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Inspiring Professors & Courses
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A synonym for “classic reference work”
Certainly some professor in one of my classes must have mentioned that using a thesaurus was a good thing. I missed that instruction and was introduced to this classic reference work (underline) after graduation. Imagine that.
Marilyn L. Hermanson Harrington
Life lessons from Thompson, Adams, Walter & Caponi
From English Professor William Thompson I gained a great appreciation for art masterpieces and classical music. Years later as a volunteer, I led programs in these areas for our daughters' elementary school. Chaplain Dr. J. Maxwell Adams (Old Testament professor) and Dr. O. T. Walter (Human Physiology/Anatomy professor) instilled in me a reverence for the spirit, body and mind.
Art Professor Anthony Caponi, with kindness and skill, showed me how to not only be confident in any work I may do, but also to have fun while doing it.
Marilyn L. Hermanson Harrington
A quotable quote
Professor Theodore Blegen, upon being asked if a passing course grade could be earned even if a student had a poor attendance record, replied, "The proof of the pudding will be your score on the final exam."
Marilyn L. Hermanson Harrington
A lingering question
During one of my philosophy classes, the professor came storming into the class saying something like this: "During the past 50 years there has been five world leaders influencing hundreds of millions of people and all five were non-Christian. Why?" Then he proceeded to name the five as Hitler, Mussolini, Tito, Stalin and Gandhi. Naturally a very lively discussion followed pointing out the many virtues of the Christian way of living. But the question "Why?" still lingers in my head 50 years later.
Daniel (Earl) Hazen
On the edge of my seat for American History
Dr. Warner had me sitting on the edge of my seat in American History class as he related the exciting events of our forefathers in establishing our constitution and values, which we hopefully are still striving to follow.
Kay Crampton Johnson
Doing more than I thought I could
I learned something about the elements of music structure, thanks to Prof. Jensen. I also learned about myself — that I could do more than I thought I could. I could make friends, talk about politics, speak up with a serious idea and be accepted.
Marlys Johnson Holman
The gift of learning
Professors Yahya Armajani, J. Huntley Dupre and R. Perry Andersen opened the world of scholarship and teaching to me. The search for knowledge requires reading, discussion and writing. The commitment to teaching for fifty years grew out of my home, Grandview and Macalester colleges. The commitment to learning and scholarship continues to this day.
Ed Andersen
Two deans and many friends
Dean Doty and Dean Peter Mousolite, the dean of students and my advisor, helped me through Macalester days with their assistance and guidance. I lived with Dean Mousolite’s family and helped with him and his wife Thelma’s five children in exchange for my room and board and a loving family who helped me through homesickness. Dean Doty, introduced me to Kathy Morrow ’57, who became my roommate and whose lifelong friendship, has blessed me, and which I treasure! I also treasure my friendships with Kathy Morrow, Nancy Slaughter, Ruth Ann DeBeer, Nancy Flannery and Lois Keeney. As well as many whose name I now do not remember — especially during holidays, so I would not be alone on campus or helped Kathy and I at Wally Hall and on campus.
Rosalind (Sally) Lorenzana
Santos Moldwin
What I learned from Dr. David White
I remember Dr. David White inspired us by exposing us to the Humanities, be it Picasso and his “Guernica” or Mozart or Bach or his own experiences as a Quaker conscientious objector during World War II or his experiences with various gurus in Japan, India, and Tibet… I am officially a conscientious objector, who during the Vietnam War era — when I finally decided I would be an American citizen — had to go to court to defend such a position! Thanks, David!
Rosalind (Sally) Lorenzana
Santos Moldwin
Beth Leinbach and Calista Olds
The inspiration and friendship of professors Beth Leinbach and Calista Olds led me to my graduate studies at Hartford Seminary (Hartford, Conn.), where I earned a master’s in religious education and gained exposure to Church social work. It was where I met my husband of almost 47 years, the Rev. William Moldwin, now a retired Lutheran Pastor (ELCA).
Rosalind (Sally) Lorenzana
Santos Moldwin
Developing a love for children’s literature
I feel good about my having a B.S. degree from Macalester in elementary education. I feel all my teachers/professors truly cared about me and helped me achieve my goals. Mrs. Kalberer, my advisor, was especially kind, understanding and encouraging. Mrs. Walling instilled in me a real love of children's literature — it remains strong today. Reading to our children, grandchildren and students has always been a highlight of our times together.
Nancy Knauff Waller
Adams and Warner
I have a special appreciation for J. Maxwell Adams and Donald Warner. I am sorry I missed "the Mitau experience."
Harris W. Waller
Professors who took an interest in us
I'm sure I'm not alone when I remember first the personal interest that Macalester professors showed in their students. I particularly owe a big debt to Dr. O.T. Walter, biology professor, for career guidance, and to David White, philosophy professor, for stretching my interests beyond my required science courses.
Roger W. Strand
Professors Mitau, Dodge, Palmer and Holmes
A teacher who had an impact on me was Theodore Mitau, though I was careful not to sit at one of the desks he pounded for emphasis. He required all his students to work in a political campaign. Another was Dorothy Dodge who explained that she gave me a ‘C’ in one course because I was an ‘A’ student getting by on ‘Bs.’ Her respect for my work was at stake and I assure you I worked hard to earn it after that. Georgiana Palmer taught Russian and arranged somehow to avoid cancellation of our very small classes. Kenneth Holmes read several drafts of every paper I wrote for him.
Corinne E. Johnson Nyquist
Fear of being caged in
Most of my memories revolve around education classes, student teaching and off-campus housing. Perhaps my favorite class was geography. The most terrifying class was science ed. class when the instructor locked the door and announced we could leave after holding each of the creatures in the long row of cages!
Geri (Geraldine) Amundson Felstul
Having “Español en mi vida”
Professor Robert Dasset (El Jefe) was one of my favorite teachers and friends. I had the opportunity to have a work contract in the Spanish Department for three years. I earned a minor in Spanish and had the great experience of going on the Mexican Caravan in 1956. Over the years, I have taught Spanish to children and have had the opportunity to travel to several Spanish-speaking countries. Although my skills are rusty now, I am so grateful for the inclusion of Español en mi vida. Gracias, Señor Dassett.
Lois Johnson Burnes
Learning Spanish with Prof. Cavazos
Professor Cavazos made Spanish fun. He gave us a love of the language and the Mexican culture and fascinated us with his discussions of word origins.
Mary Jane Hollingsworth Lee
My abiding interest in politics
Dr. Mitau and Dr. Dodge gave me an abiding interest in politics. Their lectures were fascinating and opened a new world for me.
Mary Jane Hollingsworth Lee
Dr. Thompson’s one paragraph
When I was a senior, Sharon Mueller gave me good advice. You will not have a rounded education if you do not take a course from Dr. Thompson in the English Department. She was right. We started each hour listening to recordings from Handel to Chinese music and then discussing Japanese woodblock prints or French literature. Always, he wanted to more than a paragraph on whatever we were studying. In that you should be able to say everything important, he explained.
Mary Jane Hollingsworth Lee
Faculty who opened my mind
Max Adams, Huntley Dupre, Pat Kane, Ian Morton, O.T. Walters, David White; faculty who opened my mind and heart to new ways of thinking.
JoAnne Juul Desmond
Thinking beyond what I had known
The influence of faculty such as Hildegard Johnson, Dean Dupre, Ted Mitau,
Phil Beedon, Forrest Young, Thomas Hill, Kenneth Holmes, Yahya Armajani, Dean Doty, Mary Gwen Owen. O. T. Walter, F. Earl Ward, Pat Kane, Max Adams and so many others who encouraged me to think beyond what I had known before Macalester.
We were lucky, for they were a presence in the classroom and at so many of our social events. I have had the great pleasure of knowing many of them as “friends” after my return to Mac as staff in 1964.
Sandy Hill
Playing tennis with Dr. Tom Hill and more
I started at Macalester during Summer Session in 1954. Won the Varsity Tennis letter and played on the same team with Jack Roach ’57, Bill Bell ’57 and Phil Wei ’57. I was a philosophy major and got to know Dr. Tom Hill who loved tennis and we played singles. Dr. Dave White taught a course on Plato and Junki Maruoka ’57 from Tokyo was in that class. He and I also took Greek from Dr. Georgina Palmer. We managed only one chapter of Xenophon’s Anabasis in one semester. Dr. Palmer’s classroom was on the third floor of Old Main. It was quite a struggle for her to climb those stairs. I remember feeling sorry for her.
Samuel Baez
Dr. Glock’s gum rule
Dr. Glock instilled in me a lifetime appreciation of geology that followed me through 3 years of working summers in Yellowstone and many camping trips all over the U. S. and Canada. He also cured me of chewing gum in class. I remember that at the beginning of each semester he gave the standard lecture about what he did and did not expect of his students and one item that he especially emphasized is that he did not want to look at chomping jaws. One day I forgot and was chewing away when he broke into his lecture and without naming names, he looked right at me and said, “Pretty girls don’t chew gum!”
Alice Presbey Heath Williamson
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