Reprinted with permission of Momentum, Winter/Spring 1994
A lot has changed at the University at Albany since Susan
Van Horn Shipherd '64 was an undergraduate biology major. But one thing--her
"very
fond memories" of the University--will never change.
"Albany was a small school then," says Shipherd,
recalling the early 1960's, when she transferred from Elmira College, "and
I was very happy to
be accepted there. My experiences at Albany were memorable. We had great labs
and friendly interaction among faculty and students, and I
learned a lot. I'm very pleased with the quality of the education I got there."
Over the years, Shipherd has been an avid University supporter.
She is a life member of the Alumni Association and has served its board of
directors as both vice president and president. She has also been a President's
Club volunteer for the Annual Fund. Now, as the Campaign for
Albany's Major Gifts alumni co-chair in the Capital Region, she is working "to
encourage others to see that financial support is vital. People think
that because Albany is a state university it gets a lot of money from the state,
but state funding amounts to only about 30 percent. Tuition is low.
There isn't anything else. Albany has tremendous potential, and we need to support
it."
In supporting the campaign, Shipherd is also doing her part
for the natural sciences: Her $10,000 commitment to Initiatives for Women, a
new
program that will promote both academic and career endeavors, will provide financial
assistance to women science majors.
Shipherd, who resides in Poestenkill with her husband, RPI
professor Jim Ferris, observes: "When I was in school, women in science
were
considered oddities. Although that perception was beginning to change, its still
difficult for women in that field. I thought for a long time about
making a pledge over a period of time. Sometimes you don't feel you can make
a commitment like that until you really think it out. Then you
realize that what you think is impossible really isn't."
Shipherd knows from firsthand experience that "the
University prepares women very well for scientific work." After graduation,
she worked for 15
years as a research assistant in a variety of laboratories. The mother of two--daughter
Jillian is a 1991 Albany graduate and works for the
University's Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders; son J.P. writes software
for a California firm--is currently a sales representative for Krackeler
Scientific.
Her fond memories of Albany include a favorite anecdote
that dates from several years after her graduation. "When I first went
to work for
Krackeler, I called on the professors in the Biology Department. I said to one
of them, Fred Truscott, who has since retired: 'Do you remember
me? I was in a couple of your classes. Actually, I think I got an A.' He said,
'I remember every A I ever gave, and you weren't one of them.' then
he proceeded to pull out from his desk drawer a grade book from 1963. And he
was right!" Shipherd relates with a laugh.
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