Ava Chuppe
Staff Writer
achuppe@murraystate.edu
Tributes have poured in from the English department for former faculty member Sally McIntosh. She passed away on Feb. 5 at the age of 65.
McIntosh, who taught at Murray State beginning in the fall of 1991, was recognized as the 12th highest-rated teacher in the nation on the RateMyProfessors website from 2005 to 2007.
The website’s Top 50 ranking list, aimed at highlighting professors who influenced students, was determined by student rankings in categories such as clarity, helpfulness and student interest level. McIntosh’s feedback from students of English 105, the freshman composition class, earned her the distinguished honor.
Andrew Black, associate professor of English, said the recognition was a testament to McIntosh’s popularity.
Black said because English 105 is the first college course some students experience, McIntosh set a high standard for teaching excellence.
“Just the fact that that person was Sally, who was so kind and generous and warm to her students, showed them that kind of attitude was possible,” Black said.
William Jones, chair of the Department of English and Philosophy, said McIntosh had an incredibly positive impact on both the department and the University as a whole.
“Students sought her out to take her sections of 105,” Jones said. “They knew they were going to have an excellent experience. They were going to get a really good class. They were going to deal with a person who was both incredibly well-versed in their field, but also kind and approachable.”
On her faculty webpage, McIntosh wrote she tried to create an environment of cooperation in the classroom.
“My enjoyment of the class comes from the students themselves, who must get along with other students who are not just from other areas of Kentucky, or the United States, but from other countries and are of different races, cultures and religions,” the page read.
McIntosh took her commitment to understanding the student body outside of the classroom as well.
Michael Morgan, an adviser for the Arab Student Organization for several years, said these students regarded McIntosh as a mother figure for their community.
“Those students adored her, clamored to get into her classes, invited her to their social gatherings … which is quite an honor,” Morgan said.
Josh Adair, associate English professor and coordinator of gender and diversity studies, said McIntosh was a remarkable person who drew hordes of students to her office door.
“She was an incredible person who was loved by so many people, and she always seemed to expect so little,” Adair said. “She was realistic, open-eyed and never mean for any reason … I wish we could all match her grace, style and selflessness.”
Shawn Spaw graduated from Murray State in 2002 with a bachelor of science in business. When he changed careers to work as a librarian beginning in 2005, he said McIntosh supported him by loaning him her notes on research skills.
“Her door was always open to you after you had taken her class,” Spaw said. “Sally was always so interested in what was going on with your daily life. My last conversation with her was probably about a month ago, and I remember the first thing she was asking me was how my wife was doing, how my dad was doing, how my older brother was doing.”
Helen Roulston, professor emerita who worked alongside McIntosh for years, said she was kind, generous and thoughtful.
“She gave me gifts and would leave some food for me or some little token,” Roulston said. “She gave me lots of rides home, and she was always very courteous when she couldn’t make it. If I had something unpleasant going on, she would be very comforting about it.”
Betsy Puckett, administrative assistant in the Department of English and Philosophy offices, also attested to McIntosh’s generosity.
“She would give her last dime if she could to help someone in need,” Puckett said.
Retired faculty member Nita King was McIntosh’s next-door office neighbor for five years. She said McIntosh always had a smile on her face.
“She would always remember my birthday, every holiday with cards and candy,” King said. “She took care of her mother, who was about a hundred or in her upper nineties. She would bring her to work with her and have her just sit in her office while Sally talked so she didn’t have to stay by herself.”
Throughout her long career at Murray State, McIntosh built a reputation for her compassion and teaching ability. From the sheer volume of tributes her former students and colleagues have volunteered, it is clear that she will be missed by many.