For the Love of Students

After spending more than 25 years at Ferris State University, Joan Totten ended her career on a high note.

Upon her retirement in 2008, Totten had the chance to reflect upon her tenure at Ferris. When she began her career at what was then Ferris State College in 1983 as an academic counseling assistant in the College of Business, she knew this was her passion – helping students achieve their academic and personal potential.

After holding several educational counseling positions across campus, she moved to a new area created in 1998 – University College. Established to combine educational counseling with other academic support services, University College provides educational programs and services designed to help students achieve their goals and gain entry into their chosen fields of study. Totten became coordinator of the educational counselors and later department head of the Developmental Programs and Curriculum department.

"I felt such an attraction to helping students," says Totten. "Helping students get where they needed to be academically so they could get into their program was very rewarding for me. . .I've seen so many students flourish because of the services we provided through University College."

When her son, Doug, and his wife, Cathy, learned of her plans to retire, they decided to do something that would allow her to help students for years to come. They set up a scholarship endowment in her name, to honor Totten and the legacy she's left at Ferris.

"Our family has a strong connection to Ferris, as most of us are alumni," says Doug. "Joan is truly one of Ferris' greatest advocates, and we are so proud of her career at Ferris. And, we feel privileged to be able to help set up her scholarship. Now we get to watch the fun part as students will benefit in her honor."

University College Dean William Potter says of Joan, "She was a true educator who helped thousands of students at Ferris during her tenure as a counselor, instructor and department head. She was famous for her approach to addressing student needs by being fair, firm and friendly when guiding students in the transition to University life and advising colleagues how to handle challenging situations."

Joan says that when she worked in University College there were two scholarships awarded through that office, and now there are three, one of which bears her name – which she says is still hard to comprehend. Her legacy, in fact, will go on.

Spring 2009