WAUKESHA – Robert Calhoun will retire after 32 years at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, because “it’s time.” He had begun teaching in the UW System six years earlier, first as a teaching assistant at UW-Madison and then as an instructor at UW-Manitowoc. He retires as a full professor.
Invited in 1963 by George Rodman, who was both a member of the UW-Madison English department, in which Calhoun was a doctoral student, and coordinator for what then were called UW centers, to teach at the Manitowoc campus, Calhoun accepted and set his course for the next 37 years. In those days, UW-Madison maintained outreach centers at several sites throughout the state. Asked in 1968 to join either the new UW-Green Bay campus or to transfer to the one in Waukesha, which was founded in 1966, he chose Waukesha.
“[T]he memories I shall value most come from the acknowledgements of individual students I have influenced – with or without my awareness,” Calhoun says in his letter of retirement. This most gentle Southern man knew from the time he was in junior high school that he wanted to teach. And he found the experience rewarding. “I especially enjoy teaching 101 (English Composition), seeing the breakthroughs.”
He cites his former students in expressing the joy teaching has brought him: One now successful public relations professional confessed a few years ago, “I couldn’t write when I got out of high school.
My freshman English class made all the difference. Robert Calhoun may not have known it, but he was mentoring a writer.” Another inscribed a book he gave to his teacher, “To Mr. Calhoun, for helping me to discover that there are words behind feelings and feelings behind words.”
The soft-spoken teacher projects a dramatic side as well. He has done some acting, participated in readers theater, and directed a student summer theater group. Most recently he worked with a colleague to develop a new interdisciplinary course, Drama in Text and Performance.
Outside of the academic, Calhoun has filled administrative roles. He’s served on most every committee at the school, chaired the English department, sat on the UW Colleges Senate, and been active with the UW System Council of University of Wisconsin Libraries.
A product of Bristol, VA, in Appalachia, Calhoun attended college in his home state, earning a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in history in 1957 and a master’s degree in American literature in 1959, both from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. William Faulkner was a writer-in-residence during that time and influenced the young student. Calhoun began his teaching career at Virginia Military Institute and earned a certificate in 18th century studies from the University of London before enrolling in the Ph.D. program at UW-Madison.
After retirement, Calhoun plans first to use his time to launch an attack on deferred maintenance at home. Next he will review volunteer opportunities to donate some of his time for others. He is excited that he and his wife, Karen, finally will be able to coordinate free time to travel together. And he will reach back to his roots and continue his study of Appalachian writers.
The Calhouns live in Waukesha.
