Looking Back Paying Forward

Through a Generous Gift Marie Waters Carries On A Legacy Of Academic Excellence

By Mark Lambert, M.S. ’97

We’re all in this together.

That is a familiar refrain if you’ve known

Marie Waters ’54, Ph.D., anytime throughout her time teaching in the Department of Psychology at Radford University. That time lasted for 30 years. If you count the four she spent as an undergraduate majoring in psychology – at the urging from a professor during her freshman year – she spent 34 years at Radford.

That’s “34 satisfying and productive years that have been spent in connection with the Radford psychology department,” she sa id

Waters first came to Radford as a student and met a professor who would turn out to be one of the most influential people in her life – Minor Wine Thomas, Ph.D., the chair of the Radford Department of Psychology.

“At registration for the second semester, Dr. Thomas said to me, “Miss Waters, you did well in psychology in the first semester; why don’t you major in it?” Waters recalled more than a half-century later. “At that point, I was so flattered that someone would ask me to major in their discipline, I said, ‘Oh sure, sign me up.'”

It was a powerful message – from professor to student – that began paving a road of success for Waters and, ultimately, Radford and its psychology program.

While teaching at Radford, Thomas founded and ran the Mountain Empire Guidance Center. Waters worked part- time for him there while she was a student and learned from Thomas how to administer individual intelligence tests. That skill was a major factor in getting her enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Minnesota.

I learned so well I tested out of learning to give intelligence tests in Minnesota,” she said.

Waters earned a master’s degree in psychology at Minnesota in 1962 and worked in the Dean of Students and Financial Aid offices there while she was enrolled in the program. One day, she was walking along a campus sidewalk when she ran into a man from the university’s placement office.

“Oh, Marie,” he said. “Your undergraduate school is looking for people for jobs, and you might be a fit,” Waters recalled. “I went back to my office, and I called thenPresident Charles Martin – because I used to babysit for him – and I told him I would like to apply for one of the open positions.”

Martin’s secretary set up Waters with interviews for each position all in one day, a tremendous act of kindness for the job candidate who had traveled more than 1,000 miles from Minneapolis.

“So, I went, got a new job and came back to Radford."

Waters taught in the Radford Department of Psychology from 1962 to ’64, returned to the University of Minnesota for her Ph.D. – she earned that degree in 1970 – and made her way back to Radford, where she was a faculty member from 1970 until her retirement in 1992. Waters taught introductory psychology, tests and measurements and psychological statistics. She taught almost every student who majored in psychology during her time at Radford.

She learned a lot about teaching in those early years, and much of that she attributes to Thomas. One of her goals as a teacher was to have the same impact on her students as she had gained from him.

“I sure hope I did,” she said, reflecting back and speaking about how much she missed teaching and her students.

“I also miss my colleagues,” Waters continued. “They were just nice, helpful people to be around. We helped each other. Students and colleagues were a good influence on me, and I tried to be a good influence on them.”

Now, years later, Waters decided to help the Department of Psychology in a different way, through a monetary gift. The funds will support teaching, research and departmental events and outreach with an emphasis on advancing the study of psychology.

“The goal is to give the department the resources and flexibility to pursue activities and initiatives it considers important,” she said. “I want the department to be able to, as much as possible, set its own scope of priorities.”

To thank Waters and her generosity, the university held a small, intimate gathering on July 22, 2022, to celebrate with some of her former colleagues and current psychology faculty members. There, it was announced that Waters was naming the gift in honor of Thomas, her mentor and the man who created the Radford Department of Psychology in 1928.

“Today is about legacy, the legacy of our faculty and how they give of their time, their talent and their treasure,” College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences Dean Matthew J. Smith, Ph.D., said at the ceremony. “It’s about the legacy of Dr. Minor Wine Thomas, who impacted generations of students. It’s about the legacy of Dr. Marie Waters, who in the latter half of the 20th century, did so similarly.”

Radford University President Bret Danilowicz also spoke at the event, reminding those in attendance that, in addition to teaching, Waters served as vice president for student affairs at Radford. “The most remarkable part,” the president said, “was that she broke the glass ceiling for women vice presidents of this university.”

Days later, Waters expressed gratitude for the president’s kind words. She also was grateful to a former colleague and good friend for helping bring the gift to fruition.

“This gift could never have been accomplished without the wisdom and experience of Dr. Hilary Lips,” Waters said of the former Department of Psychology chair and professor emeritus. “She put forth a ton of her time and energy.”

Waters is also grateful to current department chair Jeff Aspelmeier, Ph.D., who, as she said, has been essential in articulating the department’s goal and priorities.

That was Thomas’ goal, too, and one of the reasons Waters is proud to honor his name with the gift.

“There was always a sense among the faculty in a department that we’re all in this together,” Waters explained. “We were all trying to do the same thing: find the truth and tell it as widely as possible.”

“He was the one,” she said, “who got me started on my very happy life.”

About Pillar II

Radford University produces students with high levels of knowledge, practical abilities and critical thinking skills. Our emphasis on academic excellence and research will result in students who are ready to excel in their fields of study. Support will provide opportunities for undergraduate research and more.