Memory Page

MEMORIES

Douglas L. Tate, Alumni, 1967 & 1975
Semi-retired, OttawaI have very fond memories of my time at Carleton. Our undergraduate training was particularly good with a group of young bushy-tailed faculty just hired. Drs. Peter McCormick, Tom Ryan, Bob Knights, B. Laver, Bob Hoge, Al Moffitt, Marilyn Marshall, Bill Walther, Nan Donald, David Bernhardt, etc. I have particularly fond memories of Bill Walther and Marilyn Marshall who were warm, supportive and inspiring. I think Bill’s jokes were one of the reasons I chose Psychology. The department’s staff were great too (Egs. Judy, Sue). There were only 8 of us in the fourth year and a seminar might have 4 students. You couldn’t hide! There are many students whom I also remember fondly, such as Bob Flewelling, John Strawbridge, Phil Firestone, Ken Hranchuk and many others.I realized how well we were taught after I left for UWO for my Master’s. I did my Ph.D. comprehensives, master’s courses, and a thesis in 7.5 months. Out of 22 in the program I was the only one to graduate in the spring…but I was the only Carleton grad, too. Some of the U of T students had 3 Psych credits when they arrived and I had more than 20. We really knew our stuff when we left Carleton back then. After the M.A. I worked for a year in research and then returned to Carleton for a PH.D. The department had expanded from about 12 faculty to about 30 and a graduate seminar might have 25 students in it. It was a huge change.

In my career, I worked in three different hospitals, two community mental health centres and eventually private practice since 1997. I currently work about 8 hours a week.

Those were great times and I think the undergraduate experience is probably the most important and formative. I don’t know what it is like now with huge classes but it was great when Carleton was still young and growing.
Virginia (Acheson) MacLatchy, Alumna, 1971
Happily RetiredI have fond memories of my three years at Carleton where I was finally able to explore what had always intrigued me: “how does the brain work”, “how do we think” and “why do people behave in the way they do”? I enjoyed all of my courses, except perhaps Statistics! I think I have drawn on all of my courses, including Statistics, in my careers of teaching and in training and human rights in the Federal Government. I didn’t remember everything, unfortunately. I seemed to have forgotten Pavlov when I would put my new kitten outside if he scratched the furniture. He loved to be outside so now I have a shredded chair!
Natalie Vilhena, Alumna, 2008
Ph.D. student, University of TorontoI think my first experience with Carleton was when I met representatives from the University at the University fair in Toronto. They were so friendly and made the process seem so much less intimidating that I applied to Carleton immediately. I was excited about leaving home and embarking on a new adventure. I met some of my closest friends and my husband at Carleton. I still have fond memories of my psychology courses, especially when Tim Pychyl dyed his hair purple for charity. I also had great support from Chris Davis for my undergraduate thesis and for my grad school applications. I don’t miss the Ottawa winters, but I do miss the beautiful campus and my lab window that faced out to the river.
Judith Harper, Alumna, 1970 & 1978
Retired, OttawaIn 1967, the baby boomers arrived at Carleton. The new Loeb building housed the Psych department, and many of our classes were held in the new auditorium. We were told that where the classes had had enrolment of 300 students the year before, in 1967 enrolment was 1000 and more – too many for the auditorium, so classrooms had to be set up as extra places where students could watch lectures by the professors on closed-circuit television. The courses in Psychology turned out unexpectedly to be great preparation for my career as a military officer – I had the vocabulary and some structure to my thinking as I encountered many wonderful but troubled members of the Canadian Forces. It was also sufficient preparation for the Master’s program I chose to follow – Public Administration, first at Dalhousie then at Carleton. Thanks to all the very patient professors! and TAs who coped somehow with the large numbers of students in the years 1967-70.
Sharyn Salsberg Ezrin, Alumna, 1977
Retired PsychologistI would like to offer a simple message re the many great years I had as a grad student in the Psychology Dept – completing my MA from the summer of 1970 to the fall of 1971 ( followed by a 2 year leave of absence) returning in the fall of 1973 and graduating after my thesis exam on September 18, 1977.I would like to borrow the expression “it takes a village to raise a child” as a way to describe the experience of being part of the “Psychology Village” during the 1970’s at Carleton. In our home at the Loeb Building, I felt that I was being “raised” by the many faculty and other graduate students whom I spent so many hours and evenings and weekends with. We were a small group of graduate students who were fully welcomed into the world of all the research and discoveries being pursued by the remarkably eccentric and inspiring faculty.My thesis advisor Tom Ryan was the catalyst for the research I chose. We both felt like pioneers as we broke new ground. The many members of my thesis advisory committee each brought a unique perspective which enhanced my work. I would like to acknowledge: Dr. Bob Hoffman, Dr. Bob Hoge, Dr. Al Moffitt, and Dr. Marilyn Marshall. One very important influence, also on my advisory committee, was Dr. Leonard Rutman, School of Social Work. Len guided me on the design of my thesis research as well as my career.  Len offered me one of the best jobs after graduating – working as a management consultant for Price Waterhouse. My experience at Carleton prepared me for the field of applied and organizational psychology which I pursued for another 32 years.
Bill Walther, Retired Faculty
Retired, KemptvilleI came to Carleton in 1962 when there were only three full time faculty members, Rusty Wendt, Bob Wake and Nan Donald. Marilyn Marshall and I were hired in the same year and both took active roles in building the young department. I spent most of my early years organizing and teaching the ever expanding Psych 100 class. I became head of Instructional Aids, organizing and administering the University’s fleet of projectors and audio-visual equipment, Theatre and new television equipment. We experimented with various forms of television teaching, both on and off campus, including a massive Psych 100 course with over a thousand students. The “modularized” course was a major success! When It was broken up and I was called on for other duties there was a campus protest which received major publicity in the local press. Other attempts were made to replace the course, without much success. I moved on to become Vice Dean of St .Pats College, and was involved in attempting to integrate the college with the main campus and explore alternative forms of liberal arts teaching. The latter parts of my career were spent teaching personality, history of Psych, honours seminars in personality and history and directing honors theses. If students couldn’t find an adviser they were sent to Walther. I directed many interesting projects with many interesting students over the years. Perhaps we will hear from some of them here!
Sandra Rochon, Administrative Staff
RetiredI was hired to work as support staff in 1975. I worked with the wonderful faculty members, graduate students, but most importantly I worked with some of the funniest and most caring support staff. Laughter was a daily part of our work environment both with support staff and faculty members. There are just too many funny stories to be told from my days in Psychology from 1975 to 1981 both from the 8th floor and 5th floor Loeb.
Maya Santoro, Alumna, 2009
San Diego, CaliforniaMy relationship with Carleton University started well before I was a student. I attended daycare at the university as a little one and sports summer camp when I was a little older. As a student, I have many great memories of working in the “Happy Lab” with Dr. John Zelenski. I learned a great deal during my time at Carleton, formed lasting friendships, and developed my academic skill set in a way that has continued to support my professional development as I complete my Ph.D. abroad. I was able to be a part of a community through my work with the union and in being a member of the photography and fashion club. Although I do not miss the cold winters of Ottawa, I do miss Carleton University and the long colorful walks in the tunnels.
Susan Sadler, Alumna, 1988
Kanata, ONI remember sharing a locker in the lower bowels of the campus with a good friend who I havent caught up with in ages….must do that. I recall a presentation in 4th year I did on Left-handedness where I “mirrored” my signature with both hands. A particular Carleton Ravens football after-party brings back memories of many good times with good friends and classmates.
Kathy Momtahan, Alumna, 1990 & 1997
Ottawa, ONAs a 3rd year psychology student at the University of Ottawa, I was looking for an advisor for a human factors project I wanted to do for my Honour’s thesis and couldn’t find one at Ottawa U. Happily, I came across Brian Tansley at Carleton, who supervised not only my Honour’s thesis, but also my Masters and PhD, all related to an area I am passionate about: healthcare human factors. I have wonderful memories of Carleton in a lab where the focus was human factors research. There were many mentors along the way, including Dick Dillon, Jo Tombaugh, Bill Petrusic, and Bill Jones. As a researcher now at The Ottawa Hospital and an adjunct professor at Carleton, I have been lucky to still be connected to my alma mater by collaborating on research projects with Avi Parush and by supervising students. I feel lucky that I was able to find an advisor like Brian T! ansley who encouraged and advised me in my chosen area of research. The fact that he is a great saxophone player was a bonus!