Spring Break
Honored Horning history professor to retire
Mary Jo Nye teaching last class at OSU after 39-year career with honors, achievements
Taryn Luna
Issue date: 6/4/08 Section: News
Among a seemingly endless list of honors and accomplishments, Nye received the History of Science Society's Sarton Medal for Lifetime Scholarly Achievement in 2006, an award given to an outstanding historian of science by the international scholarly community.
"It's one of the best honors you can receive, although it makes me feel old," Nye said.
Nye grew up in Nashville Tennessee and can remember riding the bus to the public library every Saturday with her mother as a 5-year-old.
"I was always a voracious reader," Nye said.
Nye's college educated parents expected her to attend college and do well in school.
Nye became interested in science shortly after the launch of Sputnik when the United States poured money into science education. She attended a strong academic high school and had dreams of becoming a chemist or a science journalist, while working as the editor of the school newspaper.
She began her college career at Vanderbilt University, before transferring to the University of Wisconsin.
Robert was a first year grad student in history at the University of Wisconsin when they met.
"She had a very broad southern accent and I was convinced that anyone who spoke that way couldn't have any brains and could have no knowledge at all," Nye said. "She was this typical southern girl wearing white shoes; the little buck socks, a pleated skirt and frosted hair. She looked very exotic and she was very pretty. Once I had enough conversations with her I realized I just had to get past the accent."
To his surprise, Mary Jo was sweet, tolerant and didn't display a shred of racism, in opposition to what he expected from southern girls in the civil rights era. To his delight, she was progressive, liberal and very intelligent.
Nye chose to continue her studies at Wisconsin and received a Ph.D. in the history of science in 1970 at the age of 25, becoming a minority in the field as a female.
"She's just delightful, always a pleasure. She's on point, offers great advice and doesn't confuse issues or let personal interfere with work. I'm really going to miss her," said Paul Farber, the retiring chair of OSU's history department.
"It's one of the best honors you can receive, although it makes me feel old," Nye said.
Nye grew up in Nashville Tennessee and can remember riding the bus to the public library every Saturday with her mother as a 5-year-old.
"I was always a voracious reader," Nye said.
Nye's college educated parents expected her to attend college and do well in school.
Nye became interested in science shortly after the launch of Sputnik when the United States poured money into science education. She attended a strong academic high school and had dreams of becoming a chemist or a science journalist, while working as the editor of the school newspaper.
She began her college career at Vanderbilt University, before transferring to the University of Wisconsin.
Robert was a first year grad student in history at the University of Wisconsin when they met.
"She had a very broad southern accent and I was convinced that anyone who spoke that way couldn't have any brains and could have no knowledge at all," Nye said. "She was this typical southern girl wearing white shoes; the little buck socks, a pleated skirt and frosted hair. She looked very exotic and she was very pretty. Once I had enough conversations with her I realized I just had to get past the accent."
To his surprise, Mary Jo was sweet, tolerant and didn't display a shred of racism, in opposition to what he expected from southern girls in the civil rights era. To his delight, she was progressive, liberal and very intelligent.
Nye chose to continue her studies at Wisconsin and received a Ph.D. in the history of science in 1970 at the age of 25, becoming a minority in the field as a female.
"She's just delightful, always a pleasure. She's on point, offers great advice and doesn't confuse issues or let personal interfere with work. I'm really going to miss her," said Paul Farber, the retiring chair of OSU's history department.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.