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A MESSAGE FROM PROFESSOR MOYER: "DON'T LOOK BACK!"

By Cynthia Moyer, (the most recently named) Professor Emeritus, RPTA

Like many of our graduating seniors, I’m busy packing up my temporary home away from home – my Cal Poly office.  What to keep and what to toss – do you keep the numerous nametags from past year-end banquets, the binders full of class notes and projects, or how about that endless supply of pens? One thing for sure, there are not enough boxes to hold all of my wonderful memories of my 20 years at Cal Poly.  At the top of the keep list are the “treasures” - the numerous cards and letters received over the years from students and alums. After 20 years, I hope I’m forgiven if I do not remember all of the names and faces, but I greatly appreciate the sentiments expressed.  I feel that I have been truly blessed to have spent the majority of my professional career working with such an exceptional group of students and colleagues. 

To the many past and current students, you have always been the center of my Cal Poly world.  From helping freshmen to adjust to their new environment or discussing career plans with graduating seniors, interacting with students has always been the highlight of my role as a faculty member and advisor.  It has been a joy to have the opportunity to play a small role in helping students grow intellectually and emotionally.  I love it that Facebook and LinkedIn now offer the opportunity to keep up with their post-Cal Poly adventures.

I am very fortunate to have had such an outstanding and supportive family of colleagues.  Over the years, we have celebrated each other’s successes and been there to lend a helping hand when needed.  A special “Thank you!”  to Carolyn Shank for having the faith in hiring an inexperienced faculty member. I greatly appreciate all of the guidance, encouragement and support from her and of course my husband, John Bullaro, in my early years. Bill Hendricks has been an inspiration to work with and someone I truly admire. Due to his leadership, dedication and commitment to excellence, the department has grown both in size and stature. Marni, Jerusha, Brian,  Kendi,  Angela, and  Jeff who left in December, you are all “tops” in my book, and I will truly miss each of you. I’m very proud to have been part of a great group and to have played a role in development of the RPTA department.  While I will not be a big part of its future, I will always be a “Reccie” at heart.  With the current faculty and the new faculty coming aboard, I can see a very bright future ahead for the department.

Since I announced my retirement I have frequently been asked about my future plans. Other than having lots more family time and an Alaska trip in September, I have no firm plans.  I’m listening to the  same advice I give to graduating seniors to not to worry about the distant future, focus on the first year after graduation; life is incremental, take it one-step at a time, walk down a path and don’t look back.  So, I’m putting my foot down on a path heading off to a new world of adventures! In the words of Robert Frost:

Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

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