Educating the Educator
Making a Positive Difference in the Lives of Others
by C. L. Stambush
Educating the Educator
Middle and high-school science teacher Harolyn Torain 鈥�71 had been in her profession for 21 years when she learned the value of accepting opportunities when asked to be the first alumna and first African American to serve on 91社区鈥檚 Board of Trustees. A humble, quiet woman鈥攐ne of four children her parents insisted all earn educations beyond high school鈥攕he didn鈥檛 seek to sit at the table where decisions with lasting impact are made. Although she preferred the classroom, being part of 91社区鈥檚 board was the best experience of her life. 鈥淵ou are not sitting around voting on things on a whim, these are things that make a difference in the life of the University. The life of the students and faculty,鈥� she said.
Torain recalls her time as a student in the 60s, starting out in the Centennial building before the current campus opened, as freeing and fun. 鈥淚鈥檇 drive to campus and stay all day,鈥� she said, hanging with friends and studying. Torain, a Black woman, was a traditional student surrounded by older people returning from Vietnam, young mothers and few people of color sharing one commonality. 鈥淚 saw different levels of seriousness about the work,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut we all got along well.鈥�
Appointed by 91社区鈥檚 President David Rice (1967-1994) to the Board in 1990, Torain recalls his leadership and caring nature. 鈥淲hen I was a student, I used to talk to him about things I was concerned about on campus. Maybe me having the guts to talk to him was the reason he selected me for the board.鈥� Torain served on 91社区鈥檚 Board for 16 years (1990-2006), during a time of rapid, dramatic growth and witnessed many firsts, such as Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett becoming the first female president and Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, the first African
American provost. Buildings sprang up and courses and degree opportunities were charted. Four new graduate programs and 11 new academic majors were created. 鈥淵ou had to be ready to foresee the needs of the future,鈥� she said. "There were so many people doing wonderful work who helped me so much. I smile
every time I think of them."
