Classroom cupid strikes during W. P. Carey business course

Kim and Tom Chambers were classmates for three months before falling for each other on their first date.

Sometimes, students leave the W. P. Carey School of Business with more than a top-rated education — they find a life partner, too. We call them W. P. Carey Cupids — couples who met at W. P. Carey and are now making lives together.

Forty-three years after meeting at W. P. Carey, Kim Chambers (BS Finance ’82) and George "Tom" Chambers (BS Accountancy ’81) reflect on balancing college relationships and building a life together.

We caught up with the Chambers, and Kim shared their answers:

Question: Tell us more about how you met.

Answer: We met in the spring of 1981 during our common business-oriented language (COBOL) class and started dating that April. Tom had his best academic year ever after meeting me! We spent most of our time in the library studying and enjoyed hiking, camping, tubing in the Salt River, and dancing.

Q: Where are you two today?

A: We married in September 1984. We live in Madison, Mississippi, and have lived in the state for over 40 years. We have two sons — Christian, who is married to Kendall, and Daniel, who is married to Shelton — and we were guardians of our niece, Kasey. Our beautiful twin granddaughters, Audrey and Zoe, turn three in April. Our family is very active and enjoys exercise, outdoor activities, travel, and church. Tom is the executive vice president, chief accounting officer, and CPA at the regional bank Trustmark, and he’s been with the company for 21 years. I’m a certified financial planner, first vice president, and wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, where I’ve worked for 23 years and have been a Les Mills Bodypump instructor for 15 years.

We start each day with God, grace, and gratitude, and Tom was instrumental in helping me learn more about Jesus Christ. I was baptized in 1984, and Tom rededicated his life to Christ at the same time. We love the Lord! One of Tom’s accomplishments includes biking from Seattle to Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the summer of 1988. We both backpacked around Europe after graduation.

Q: What’s unique about how you started your relationship at W. P. Carey?

A: We both attended the business school for several years before crossing paths. You never know when you’re going to fall for someone, and it happened to us the day we went to lunch at The Good Earth.

Q: What’s your advice for couples meeting at W. P. Carey and dating during college?

A: Be well-balanced in your faith, relationships, academics, and activities. Study time in the library helped us succeed in our classes, but building our relationships and finding time to have fun while pursuing common goals was also important.

Q: What was your favorite place to spend on campus together?

A: Memorial Union and the Old Main fountain.

Q: What’s your favorite memory you share?

A: Long weekends camping in the White Mountains and hiking the Grand Canyon are some of our favorite memories because we love the outdoors.

Q: What are you looking forward to?

A: We are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in September, and we look forward to continuing to travel and enjoy our grandchildren and growing family.

Q: When did you last visit campus, and what did you do?

A: The last time we visited ASU was September 2021, when we tried to find the classroom where we met. The school has changed, but it was great to be back and relive some of our memories.