Retiring University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley psychology professor Dr. Rex Hieser says one of the best things about working in higher education is being able to share your academic interests and knowledge with students. After a career spanning almost 39 years, Hieser announced his retirement at the end of the fall 2016 semester.
Hieser has not only taught psychology in a classroom, but also inspired and mentored thousands of students during a career that he began when he was not much different in age from most of the students. “I could relate to their thinking and the popular culture of the time. I like to think that I still relate to the students in an approachable style,” he said.
As professor, he says he understands that students often have busy lives and that things happen. “I try to be flexible. And, I try to convey that life is too important to not have fun along the way.”
Hieser began his University of Wisconsin career at the UW-Marinette campus in 1978 after earning a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Iowa. He then moved to UWFox in 1989. Both UW-Marinette and UWFox are two-year UW Colleges campuses.
A UWFox Facebook page post announcing his retirement along with some photos from the campus archives, brought comments from several of his former students and colleagues. Students expressed how much they learned in his classes and how he positively influenced their lives including Samantha Prince who said, “He (Hieser) helped shape my love and understanding of psychology, which I now have a degree in.”
Students have always been a top priority for Hieser. “They are the reason we are here and being able to help them to develop their understanding of the world and people around them is gratifying.”
He also offers a bit of advice for today’s college student. As a professor, he sometimes sees college students using the same study habits and approach to classes that they used in high school. “It’s smarter to shift the approach and think of college as full-time employment. You don’t skip classes any more than you would not go to work.” He adds that even though a student may only be in a class a few hours each day, studying and doing assignments will fill the rest of the time.
In addition to his faculty appointment, Hieser also served in several UW Colleges administrative positions including chair of the Psychology Department, professional development coordinator and interim associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. He contributed to the development of the UW Colleges Virtual Teaching and Learning Center and the Undergraduate Research Journal.
Beyond the classroom, Hieser helped keep alive a long-time campus tradition for an informal weekly drop-in lunch with his colleagues. “For many years at UW-Fox, there was a large round table in the corner of the Emeritus Room. Faculty and staff would come for lunch and congregate at the table, coming and going as schedules and time allowed,” he explained.
Participation dwindled over the years and Hieser saw that as a concern. With input from others, they decided on a slightly more organized approach. Faculty and staff received encouraging emails each week from Hieser reminding them to stop by. He hopes someone going forward picks up the tradition. “You need casual social encounters to build community.”
Even as he cleared out his faculty office at UWFox, Hieser found an opportunity to give back to the campus he has called home for almost three decades. A few pieces of furniture and equipment in his office were purchased with personal funds. Rather than haul them home, he “raffled” them off, with all of the proceeds donated to the UW-Fox Valley Foundation to support students.
As he begins to think about the future, Hieser recognizes his life will shift away from the academic year/nine-month calendar that has provided the basic structure to his life since he started school in 1958.
What’s next for this psychology professor? Hieser says he is looking forward to traveling to new places and visiting old friends and family. The first planned trip is a summer train trip to Glacier National Park. He is also planning to reawaken his inner farmer with gardening and landscaping projects at his cottage. Attending Badger and Packer games are, of course, a top priority. In between all of that, he also hopes to renew his beer brewing activities.
Cheers to that, Professor Hieser!
Contact
Laurie Krasin
920-929-1108
fdlinfo@uwc.edu