Class News

Today's Featured Biography

 
Joanna Collins

In 1965 I headed off to Ann Arbor with several other Kimball grads. In fact, Sandy Cameron (�65), Elaine Gardner (�65) and I were roommates during two different years. My best semesters were in the summers, which allowed me to take winter off from classes to live the life of a ski bum in Aspen, CO. Somehow I managed to get in all the course work in 4 years to graduate in 1969.
Psychology degree in hand from the University of Michigan, I embarked on a career in the mental health field in Kalamazoo. It was an exciting time to enter this type of job as the state hospitals were downsizing and I had many opportunities to try out various kinds of therapies. It also meant advancement to administrative positions. After my Masters Degree was finished I moved further north to Manistee, MI, where I spent the rest of my working life. I was paid to listen to people talk about themselves: their concerns, crises and/or hallucinations. And over the years I worked with a lot of interesting clients. The administrative part of my career meant I could supervise and advise other employees and require them to listen to Me.
The peace and quiet of my secluded Lake Michigan home made it feasible to take on the emotionally charged work life. I have a 31 year old son, Nikolas, who has worked and traveled in many countries; he married in May and I have a wonderful, sweet daughter-in-law. They now live in Michigan and both are delightful. It�s a lot easier to visit with them than when he spent five years in Japan.
When Frank Greco (�65) and I married in 2005, we both retired to the house on the lake. Now we spend a rewarding life volunteering in a variety of community activities and projects. We also travel extensively throughout the world. Another benefit of retirement is that I no longer have to listen to people talk about their problems, unless I want to. And the only person I �supervise� is my 96 year old mother.

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES