Mount memories: Reilly recalls decades of service
John Reilly, professor of History, recently retired after nearly five decades of service to Mount Saint Mary College. In honor of his dedication to the countless students he has educated over the years and his unwavering commitment to the college, Reilly was named a professor Emeritus of the institution earlier this year.
The college has changed significantly in the years since he began his tenure at the Mount. Below are some of Reilly’s favorite memories of the last 48 years, in his own words.
The Early Days of MSMC
1975 was a very memorable year to begin my career at the Mount. Not only did I arrive that year, but also an additional eight to ten other faculty, librarians, and administrators as well. There were biologists, chemists, an historian, educators, and members of the administration.
At that time, we were all located in Aquinas, Whittaker, or the Casa San José. Our gym was the gym for the high school and Bishop Dunn, with many administrative offices in the Villa. The Kaplan Center, Hudson Hall, the Desmond Estate, Sakac Hall, and the houses on Powell Ave. were to come later. Students lived in College Courts or the Garden Apartments.
The Board of Trustees capped the faculty at 50, and we had a dedicated group of adjuncts who supported our academic programs. Nursing and Education were our strong points with Business on the drawing board. A Title Seven federal program administrated by Sr. Grace Imelda Blanchard brought in new programs in Human Services, Communication Arts, and a Medical Tech major. There were six of us in the Social Sciences: two each in History/Political Science/Economics and two in Psychology and Sociology. When the Business major started, the faculty came from Social Science and we were reduced to four full time faculty.
Social Sciences: A Home Away from Home
As someone who served as chair of the Division of Social Sciences for 13 years, I have many memories of the period. In the 1990s when we grew from four full timers to 12, five in History/Political Science and Psychology with two in Sociology.
During those years the Mount has had many strong points, an institution where the faculty were fully involved in the academic and administrative decision process, but also had a volleyball league, BYO Friday afternoon events in a faculty lounge in Aquinas, membership on the Budget Committee, and a strong Faculty Affairs Committee. But we did lack a sense of fellowship in a faculty lunchroom. We also had a dedicated leadership with Srs. Ann Sakac, Agnes Boyle, Marie Genevie Love, Leona DeBoer, Grace Imelda Blanchard, and Mary Assumpta Mazza, PVBM, with their insights giving direction to the future of the Mount. One person I always remember is Al Kingsley, our Financial Director and neighbor, who called me aside one day, in my second year, and said it was time I enrolled in TIAA.
The Division of Social Sciences, my home for 48 years, while very diverse in its offerings to a wide variety of our student body, should be described as a dedicated group of scholars not only to the disciplines but also to our students. Eileen Callahan hired me and Sr. Assumpta provided much needed advice, as did Judy Rosner. But certainly, everyone else did as well.
What the Future Holds
To the question “will you miss the students and the teaching?,” the answer is yes, especially a former Police Chief of the City of Newburgh who would break pencils to let me know it was time for a break. But also the sense of joy when several went on to graduate school in the discipline, located my PhD dissertation, and commented on the contents.
But the time has come to move on. The discipline is changing, a new generation of majors has arrived, and technology in the classroom is the future. With various medical issues, plans for the future are evolving. However, I am planning on returning to the Mount from time to time in the future.
Best to all, John T. Reilly
Professor Emeritus of History, Mount Saint Mary College