New horizons for retiring journalism professor

Story and photo by John R. Moodie

His door was always open. Anyone who visited his office had the experience of sitting in the brown vinyl cottage chair with the loose wooden arms.

The springs in the cushion were busted and there was a tear in the seat, but anyone who sat in it felt immediately at home. This old deck chair reflected the easygoing spirit that is Joe Callahan.

After 32 years of service Callahan is retiring as fulltime journalism professor at Loyalist College.

Callahan says the thing he will miss most is laughing with students.

At the Beaufort Pub in Belleville friends, colleagues and students gathered to celebrate a career earmarked with laughter. And this night was no different than any other day of his career. It was highlighted with laughter.

Though Callahan has a natural sense of humour he is also recognized for his strong sense of ethics.

“ The things that come to mind are honesty and a desire for truth,” said Scott Whalen photojournalism professor at Loyalist College.

Whalen has known Callahan for 17 years. He first met Callahan in 1996, when he began working part time at Loyalist College.

Whalen said Joe did a good job at creating a culture of honesty with his students and co-workers.

“ I see him as someone who believes in truth and honesty first and foremost,” said Whalen.

Former journalism student Nicole Kleinsteuber recalls Joe’s commitment to being honest.

“Joe told us right from the beginning he has a no bullshit policy. From that moment on he had my respect,” said Kleinsteuber, “He speaks his mind.”

Callahan explains his approach to teaching.

“Teaching students is a shared experience. I encourage a no BS policy, I always want relationships to be based on truth and honesty,” says Callahan.

Whalen says students are often pressured to show that they know all the things that they have been taught and recalls something Callahan once told him about honesty.

“He said sometimes the education system has taught you how to lie, how to lie really well because it is a bit of a game. Here we don’t want you to lie we want you to tell us where you are struggling,” says Whalen.

Gord Horne an IT-tech instructor at Loyalist College thinks of Callahan as someone he could always go to to seek advice.

Horne has known Callahan since 1976 as an advertising student when Callahan was the photo technician at Loyalist College.

“I value his opinion on things. He taught me as much as some of the teachers even though Joe never was my teacher.”

Another quality of Callahan’s that stands out to Horne is his sense of justice.

“He doesn’t waiver on what he believes to be right,” said Horne.

Scott Whalen recalls the many fundraiser Callahan organized to raise awareness about aboriginal issues, women’s rights.”

“He believes in shining a light where there is injustice, and he wouldn’t back away from that,” said Whalen.

Callahan expects to be active in retirement. He plans to return to journalism freelancing for Better Farming Magazine.

He also hopes to continue teaching. He is preparing a general arts course in music theory. The course would explore the relationship between music and its ability to affect change.

Though Callahan is retiring his cottage chair will remain in service at Loyalist College. It has a new home. Callahan has entrusted his chair to fellow journalism professor Robert Washburn.

Callahan always prided himself on his open door policy. His office door is now closed but the relationships he made with students and co-workers will always remain open.

“He always had his door open for students, I think Loyalist will miss him. He did a good job,” said Jennifer Bowman, former Loyalist College journalism student.

In his own words, “Relationships never end. They changes but they don’t end.”

A fund for a retirement gift was taken. Callahan has asked that the fund be donated to a student bursary.