Kathy finds joy in student progress 'from raw to roaring'
Published on 21 November, 2012
As she retires after 35 years with CQUniversity. Kathy Ramm has reflected on her fondest memories...
"My joy from my teaching days was to meet shy, raw students in first year, and see them again in third year as they prepared for interviews, confident, organised, capable. And to see them again at Graduation and see how much more they had grown in the months since they left us. It is great that I am still getting LinkedIn requests from these students, and I can track how much more they have grown in the intervening years. Our students and our alumni are our University, and it is wonderful to see the work that the Development Office does in maintaining contact with our alumni.
"Over the years as Head of School, I took much pride in the development of staff in that school - people like Robyn Alcock, Beth Tennent, Robert Fisher, Peter Baxter, Alan Baker, Richard Irons, Don Dayananda. And I have watched the School and its development since I left.
"I was a senior member of the Faculty for over 20 years, and particularly valued the friendship and support of Jeanne McConachie, Irene Sharrock, Jo Saw, Kevin Fagg, Ken Dooley, Les Killion and the late Frances Killion. During my time in the Faculty we developed the multi-campuses, gained Board of Advanced Education approval to be the first non-university in Queensland to offer Masters degrees by coursework, met the requirements to move to University status, set up TNE (Trans National Education) campuses, gained great standing of our Accounting degree with the professional bodies and engaged with the local accounting firms across all our campuses, and invented and implemented systems to ensure quality across multi-campus delivery of programs.
"In the International Office, I have learned to anticipate change and prepare myself and others for changed conditions. Debbie Clayton, Angela Delves and more lately, Jennelle Kyd and Alastair Dawson have all taken a keen interest in our International development and I have learned from each of them. I have also worked with wonderful staff, like Kay Wolfs, Suzie Hancock, Jacqui White and the current team, Tanya Rogers, Carmel Belz and Judy Jensen, as well as the old team of the larger International Office, which included great friends like Lavenia James, Jenni Cooper, Gabrielle Rolan and Danielle Clark.
"I want to acknowledge the efforts of Tim Somerset and his team in the English Language Centre, in working with me to turn a loss leading activity into a self-funded operation which plays a great role in linking to the Rockhampton community through Homestay and Study Tour activities, as well as delivering ESL teaching that is professional and gives the students great satisfaction.
"Knowing that what we do is important in individual lives has made my time at CQUniversity so enjoyable. There will always be bumps as well as the smooth rides, and one of my colleagues set the standard: Kathy, we will do whatever we need to do, and we will do it with style!"