Alumni Perspectives

Dean David Harris, right, converses with a group of students.

What is the greatest life lesson you took away from your professors at Ripon College?

A liberal arts and sciences education exposes students to new perspectives, worldviews and a personal understanding of who we are and who we can become. A single sentiment can expand our outlook, summarize for us how we want to carry ourselves through life and keep us going in the right direction. Here, alumni share some of those great words of wisdom learned from Ripon College faculty and staff.

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Many years ago (1980), I was a budding freshman, new on campus and new to Wisconsin. It was the first big trip I ever made in my life, and Ripon was the chance I took to grow out of my Connecticut roots.

One of the first things they did with the freshman class was to split the men from the women so they could meet with the respective deans.

I got to meet with David Harris, an older gentleman with wire-frame glasses who was very well-spoken and was a few years away from retirement. In my head I was saying, “What could this old man tell an 18-year-old that will be useful?” I thought it was going to be a boring talk about the College or how to behave in class. Boy, was I wrong.

Dean Harris instantly captured our attention by saying one phrase that has stuck with me for all these years: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

We’ve all heard it before and have passed it off as a useless aphorism. Dean Harris made it genuinely come alive in front of 100+ boys. He told us, “Life is hard and that anything important will take determination, resilience and elbow grease.”

He said, “The next four years here at Ripon can be happy and productive ones if you work hard — college is not an amusement park ride like most people think.”

That 15-minute speech changed my life. I graduated from Ripon in 1984, went to work for a number of great companies over 20 years, and now run my own highperformance coaching practice. I say those same words to every one of my clients when I onboard them.

In addition, my son, Chris, just graduated from Ripon this past year, and my other son, Andrew, is actively applying!

Thank you, Dean Harris. You were a powerful dean of men, and a “Marcus Aurelius” who truly changed my life.

Rich Gee ’84, Oxford, Connecticut

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Thanking Dr. (Paul) Aldus (English), Bill Tyree (philosophy), Robert “Spud” Hannaford (philosophy) and Sidney Goodrich (classics). Dr. Goodrich said that my name, Phyllis, meant something like “a young tree whose branches will bend greatly but are very hard to break.” What a thought (!) as I have gone through some hazardous life events. Bill Tyree taught me and my husband, Richard Kraft ’58, that anyone who leads in any capacity, a teacher, parent, politician, office manager, friend, takes “hostages to fortune” — the hostages being those whom he or she leads. Finally, some words I try to keep in mind are: “What is your tolerance for ambiguity?” They tend to keep one humble.

Phyllis Schaffer Kraft ’58, San Antonio, Texas

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Jack Christ makes a point during a lesson.

Dr. Jack Christ (leadership studies) taught me, “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.” This has stuck with me through the years and helped me in my personal and professional relationships.

Daniel Mikesell ’14, Kanagawa, Japan

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Hands down, Dr. William Tyree. “Sometimes you have to put aside the books and tend to the education.”

Favorite words: Life is a participatory sport.

You do not stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old if you stop laughing!

Henry Holzkamper ’62, Bonita Springs, Florida

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I almost weekly recall a quote from Shakespeare that frequently came up in our Alpha Phi Omega (the Boy Scout fraternity) meetings: “To thine own self be true, for then it surely follows as night the day, Thou cans’t not be false to any man.”

J. Peter Jensen ’58, Belmont, California

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When I was midway through my chem/ bio double major at Ripon, I had misgivings about spending so much time studying science and not enough time studying other subjects. I had always loved music, art and literature and was tempted to take courses outside of Farr Hall, but I feared that if I did that it would detract from my science education.

I mentioned that concern to Dr. Richard Scamehorn (chemistry), and he stopped whatever he was doing and gave me some well-thought-out and sound advice. He suggested that it might improve my scientific work if I have a continued interest in the humanities, adding that the two complement each other. He recommended a book that I believe was called The Two Sciences, about just this issue. I think he grabbed the book from the shelf in his office and handed it over. ...

Ripon was a place where our professors were accessible and so helpful to us as students for lessons learned not just in lecture but also in the interactive projects we worked on and in our campus life.

Dorothy Jaeger Jayne ’73, Cleveland, Wisconsin

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As a biology major with med school aspirations, my curriculum was weighted heavily with science and math courses. If Ripon’s liberal arts requirements hadn’t forced me to also include a smattering of history, foreign language, English and philosophy, I would not consider myself an educated person.

Such courses exposed me to what I can describe only as an intellectual journey into a vast world of knowledge of which I had no awareness. As an example, I was enthralled as a freshman by the introduction to such a world in Dr. John Glaser’s (history) ICHME class — Introduction to the Culture and History of Modern Europe.

Other such classes followed, many offering me an opportunity to discuss a variety of topics in small classes in an informal setting. Such a class was the History of Religion, taught by Dr. William Tyree, in which we were exposed to religious philosophies around the world and encouraged to form our own personal credo while being tolerant of those of others.

My greatest life lesson was becoming aware of all that the world has to offer and keeping my mind and heart open to the fulfillment that knowledge brings. Ripon provided me the tools for achieving that, and I will always be grateful.

Donna Haubrich Reichle ’59, Fripp Island, South Carolina

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It wasn’t so much what Ripon professors said as it was the example that they set, each in his own unique way, but all pointing to a respect for intellectual life. One of my favorite memories is of Dr. John Glaser of the history department (who wrote his dissertation at Harvard on Gladstone) frequently reading the Times of London in Lane Library.

Susan Vonder Heide ’74, Chicago, Illinois

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The statement that has remained with me is from a speech by President Fred O. Pinkham. He told us that at Ripon, we are not teaching you what to think, but HOW to think.

Lynn Siebel Sundelius ’63, Kalispell, Montana

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I learned that the professors cared about each of the students personally and were willing to help get you into grad school if you wanted to go. I learned that being one of two female chemistry majors in my class made no difference to the male professors or to guys in our class, and that I was equally qualified to get a good job after graduation. I learned that as a woman, I was equal and deserved to be treated as an equal to the men.

Many thanks to Dr. Jack Powers, my chemistry professor who still corresponds with me at Christmas 53 years later. Last year he sent a note that said, “You may never know how much it means to me to hear at Christmas from former Ripon students, and this is especially true of the select group of women that joined us in the chemistry department and went on to being successful in that field. That was a time when relatively few females could be interested in the physical sciences even though the job opportunities were more encouraging in chemistry or physics than in so many other disciplines. And Carol, I include you high on that list. Jack.”

Carol Rummel Dingman ’64, Dallas, Texas

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The greatest life lesson I was taught by a Ripon professor may not have been an intentional lesson, but it is one of the most powerful truths I know. When I arrived at Ripon, I already knew I wanted to be a biology major. With Ripon being a liberal arts institution, I was required to study in other areas and I found that economics was of particular interest to me.

Halfway through my sophomore second semester and second class in economics, I told my professor, Paul Schoofs, that I wanted to earn a degree in economics. I liked it that much. He asked if I had decided on a major yet, and I told him I was majoring in biology. “You already have a major. I highly advise that you reconsider your desire to be an economics major, as well. Doing both at this point in your college career could be a bad mistake.”

The challenge was made. The challenge was taken. I received a bachelor’s degree in each discipline two years later. It took some summer school to get it done, but done is what it was going to be. The lesson was about the power of a challenge and the will to see it through. Although I have nothing much to do with either biology or economics today, I experience no shortage of challenges. It was a lesson well-learned at Ripon, and applied ever since.

Bake Shaffer ’83, Tucson, Arizona

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Dr. (Edwin) Webster (history) taught me that learning was exciting and important to my understanding of the world. The study with him of Ancient Near East History, Greece, Rome and Byzantia gave a lens to look at today’s world and politics.

A saying I taught my children and try to live by from “Auntie Mame”: “Life is a banquet, and most poor (souls) are starving to death.”

Deborah Johnson Van Slyke ’60, Scottsdale, Arizona

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Ripon taught me to think critically and live ethically — as my parents did. The key words I tell people I work with is that we need to “take care of our people so they can take care of our customers.”

In most businesses, it is always important to demonstrate that the people in the company are its most valuable asset and all are key to the success of the company.

Harry Quinn ’77, Bel Air, Maryland

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I’d say that I learned a couple of great life lessons at Ripon. First of all was simply learning how to learn. I’ve said for a while now that “If you don’t want to learn, IT is not the right field for you.” My Ripon experience taught me how to be a selfdirected learner, which has helped me immensely over the last 20 years as my career in IT has progressed.

The second lesson was something that Dr. Ted Jones, professor of German, taught me.

“College is to Learn How to Learn!”

While a student, it was very easy for me to get wrapped up in thinking I didn’t know enough stuff while I was in school. How can I possibly learn all that I need to do a good job after I graduate? But once I became aware of the real reason for college, it gave me more confidence in being able to navigate my own future. I think it would be VERY helpful to students currently in college to learn that key purpose of college.

Nicholas P. “Chip” Retson ’69, Aiken, South Carolina

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I was initially an indifferent student who really didn’t take the time to prepare for class. One day, Dr. (Ted) Jones had had enough of my indifference and laid it out for me: “Look, I’m not here to hold your hand. If you’re not going to bother to prepare, why don’t you just not come? Don’t waste my time.” Yes, it was hard to hear, but it opened up my eyes to what I needed to do, both in German class and in life. I, and only I, was responsible for my success or failure,

and I, and only I, could ensure that. It took me a while to change my habits, but that particular lesson taught me to look ahead and to be ready — a habit that has also been of particular value in a changing field like IT.

David Presuhn ’86, Fridley, Minnesota

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Several of my business professors continuously told me to appreciate the people you know to build relationships because you never know what doors will open down the line. Seize opportunities when they present themselves. (After several changes of areas of study and taking opportunities when they presented themselves), I realized that the printing and design industry is where I ultimately wanted to end up in. … So now I work at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), home to the largest air convention in the world, and I made it as a graphic designer in publications. Ripon College didn’t offer graphic design as a major, but through the opportunities and relationships built in my time at Ripon College, I was able to still achieve my career I wanted! I seized opportunities and will continue to seize opportunities when they present themselves later in life.

Cordell Walker ’18, Ripon, Wisconsin

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Ripon professors taught me that you had to work to succeed and that no matter how long it took and how hard it was, if you believe in yourself and work hard, you can make anything happen. The professors gave you the tools and showed you the road but you had to walk it by yourself. They were always there to help but not to do it for you. I think I first learned this in Professor Dino Zei’s Chem-Phys class freshman year. … Professor Zei never took attendance. When asked why, he replied, “Your parents already paid the tuition. I hope you will come to class, but that’s up to you. We’re here to teach you if you’re here to learn.” That’s when it dawned on me that it WAS all up to me.

Words to live by? Mine have always been: “Good enough is not good enough.” You can’t phone it in. You have to do the work to be the best.

Scott A. Nyquist ’69, Naples, Florida

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Difficult concepts can be overcome with determination and persistence. And my favorite words to live by: If we don’t learn anything by the movement of history, we’re bound to repeat it.

I’ve applied that in my life. If I make mistakes, I’ve tried to learn from them. I’m so indebted to the education I got at Ripon College. It changed my whole life. I’ve had a successful career as a lawyer and now a mediator in employee disputes. Had I not gone to Ripon, I would never have succeeded in law school and in life because of the education and the discipline that I developed.

Howard Myers ’61, Mequon, Wisconsin

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I learned an important lesson from Brian Smith, the religion professor. He taught my World Religions class and my History of Christian Theology and Ethics class. He showed me that, as a former priest, he could accept and see the beauty in other religions,

and criticize his own. It was beautiful to watch someone honor other people’s beliefs while still loving his own — something I strive to do every day.

I have two favorite words to live by:

Be kind to others because you don’t know what they’re going through.

Say what you mean. Don’t try to hint or say things in code. Be direct.

Ariel Dickinson ’12, Madison, Wisconsin

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Brian Smith gives a classroom lecture.

The professors at Ripon taught me some amazing life lessons. The two that stick with me the most are “It’s OK to ask for help” and “Your ideas are not always crazy, just different. You’re going to change the world someday.” Professor Brian Smith taught me both of those lessons. I had him for many classes, and he has been very encouraging and helpful since I graduated as well.

Some of my favorite words to live by are: “Never stop being you.” In a world where we are told by others what or how to be, it’s important to remember who you are.

Hope Bell ’15, St. Cloud, Minnesota