mike Gruhn was a member of the fire department in Des Moines and managed a full-time farming operation, including crops and livestock. Karen turned her interest to public service, too, as the Gruhn children grew. She was among the first women to graduate from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and became a member of the Iowa Capitol Police, serving primary duty at the Iowa governor's mansion until retiring in 2000.

"I think what she saw was an opportunity," Gina said. "She was always a trailblazer. She saw a career, and she saw a way to make an impact and serve her community."

Because of her mother's influence, Gina has eagerly volunteered her time and support to organizations in her community, including the Newark Boys and Girls Club, for which she served as a board member, executive committee member and chair for development, along with other charitable causes that include her local parish. In addition to serving as a member of the Northwest Foundation Board and its Finance Committee, she serves on the Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business Advisory Board.

Gina hopes the Karen Gruhn Scholarship inspires its recipients to be active on the Northwest campus and seek volunteer opportunities.

"That's how my mom lived her life, so my desire is to support someone in an area that doesn't always get support and for them to be a good citizen once they graduate and to be a leader in their community," Gina said.

Through executive leadership roles - currently with Prime Therapeutics and previously with top Fortune companies such as Optum, multi-national company Coface and Express Scripts, she has enjoyed a successful career as a healthcare executive, leading large complex business relationships, including profit and loss ownerships as well as transformational work driving change so healthcare is accessible and affordable.

As she reflects now on her Northwest experience, Gina is grateful for the practical, profession-based opportunities the University offers students. Like her mother, Gina strives to be a champion for future students who are service-minded and need a little help to attain their education.

"I'm proud to serve my alma mater in the capacity of the Foundation Board and Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth Business School Advisory Board, with a chance to honor the legacy of my mother," Gina said. "Northwest represents all that she stood for - high-quality, affordable education and supporting students and the local communities in which they live. I encourage all alumni to consider gifting options of endowments, annual giving or establishing scholarships. It was really easy to set up and a great way to give back and honor my mother."

The Karen Gruhn Scholarship fund remains open and capable of receiving additional contributions at any time. For more information or to make a gift to support Northwest, contact the Northwest Foundation at 660.562.1248 or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/GiveOnline.