Standing On the Shoulders of Giants

I suppose teaching here for 40 years makes me a candidate for being Forever Dutch^®! Central College has been a large part of my life both professionally and personally — I even met my wife, Louise Zaffiro, emerita professor of chemistry, here.

Central has been good to us, offering flexibility, support, opportunities and sometimes challenges that led to growth. Our leadership and colleagues made it possible for a chemist and a political scientist to team-teach in the Yucatán twice on the Mérida program, to take up a Fulbright research opportunity in Botswana and later, to spend two weeks in China adopting our daughter.

Both of our daughters, Tonia Zaffiro Bleam ’91 and Katie Zaffiro ’15, graduated from Central. As a family, we depart with many fond memories and rewarding experiences. Many mentors helped me to navigate, appreciate and eventually enjoy undergraduate teaching. Having a rewarding career and still enjoying what I do after all this time is an unimaginable luxury and privilege that very few people ever get.

What makes Central special today, in 2024, is really the same thing I encountered when I arrived here in 1983: The people. I was only a temporary replacement, but you would not have known it based on the way people treated me. From helping me find housing to inviting me for meals and supporting me in my part-time teaching role, it was as if I were a full-time, tenure-track faculty member. It has always been the people.

I was fortunate to have been here and mentored by so many kind and caring people. They made me who I am, not just a better teacher, advisor or researcher, but a better person. We have people here today with that same dedication. Someday, I hope there will be scholarships and awards in their honor.

Many of my former students stand in this honored space as well. Hundreds. Thousands. Watching them grow and develop during their brief four years here has been fulfilling. Following them as they go out into their communities and undertake careers and service in local, national and international communities makes me feel like I have had a small but meaningful impact on their lives.

My students span the globe and the spectrum of professions. Some now even serve on Central’s Board of Trustees. A political science major turned poet and translator; lawyers, teachers and nonprofit managers from China and Kenya to India, Spain and Mexico.

What makes us all candidates for being Forever Dutch is our shared dedication to working to ensure the success of our students. It takes all of us working together and supporting each other to continue doing this vocation at the very high standard that others set for us many years ago — well before my time. May we continue to nurture this dedication, to 2053, our bicentennial, and beyond.

As I enter retirement after 40+ years at Central, many colleagues and mentors come to mind. The list of those who have impacted my career reads like a who’s who of Central legends: Hutch Bearce, former academic dean; Art Bosch ’51, professor emeritus of chemistry; Don, professor emeritus of economics, and Barb Butler ’58, longtime former staff member; Walter Cannon, professor emeritus of English; Cheri Trout Doane ’98, retired director of community-based learning; Bill Julian, former professor of political science and associate dean of academic affairs; Harold Kolenbrander ’60 and ’96H, professor emeritus of chemistry, trustee emeritus and former academic dean and provost; Mike Lubberden, retired director of facilities planning and management; Robin Martin, former associate professor of library science/library director; David Roe, former Central president; Mary Stark, John and Anna Poole Professor of Humanities and professor of English; Ken, president emeritus, and Shirely Weller, former first lady of Central and friend of the college, and many more. Thank you to all who have been part of my journey at 812 University St. We are all Forever Dutch®.