Tim Husband Retires After 40 Years at SHU—
But Not Without One Last Honor

By Julie Bonk ’18—Student Writer

After 40 years of teaching mathematics at Siena Heights University, Tim Husband retired after the winter semester.

But not without one last tip of the cap from the institution he has grown so fond of over the years.

At the 2018 spring Honors Convocation, Husband was honored with the Eileen K. Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching for the third time, tying him with Professor of Biology Carl Kaster for the most times being honored.

So, how does he feel about retirement?

“Well, anxious, because when you retire you’re not always sure that you really want to do it,” said Husband, who received his PhD from the University of Toledo. “(It’s) because my job I’ve really enjoyed. And so if you really enjoy what you’re doing, retiring then is a new adventure, and you don’t know if that’s going to be as much fun as it is working with students. So a little anxious there, but also looking forward to just doing other things with the family and grandkids.”

Husband has one daughter and two sons, one of whom works at the motherhouse on the Adrian Dominican Sisters campus. He has many grandchildren whom he likes to spend time with at his lake house with his wife.

Husband said he tried to make it to as many student activities as possible on campus and used those experiences it in his classes.

“It’s really nice to see them and then it gives you conversation in the classroom.”

Senior Rachel Cornish is one of many students who said she appreciates Husband.

“Tim Husband is one of my favorite professors on campus,” Cornish said. “He makes class fun and fresh by using current sports statistics. By giving quizzes often, we’re really prepared for the “parties” (exams).”

One of Husband’s favorite events on campus is graduation.

“To see them graduate and their pride, their parents’ pride, their loved ones’ pride, that’s a pretty neat experience,” he said. “That’s probably the most rewarding.”

Husband was also involved in the math club on campus.

“The students who are involved both with the school and mathematics as their discipline, it’s nice to see that group growing as an organization, as peers, as a club and supporting the school and each other,” he said. “It’s real nice.”

When he was younger, Husband would run in 5Ks and triathlons. Today, he prefers a good book, especially related to math, and working on his yard at home.

“One of my hobbies is consulting, so I enjoy working with others on new problems that they might have,” he said. “If they have issues in statistics, I like to work on them with them.”

One of his math colleagues, Professor Jeff Kallenbach, reflected on Husband’s retirement.

“Tim and I met at the 2006 MAA Job Fair in San Antonio,” Kallenbach said. “The attitude and enthusiasm that he brings to his classroom was apparent right away. … Besides all of the extra work that Tim does outside of our required duties, he is extremely helpful to me on a day-to-day basis. Pretty much every day we discuss the class we both teach (Statistical Reasoning In Sports) to share ideas and stay on pace. … He’s obviously been the backbone of the math program for 40 years now, and is probably the only person I know who could do that much work, capably, for such a long time. SHU as a whole will miss him of course, but I’ll be losing a great mentor and colleague.”

When asked what he is most looking forward to about retirement, Husband said, “Just fewer responsibilities and being home with the family, the kids. It’s going to be exciting.”

When asked what Siena means to him, Husband was not lost for words.

“One of the things that first sort of excited me about Siena, when I first came here, was its environment. Its people,” he said. “I just felt it was a really nice place to work. It was a really good fit. I enjoyed the people and its part of the Adrian Dominican tradition. Their mission. It just sort of is lived here. And so every day when you come to work, it’s very enjoyable.

“It’s nice to come to a place where you feel comfortable, you feel valued, you feel there is a mission being honored by the faculty, the students, the sisters. So it’s just been a nice experience. Siena has been like a family, a home.”