Reflection from a Proud Alumna

“Did anyone open doors for you when you were beginning your career?”  A friend recently asked this question as we endeavored to help several new professionals in our community of South Haven.  Without a moment’s hesitation I reeled off more than a dozen names from the MSU College of Education and described the wide-ranging opportunities that resulted from my interactions with them.  “No one ever did that for me,” she remarked wistfully.

Later I reflected on these life-altering experiences and their continuing impact on my life.  I’ve always been immensely proud of the fine education I received from the College of Education, but that education was so much more than courses, credits, and degrees.  It was the quality of the people -- the faculty, staff, and the other students -- who made the difference.  Without it, I would have missed many unique opportunities, such as travel to other states, initially as a consultant for Right-to-Read in the mid-1970s and than later on my own merits.  Or association with groups such as Teacher Corps, Institute for Research on Teaching, and Individually Guided Education.  Wherever I went, the mention of my affiliation with MSU and the College of Education guaranteed a positive reception and provided me with an opening to prove myself. 

Other opportunities followed, including challenging professional positions and leadership roles in various organizations.  Teaching, the centerpiece of my professional life, was enriched by the master teachers I encountered at MSU, knowledgeable, passionate, and committed. Perhaps most exciting was the way my creativity and problem-solving evolved as writing for publication assumed a greater emphasis in my career.   And the COE influence is always there--Sherman, Duffy, Cicanciolo, Blackman, Cusick,

Fitzgerald, Romano, and others hover over my shoulders whenever I teach or begin that mysterious process of transforming my thinking into the printed word.  George Sherman still tugs at his ear and asks me, “Don’t you think that last sentence sounds a little bumpy?”

During the 1960s and 1970s when I was working on my master’s and Ph.D., the College of Education provided me with a supportive environment and superb mentoring.  I developed abilities and skills that have served me well in all aspects of my life. But it is the network of colleagues and friends from my MSU days that I remember and value the most, that continues to contribute to my richly satisfying professional life.

Editor’s Note: Elaine Stephens, the recipient of awards for excellence in teaching, leadership, and scholarly activities, earned a master’s degree in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1978 from MSU.  She is a former president of the college’s alumni association and served on the board of the MSU Alumni Association.  With over 35 years experience as a classroom teacher, reading consultant, professional development specialist, and teacher educator, she has also written numerous articles and co-authored several books.