Meaningful gift “changes the equation” for computer science graduate students

March 23, 2026

Emily and Jack Wallace at Washington and Lee University, where Jack supports his undergraduate alma mater.

When Jack Wallace ’78 was offered a graduate assistantship in computer science in 1975, it was an easy choice to accept. It was just as easy to give back to Carolina after his time with the department of computer science. Now, nearly five decades after completing his graduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, Jack has made a transformational gift to the department.

Jack says he was inspired by the innovative work of graduate students in computer science. He and his wife, Emily Peek Wallace, noted the dynamic research environment in Sitterson Hall during a campus visit.

“It was very encouraging to see how excited and passionate the students were about the work they were doing. It’s really leading edge,” Emily said.

Jack’s philanthropic commitment will create the John S. Wallace ’78 Graduate Student Fellowship Fund. The fund will include immediate support as well as a deferred commitment and will help graduate students in computer science by funding fellowships, travel and research experiences. Once fully endowed, the gift will fund a graduate student fellowship, enabling the department to recruit exceptional talent and offer unparalleled learning opportunities.

“Graduate students are the engine of our research, and the reality is that financial pressure pulls their attention away from the work that matters most,” said Jim Anderson, chair and Kenan Distinguished Professor of Computer Science. “Jack’s gift changes that equation. It gives our students the support to stay focused on their research — that’s where the breakthroughs happen.”

For Jack, the commitment marks a homecoming. As an undergraduate, Jack studied mathematics at Washington and Lee University before pursuing a master’s in computer science at Carolina from 1975 to 1978. It was a natural trajectory for a logical thinker with a curiosity about computers that had been growing since high school, when a friend showed him how to interact with early computer interface models and program a computer to play “Jingle Bells.”

Computer science was still an emerging field — Carolina’s own computer science program had been founded only 11 years prior. As a graduate teaching assistant, Jack was learning Programming Language One — a flexible, high-level programming language developed by IBM — days before he taught it to his students. He took courses under Kenan Distinguished Professor Stephen Pizer and Fred Brooks, founder of the department and developer of the IBM System/360. “It was the first time I really had to apply myself in schoolwork,” Jack said.

His time at Carolina was crucial in preparing him for his future career. In Jack’s first job after graduate school, at First Computer Services in Charlotte, he met Emily — they were introduced when she replaced him as the department’s information management system database administrator. They married, and in 1981, they joined SAS Institute, where they spent the rest of their careers and solidified their commitment to philanthropy.

The Wallaces credit SAS founders Jim Goodnight and John Sall with instilling in them a deep value for secondary education. “They are very big advocates of education, and they really are our role models,” Jack said.   

While the Wallaces share a passion for STEM and a remarkable legacy of giving to higher education, they are proud to have supported their institutions independently. At Clemson University, Emily’s alma mater, Emily established a directorship and scholarships for students in STEM and veterinary medicine in her name. A distinguished scholarship in Jack’s name is in place at Washington and Lee University.

Jack hopes his fund at Carolina will support the unique needs of computer science graduate students. The Wallaces enjoy seeing how the field has evolved and look to the future with optimism.

“I very much have faith in the department of computer science,” said Jack.

By Riley Wojcik ’24