By Jonathon Lund
When Professor Joan Schilling first came to Edgewood College, she did not know what to expect.
Schilling, who had gone to a Catholic college in the 1960s, expected a traditional conservative college. However, when she walked onto campus dressed conservatively in 90-degree heat, she was met by Sister Mariam Yaeger dressed in a pantsuit and with makeup.
The atmosphere and feeling of the campus were a complete surprise to Schilling.
The nuns at Edgewood College were feminists who practiced and studied liberation theology and human rights.
For the past 39 years, since 1980, Schilling has been a faculty member at Edgewood College. She has been the chairperson for the psychology department since 1985.
Throughout her career, Schilling helped build the psychology department and create the first psychology major, which did not exist before she came to Edgewood.
She has hired numerous members of the current faculty who teach. Now the psychology major is the third largest major on campus.
Schilling said the future of the department is bright. “It’s going to be great. We have great young faculty, and I (have) faith in them to lead the department. There will be changes with the multiple retirements, but with the focus on research, with the psychology research center, I think the department has a bright future.”
Her major research interest is college students’ learning and comparisons of students’ and instructors’ perceptions of the learning process.
Colleagues have nothing but praise for Schilling. “From my perspective, I feel Joan’s role is significant in keeping all of us, with different personalities and temperaments together and cohesive,” said Associate Professor of Psychology Shalini Singh. “She lets us shine individually and at the same time holds us collectively by being the go-between when difficult issues emerge.”
Associate Professor of Psychology Timothy Babler echoed that. “Joan has always been an inspiration and role model for her students. To her colleagues in the department, she has been the ideal model for how to be professional in our work at Edgewood College.”
Schilling said one of the best things she did at Edgewood was recruit bright young people to the department. “I hope that another thing I have done is touch some people with enthusiasm through teaching,” she said.
In retirement, Schilling said she is “looking for a challenging volunteer reward gig to devote [herself] to.”
Schilling said she had been inspired by students’ youth, their beauty, and their promise. “It’s been a privilege to work with them.”
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