RETIREES
senior seminar and internship. She originated the department’s course on health psychology and developed special topics courses on the psychology of women, faith and health, and the meaning of love. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Ph.D. from Tulane University. ◗
Margie Findlay Smoky Mountain Renewal After 46 years in nursing, including 17 at Samford, Margie Findlay says her plans for retirement are rather simple, “to spend time with family and enjoy the freedom to travel to our favorite place, the Great Smoky Mountains.” Findlay says she and her husband, Bill, have always enjoyed traveling to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, regardless of the time of year. She recalls how much their two sons enjoyed playing in the creeks and climbing to Clingmans Dome. Now she enjoys watching her grandchildren “fall in love with the majesty and wildlife of the mountains.” Findlay joined the faculty of Ida Moffett School of Nursing in 2001 and has taught both undergraduate and graduate nursing students. She calls it a rewarding experience because nursing students “are highly qualified and have a sincere desire to provide excellent, compassionate care for their patients.” Also, the focus on academic excellence “is equally matched with a focus on preparing graduates to be servant leaders.” Findlay, who retired in December, says the highlight of her Samford tenure was serving the last three years as undergraduate associate dean. “I was privileged to work with students, faculty, staff and administration to achieve the school’s mission and to prepare its graduates to function in today’s rapidly changing health care environment.” Findlay earned her undergraduate,
16 • Seasons • Summer 2019
Findlay master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she taught before joining Samford. Among other certifications, she holds the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator designation. She is the author of numerous papers on her field. She says she will miss “the day-today contact with students and the collegial relationships with the faculty.” But she looks forward to getting back to the mountains “for rest and renewal and to once again appreciate the beauty of God’s creation.” ◗
Michele Haralson Taking Education Afar Professor Michele Haralson said one of the things she enjoyed the most during her 17 years in Orlean Beeson School of Education was taking education beyond the campus. A highlight of this was serving as the coordinator of a teacher education partnership with Miles College. “It allowed me to teach their students, and gave our students the opportunity to have authentic, intentional conversations and experiences with diverse peers and faculty,” she said. She also conducted workshops in the Middle East over the course of five years. She taught teachers of children
Haralson with special needs about technology in the classroom at eight schools in Lebanon during 2014 and presented programs about online instruction to eight seminaries across southeast Asia during 2012. Haralson, who retired in January, had served as director of Samford’s Curriculum Materials and Technology Center since 2012. She taught undergraduate and graduate technology classes. Haralson saw numerous changes in national and state accrediting requirements. “It took a great deal of time and effort to keep up,” she said, noting that she had progressed through various mutations of learning management systems (Blackboard, WebCT, Moodle, etc.) and data management systems (Chalk and Wire. Live Text, etc.) used in online learning. Haralson’s parents, Laverne and Jan Farmer, both worked at Samford. Among other assignments, he ran Campus Dining for a time, and she would help out. “It was nice to see them in the Caf and catch up,” she said. “After Dad left Samford, it meant so much to me when Samford people would come up and tell me what a great man he was.” She said she would miss her students and colleagues the most in retirement, adding that their support meant so much to her during her late husband Ronny’s illness. Among her travel destinations