FEATURE

Oct. 16, 2020 Campus Voices | Halloween | News | Politics | Satire | Eating Disorder | Sports AFTER 40 YEARS, COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSOR SAYS GOODBYE TO MSU

dent in the field of mathematics who was dedicated to her studies. In 1976, her dedication and continuous desire to learn earned her a graduate teaching assistant position for the department of mathematics. Although she had always been passionate about teaching, she never thought that the university where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree would be her forever home. After spending 40 years of teaching over 20 courses, traveling across the world to conferences with scholarly peers and formulating research projects that renewed her knowledge, Dr. Ranette Halverson, professor of computer science, is closing this chapter in her life to enjoy a fruitful life outside of her career.

“This was my dream job,” Halverson said. “Before setting my heart on teaching, I worked in the industry for three years, and I didn’t like it; I didn’t like working an eight-to-five and just sitting at a desk all day. My passion is teaching; this is where I belong.”

Halverson was the pioneer for the computer science program at MSU Texas. In 1980, she spent her first semester teaching mathematics and from that point forward she never looked back on helping establish a fairly new and innovative program.

“After I came back to MSU, I had to retrain myself, because I did not have a degree in computer science,” Halverson said. “I went back to school while I was teaching, and I got my PhD in computer science. I really loved retraining and learning the computing programs.”

Her eagerness to absorb new skills followed her throughout her 40-year career, creating opportunities for growth. Those opportunities allowed her to publish more than 30 research papers and instruct 24 courses on top of being the department chair for 25 years. Halverson said she has enjoyed expanding on all the avenues of higher education.

“I’ve had so many experiences that I would’ve never had without higher education,” Halverson said.

Outside of expanding on her knowledge, Halverson said she will always treasure the unique connection she has shared with her students.

“I love the students,” Halverson said. “We have had so many different students from all over the world, of all abilities and interesting backgrounds. Some of the students have become lifelong friends, because I was pretty young when I started working. It’s been a joy to see all of my students’ successes, and it’s exciting knowing that I was a part of their education, their success and their future.”

Halverson said she hopes to leave a legacy that is attached to her dedication to improving herself and her students.

“I hope that students will look back and say that I had some kind of an impact,” Halverson said. “I feel in my heart that I always tried to put our students first. I like to think that my decisions were based on what’s best for our students. Without our students, we don’t have a job, we don’t have a purpose.”

Although she has retired from the lectern, Halverson said she isn’t done showing her face on campus because MSU holds a special place in her and her family’s heart.

“My boys pretty much grew up on campus, and a lot of my family members have attended MSU, so it’s a place that’s dear to us,” Halverson said. “I won’t be on campus every day, but I will be on campus a lot. I’m going to be around, even though I’m retired.”

After spending 40 years on a college campus, Halverson said she is ready to enjoy life with her family and travel freely with her husband. She has seven grandchildren, and she’s excited to spend more time with them. Though her new life is going to take some getting used to, Halverson is thrilled to embark on this new journey.

“It was time,” Halverson said. “Forty is a nice round number, and as it turns out, I’m really glad I retired. It’s time for me to move on and let the younger people come on and pick up

HALVERSON’S MSU CAREER

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Professor of computer science Ranette Halverson outside Bolin Science Hall, Oct. 14.

KHIRSTIA SHEFFIELD FEATURE EDITOR

In 1973, she was a wide-eyed stu-

the new way of doing things.”

40

40 years ago, she began her MSU teaching career, teaching mathematics in her first semester.

25 24

Over her 40-year tenure, she taught 24 courses including courses such as computer science.

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Oct. 16, 2020 Campus Voices | Halloween | News | Politics | Satire | Eating Disorder | Sports 5 LIVING IN OUR SKIN kicks off 21-day Racial Equity Challenge

awareness to police brutality, voting, intersec- able discussing issues [at the previous institutionality and anti-racism. The hope was to cre- tion],” Dean said. ate a safe space to learn about or embrace being Most students come from the same backa student or person of color. ground, Dean explained, and their first interThe BSU’s statement addressing the event action with others from different backgrounds said, “While we recognize the intersectional- is in college. This means that they don’t typiity of being Black--we also recognize that we cally have the vocabulary or communication should be educated on what it means to be anti- skills to accurately express what their views racist.” may be. The goal of the 21-Day Challenge To do this, faculty, staff and students are in- is to provide them with the knowledge and vited to participate in the 21-Day Racial Equity skills necessary to contribute to discussions. Challenge, led by Cammie Dean, Director of “They may be committed to the idea of equity Mosaic Cross-Cultural Center. Dean explained or believe that inclusion matters, but having that for 21 days, those who signed up for the the skills is a different thing,” Dean said. challenge will be given challenges to learn Dean also commented that taking the time something, do something or find a new way to to be comfortable having these discussions will connect. help change the future. “The idea is to take one item a day that “You guys are going to go out into the world helps them be more knowledgeable and more and hire people, fire people and make decisions prepared to take action where racial equity is about policies in whatever organization or concerned,” Dean said. whatever career you’re in,” Dean said. “If you PHOTO BY NIKO MCWILLIAMS | THE WICHITAN While MSU Texas has not done a challenge can do that effectively, no matter who you’re PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN Brittany Roberts, singer and sophomore like this before, Dean has implemented a simi- working with, then we’re one step closer as a Jamilah Kangudja, Black Student Union sociology major, sings at the Living in lar challenge at her previous institution. She society to racial equity.” president and graduate student, speaks at Our Skin event, Oct. 14. is hopeful the results at MSU from the 21-day You can sign up for the 21 Day Challenge the Living in Our Skin event, Oct. 14.challenge are similar to what she’s seen before. through a form on Mustangs Link or through EMILY BEAMAN “Over time, people became more comfort- the Postmasters sent out on Oct. 13. Out in the Plaza was free food and REPORTER Wednesday, Oct. 14, the Black Student Union held a racial awareness event called “Living in Our snow cones accompanied by live performances by students of color. “I decided to come because I care Skin”. The official statement released by about Black Lives Matter and wanted the Black Student Union about the event to see what MSU was doing to promote says that it is their, “official Call to Ac- diversity and inclusion,” Adrienne Hill, tion following the events that have erupt- sociology senior, said.ed across the nation and world regarding Black Lives.” Jamilah Kangudja, President of the Symia Shelton, education freshman, said she felt there is more activism, acBSU, said one of the main goals was to tivities and clubs at MSU than were availcreate discussions between students to able to her in high school. She believed deepen their knowledge on racial injus- the event helps students to connect. tice and hear all sides. “It helps us realize we aren’t alone,” “It allows us to know who we are and experience new things,” Kangudja said. “Learning to be uncomfortable with othShelton said. “W e’re all feeling the same things, and we all need to come together er people’s differences, some things you and help each other figure it out.” can agree to disagree on.” Amanin Augustine, nursing fresh-

According to Kangudja, these discus- man, said she came out because it was sions are important to draw awareness of important to her to see awareness being racial issues in our world. “If you’re comfortable, that’s bad,” Kangudja said. “You should get comfortspread on campus. “It’s not enough to just be not racist,” able with being uncomfortable.” Inside the Clark Student Center were tables to help educate students and bring PHOTO BY NIKO MCWILLIAMS | THE WICHITAN Black Student Union officers working the Living in Our Skin event, Oct. 14. Augustine said. “There should also be anti-racists. It’s not enough to just say we matter; mattering is the bare minimum.”