This is the second of four features as Virginia Wesleyan bids farewell to this year's retirees.
By Megan Zirkle '06
When you first walk into the office of Dr. Margaret Zimmerman, professor of Psychology at Virginia Wesleyan College, you might notice her enormous Bernese Mountain Dog lying below her feet beside her desk. Madelaine, or “Maddie,” can be intimidating, but she is full of love for her owner as well as the students that visit Eggleston 107.
Like Maddie, Dr. Zimmerman is full of love for the students and faculty that she will be leaving at Wesleyan this semester. One of four retiring professors to leave the VWC community, Zimmerman has been teaching full-time for a total of 23 years.
“I came here in the Spring of 1982, the same time as Dean Buckingham,” said Zimmerman.
After teaching as an adjunct for a semester, she was hired as a full-time assistant teacher that fall.
“I love getting away from the large university atmosphere,” said Zimmerman. “I have tremendous freedom here and nobody is micromanaging.”
Throughout her career at Wesleyan, Zimmerman has developed several courses for the psychology department, including Abnormal Psychology, Theories of Personality, Theories of Motivation: Animal Behavior, Introduction to Industrial Psychology and Computer Applications in Quantitative Analysis.
Dr. Donald Wolfgang, Zimmerman’s colleague and fellow professor of Psychology, feels that Zimmerman’s contributions have benefited the students as well as the department.
“She’s developed both classroom and computer courses to help students get a firm understanding of what the findings of research mean,” said Wolfgang.
In addition to helping students learn in the classroom, Zimmerman opens her home to psychology students who have to complete grueling research projects.
“What’s impressed me is that she opens up her home, works for students hours on end for their Senior Research Project,” said Wolfgang.
While Dr. Zimmerman had dedicated herself to shaping the students she has worked with over the years, she is looking forward to retirement and the chance to take a break.
“The first thing I am going to do is clean my house,” she said.
Also on her list are traveling to her condo in Florida, writing and possibly coming back to Wesleyan to conduct research for the school.
“I’m looking forward to not having to work all the time,” she said. “I am also looking forward to getting rid of the discipline and I will be able to do other things and develop other interests.”
When asked about her hopes for Wesleyan in the future, she speaks about the students.
“I want to see the students engaged, not memorizing, but thinking and analyzing,” Zimmerman said. “I don’t think our students reach high enough—don’t realize what they’re capable of.”
Outside of being a teacher, Wolfgang will always remember Zimmerman as a person who loves nature and animals. The two would frequently enjoy the outdoors together, going hiking and camping.
“Her interest in nature and animals brings a unique contribution to the courses she teaches,” said Wolfgang.
As Wesleyan says goodbye to a long-time teacher and friend, colleagues realize they are letting go of an irreplaceable professor.
��“There will never be another Margaret Zimmerman,” said Wolfgang. “You don’t replace people; you get somebody to take their place.”
The Virginia Wesleyan community wishes Dr. Margaret Zimmerman a very happy retirement.