USE Credit Union Establishes Scholarship Fund to Honor Long-Time SDSU Finance Professor

Tony Cherin served as a professor of finance from 1982-03

University and State Employees (USE) Credit Union recently established the Antony C. Cherin Memorial Scholarship as a tribute to the late Tony Cherin, who served as a finance professor at San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business. Cherin, who passed away on January 1, 2021, also served as a long-time board member at USE Credit Union. 

“Tony was a valued member of the USE Credit Union’s board of directors for more than 20 years, providing valuable insights into corporate strategy, finance and economics,” said Jim Harris, president/CEO of USE Credit Union. “With his passing, we wanted to sponsor this gift in his honor to continue his legacy of service and education.” 

Before earning his Ph.D. and becoming an academic, Cherin enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1963 and served in Vietnam as a riverboat commander. He joined the SDSU finance department in 1982, where he taught and researched until his retirement in 2003. While at SDSU, he became a known expert on banking and financial institutions and was widely respected throughout the university. 

“Professor Cherin was a dedicated and inspirational educator. He was an expert in the financial services industry and had a passion for passing his knowledge to his students,” said SDSU alumnae and staff member Bann Attiq. “His classes were challenging and fun at the same time and he is the reason I chose a career in banking and financial services. Dr. Cherin was without a doubt my favorite professor at SDSU — he will be missed.”

“Tony had a very close working relationship with his students and cared about them as individuals. For example, he went to the extra effort to learn Spanish before he studied in Mexico. He was also a bit ahead of his time, encouraging women and other underserved groups to excel,” said fellow finance professor Tom Warschauer. “His field was a rapidly changing area and he worked hard to ensure that his lectures and research were relevant. But mostly, I remember him as a helpful and thoughtful friend.”

The Antony C. Cherin Memorial Scholarships will be awarded annually to upper-division undergraduate and graduate students pursuing finance degrees at the Fowler College of Business.