Futrell Speaks At Induction Ceremony
A Washington and Lee University professor and the director of a local community foundation were among those honored by W&L’s Alpha Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the national leadership honor society.
The society welcomed 53 new members during its spring induction ceremony on April 4, including two honorary members, Aliaa Bassiouny and Lori Turner.
In addition, ODK presented the James G. Leyburn Award to Tammy Dunn, retiring youth director for the city of Lexington.
Tamara Futrell, dean of student engagement and leadership at W&L, delivered the keynote address.
Futrell opened her address, titled “Leading Lives of Consequence: The Power of Purposeful Leadership,” by reflecting on the mission of W&L’s capital campaign, “Leading Lives of Consequence,” and how it impacts her work and her life. She explained that leadership takes many forms, but every leader lives a life of consequence that can be measured by their decisions, actions and words.
“Leadership is not defined by titles, positions or accolades, but by the way we inspire, influence and transform our surroundings,” Futrell said. “It is about recognizing that our reach extends beyond personal ambition, to shape the lives of others — our peers, our institution and our communities.”
Bassiouny, one of the two honorary initiates, is the Lawrence Term Professor of Finance at Washington and Lee University, where she also serves as an affiliate faculty member in the Middle East and South Asia program and faculty adviser to the Williams Investment Society.
Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Bassiouny holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration, both with a concentration in finance, from the American University in Cairo. She earned her Master of Research and a doctorate in management sciences with a finance specialization from ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
At W&L, she teaches courses in managerial finance, investments and multinational business finance, and emphasizes an experiential learning pedagogy in her classes. Her research focuses on trading and investments in international financial markets, with publications in leading finance journals. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Multinational Financial Management and advises MOBILIST, a United Kingdom government initiative to support funding in emerging markets.
Before joining W&L, Bassiouny was a finance faculty member and chair of the management department at AUC. She has consulted for real estate and venture capital funds and led executive education programs in corporate finance, valuation and modeling. She has also trained entrepreneurs, including through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program at AUC. Bassiouny is actively engaged in the local Lexington community. She designed and delivered lectures at W&L’s Alumni College and Kendal College and is currently a member of Lexington’s Ignorance Club.
Turner, the other honorary initiate, is the executive director at the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany. She also serves as the marketing director for CornerStone Bank and serves on many councils and local boards, including Rockbridge Recovery, Buena Vista Police Foundation, Lexington Police Foundation and Main Street Buena Vista. She was instrumental in building the region’s first-ever recovery housing, the Hope House, located in Buena Vista.
Turner’s accomplishments include being named the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources and a master’s in public administration. Turner lives in Buena Vista with her husband Reggie, who serves as the special enforcement officer for the Lexington Police Department.
A total of 35 undergraduate students, juniors and seniors were inducted into ODK, along with 16 law school students in their second and third year.
In addition, ODK awarded the James G. Leyburn Award and the Rupert Latture Award at the 2025 induction ceremony.
The Leyburn Award, given to a university or local organization that demonstrates outstanding community service, was presented to Tammy Dunn, the youth director for the city of Lexington.
Serving for 35 years, Dunn has made a tremendous positive impact on the community through her care for children and their families, according to a spokesperson. Going above and beyond her job description, Dunn has mentored and supported Washington and Lee student volunteers throughout the years. She was appointed to the Lexington School Board in 2019 and served as board chair in 2024. Dunn will retire at the end of this academic year.
The Rupert Latture Award recognizes a sophomore who has demonstrated outstanding leadership potential. This year, the award was presented to Morgan Shuckman. Originally from Boonsboro, Md., Shuckman has integrated herself into the Lexington community through service to various local organizations such as Campus Kitchen, Rockbridge Area Relief Association and the Blue Ridge Mile Clinic.
BASSIOUNY TURNER
DUNN
