Congratulations to Reich College of Education (RCOE) faculty members who retired at the end of the 2018 spring semester:
- Dr. Barbara Bonham
- Dr. Tom Gill
- Dr. Rose Matuszny
- Dr. Darrell Morris
- Dr. Carol Truett
- Dr. Margaret Werts
Pictured (L to R): Dr. Rose Matuszny, Dr. Margaret Werts, Dr. Carol Truett and Dr. Barbara Bonham at the RCOE Spring 2018 Commencement Ceremony.
Bonham is retiring from the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies after 30 years at Appalachian. She has also been granted the rank of professor emerita. Bonham shared that she believes Appalachian is located in one of the country’s most beautiful places and that she feels “fortunate to have been a part of the faculty in RCOE.”
Gill has served as an associate professor in the Department of Reading Education and Special Education for the past nine years. He shared that while he is looking forward to retirement, he plans to continue advocating for all students to be “successfully taught what they need to know to achieve economic/political autonomy.”
Matuszny is retiring after 15 years with the Department of Reading Education and Special Education where she served as an associate professor. She recalled that, as a child, she dreamed of going to college but never expected to go beyond a four-year degree. Matuszny learned that the dream is possible if you are willing to endure a few bumps and bruises along the way. She is looking forward to the next chapter now that she has “graduated from work!”
Morris, a professor in the Department of Reading Education and Special Education and director of the Anderson Reading Clinic, is retiring after 29 years at Appalachian. He has also been granted the rank of professor emeritus. Morris plans to stay in Boone and looks forward to watching the RCOE and the university continue to grow as a local and global center of learning and service.
Truett is a professor of library science in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. She spent 26 years at Appalachian.
Werts, a professor in the Department of Reading Education and Special Education, is retiring after 20 years with Appalachian. She has also been granted the rank of professor emerita.
These retirees reflected on how the university has changed, shared what they are looking forward to in retirement, offered advice to faculty just beginning their careers, and more.
How has Appalachian changed during your time here?
Dr. Barbara Bonham
The town of Boone has grown up around an ever-expanding Appalachian. The biggest change was our move from Edwin Duncan Hall to the new College of Education. -Bonham (pictured)
From my perspective as a reading education professor, the biggest change was the move of the College of Education to its new building; with the most significant "non-change" being the retention of the focus and quality of the Reading Clinic – one of the very last (and arguably the best) university reading clinics in the nation. -Gill
There have been many changes here since I began my journey. New buildings, improvements and additions to the surrounding campus, many staff and faculty changes, community changes and a greater focus on research and diversity. -Matuszny
Appalachian has increased in size about 50%. The students are still good and the faculty is probably better than when I started teaching here. -Morris
Appalachian has grown but one thing that has not changed is the quality of the students. Our students have a wonderful mix of eager anticipation for their chosen careers and a push for more knowledge. They are ready to broaden their horizons. -Werts
What about retirement are you most looking forward to?
Dr. Rose Matuszny
Travel, spending more time with family and friends, and gardening. -Bonham
More time to think and write about the systematic denial by race and class of the instruction and experiences in our public schools that would readily allow all to become fully literate – while I become more serious about fishing. -Gill
I look forward to sleep!!... and to spending more time with family and old friends, meeting new friends, reigniting old passions (e.g., sewing, stained glass work, watercolor painting, hiking, photography, travel, and creative writing), time to volunteer, and time to take better care of my health. -Matuszny (pictured)
More time to read outside of my profession; more time to exercise, fish, and possibly to become a little more politically active. -Morris
Time to create. Time to read. Time to volunteer. Time to be with family. -Werts
What will you miss about Appalachian?
Dr. Darrell Morris
I will miss most of all the STUDENTS! -Bonham
The students and my good colleagues. -Gill
While I have enjoyed many of the people I have worked with since I began my journey as a professor here at Appalachian, and I hope to maintain contact with all these friends, I will miss the students most of all. I have enjoyed meeting students from many places, backgrounds, and varying levels of creativity, passion for teaching, and giftedness. Students are the reason I decided on my career in education; they ARE the future! -Matuszny
My colleagues, my students, and the wonderful staff I have had a chance to work with. -Morris (pictured)
I will miss teaching those who are ready to make a difference in their students' lives. I will miss academic and scholarly discussions with colleagues. I will miss interacting with faculty who are committed to education of our students and our students' students. -Werts
What advice can you offer to faculty just beginning their careers?
Dr. Margaret Werts
Pace yourself, enjoy the journey, reach out and network with faculty in other programs, and make time for yourself and your family. -Bonham
Focus your education professorial life on those aspects that truly interest you, always looking for methodological answers in what it is that children's minds do and for ways in which your knowledge can positively affect what happens at 10:47 every morning in the school life of all children. -Gill
(1) Get to know the campus and the people here; (2) Promise yourself you will take at least one longer break each year to focus on research and enjoy it; (3) Design your course syllabi so that you don't redo everything every semester, but instead reflect on students' input, your own thoughts, and new research related to your course, then improve as needed; and, know that (4) You never really catch up in our line of work, so make time to spend with family and friends...it is good for your soul and revives you to do your best work each day. -Matuszny
Try to obtain, early in your career, a balance between your teaching and scholarship; both are important and they are reciprocally related. -Morris
Teach with rigor because our students deserve it. Teach effectively and teach efficiently. Use your research time to remain current in the field. Recognize biases. Enjoy. -Werts (pictured)
Congratulations to all and enjoy the next chapter!
Matuzny, Werts, Truett and Bonham at Spring 2018 Commencement
