PUC’s 2026 Graduating Class Honors Allison Fox

During Commencement on June 14, the 2026 graduates at Pacific Union College honored Allison Fox with a memorial plaque as their class gift. Fox, a PUC alum who served as an access services librarian and honors program director, sadly passed away in 2023. Senior Class President Jacqueline Messing presented their gift after her presidential speech, sharing how they wanted to select a gift that reflected the lasting impact one individual can have on a community.

“She possessed a rare gift for making people feel seen, valued, and encouraged. As a class, we wanted to recognize her not only for her contributions to this institution, but also the enduring legacy she leaves behind,” said Messing. “Professor Fox helped cultivate the values, relationships, and sense of community that continue to shape this campus today.”

Throughout the process of creating the plaque, the senior class cabinet was dedicated to ensuring it reflected Fox’s authenticity, even including her mother in the process. Fox’s mother played a significant role in bringing this gift to life, which, for Messing, led her to see the project from a new perspective and made the process much more meaningful. The senior class also collaborated with PUC Director of Alumni Relations and Stewardship DeAnna Cordis, Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Visual Arts Professor Cliff Rusch, and Systems Librarian and Department Chair Patrick Brenner to secure project approval and finalize the plaque.

With the graduating class motto being, “the deeper the roots, the stronger the calling,” they felt how much Fox reflected those words. As the graduates are grateful to everyone involved in their class gift, Messing reflects on how the entire process also embodied their motto. “A project like this required many people working together because Professor Fox’s roots ran deep throughout this community. The fact that so many individuals wanted to contribute speaks volumes about the impact she had on the lives of others,” shared Messing. “The love she shared continues to strengthen this community, even after her passing. Her influence did not end with her life–it continues through the people she impacted.

As a former honors student of Fox, Messing shared that Fox was one of the most influential individuals she met at PUC, and that she was blessed to have been taught by her. When Messing began her journey at PUC, she recalled Fox personally reaching out to her to join the honors program. Although she was hesitant, Fox took the time to meet with her, explain the program, and listen to all her concerns. “I honestly do not think I would have joined the honors program if she had not taken the time to have that conversation with me,” shared Messing. “Her influence on my life extended far beyond the classroom. She challenged students to think critically, speak their minds, practice original thinking, and unapologetically be themselves. I looked up to her not only as a scholar but also as a woman. She carried herself with such confidence and strength that you could not help but notice. Her knowledge was extensive, but what made her truly special was how she used that knowledge to empower others.”

Messing credits Fox with helping shape her PUC experience. “Through her mentorship, she taught me the importance of confidence, intellectual curiosity, and remaining true to yourself,” she said. “Those are lessons I will carry with me long after graduation.

For graduates who did not have Fox as a professor, she was “known affectionately as the world’s loudest librarian.” The description was also a reminder of how she was a beloved faculty member, educator, mentor, and friend who brought a remarkable presence to every room, showcasing her unmissable, vibrant personality and style, and a contagious, recognizable laughter. Messing shared that the decision to honor her was not about the individual relationships people had with Fox, but rather to recognize her overall impact on campus and the countless students whose lives she touched over the years. “More importantly, her kindness, compassion, and dedication to students made her unforgettable,” Messing added.

For the generations who come after, Messing wants students to know Fox loved her work, students, colleagues, family, friends, and people. “She carried strength in every fiber of her being,” Messing added. “She had an incredible ability to meet people where they were and help them grow. I think that is why so many students remember her so fondly. She was brilliant, but also deeply human. She made people feel valued, and that is a gift not everyone possesses.”

As the plaque will be placed in the library, the graduating class hopes it will serve as a lasting reminder of her impact on PUC and its students. “Her influence continues to be felt long after her passing. When people see this plaque, I hope they understand that she was deeply loved,” said Messing. “This gift is our class’s way of saying that her life mattered, her legacy matters, and she will not be forgotten.”

For Messing, Fox’s plaque is a symbol of remembrance, hope, and gratitude that honors her strength, legacy, and the extraordinary person she was, and serves as a reminder that this is not the end of the story.

While this plaque will never replace hearing Fox laugh in the library or her heels strutting down the hallways, Messing shared that it allows for a pause. “Nothing can replace her presence. However, it creates a space where people can stop, remember, and reflect on the impact she had on campus. Long after my class graduates, long after current students leave, the plaque will remain as a reminder of the life she lived and the countless people she influenced.”