History Department at SUNY-Oneonta, 1971

Your mother changed my life. I am happy to say that I was able to send her a thank you letter before her death. I would like to share my story.

I was your mom’s student for several semesters. She was a Smyth when I began and then became an Iversen. I chose her each semester because of her great mind and authenticity. This was during the early ’70s with demonstrations for women civil rights and rallies against the Vietnam war. I remember one time in class, your mom had learned a new term, “roach” and asked the class if we were smoking insects. We laughed and told her the meaning. She smiled.

I was amazed with her photogenic mind. I was a quiet student who listened but did not contribute to the discussions (mostly because I didn’t do the readings). I did ask questions that your mom appreciated. My time at Oneonta was coming to an end, and I needed a reference from a teacher for my reference file. Since the only classes I attended consistently were your mom’s, I knew she would be the one I should ask. However, I could not imagine such a great mind would have anything positive to say about me. I even went to the school counselor to ask for advice. Unknown to me, he approached your mother and told her about this student “Gus” who was afraid to seek a reference. (I was known to most on campus as Gus except for my professors who knew me as Diane Gusa). Later, I found out that it greatly upset her that any of her students would feel the way I did.

In my last month, we were having a discussion about how society limited the opportunities for women. One male spoke up and insisted that women should stop complaining because that was the past and not now. Well, I forgot my shyness and proceeded to “school” this male student of all the problems I had personally experienced as a woman on the campus.  I must have spoken for almost 5 minutes, and during that time, someone said: “you tell them, Gus!”

After class, your mom asked me to accompany her to the local snack bar.   I thought I was in trouble.   She bought me cookies and milk, and we sat down. That is when my life transformed.

She told me that I indeed was not the most studious students, but in her opinion, I was one of the most intelligent, critical thinkers she knew.    That conversation lifted me up so much. I remember walking back to my apartment and felt like I floated. I saw myself in her eyes and believed what she told me.  I was intelligent!

When I found your mom, so many years later, I told her how her words changed my life. Since those years at Oneonta, I had many professions, never doubting that I could accomplish what needed to be done. Academically I earned a masters and later my PhD and published several pieces. I taught in higher education, using your mom as my inspiration and model. Your mom has been on my mind a lot recently, and I had hoped to reconnect and thank her again. Instead, I am sharing her gift to me with you. I hope this will give you a warm smile. Your mom’s legacy lives in many lives. I only hope that someday I can make the same difference for someone else.

Finally, I do have a request. Your mom wrote a book about Mormon women, and I have searched for it. If you know how I might purchase or find this book, it would be a treasure I have been searching for. (Actually, that is how I found this page.) [Editor’s note: you can purchase a copy of her book The Antipolygamy Controversy in U.S. Women’s Movements, 1880-1925: A Debate on the American Home (Development of American Feminism) (1st Ed) through Amazon –simply click through the book title to find it there.]

— Diane Gusa

Joan Iversen giving one of her lectures

In 1969, after a first semester of uninspiring courses, I registered for my first course with Dr. Iversen.  This was the way college was supposed to be.  Dr. Iversen’s passion for U.S. History reaffirmed my love of it.  I continued through my college career taking every Dr. Iversen course I could get into. I declared a Social Science major and asked Dr. Iversen to be my advisor.

Dr. Iversen was amazing, while she was lecturing on an event or person, she would cite books and authors for further information.  When I stated my teaching career I would refer to these notes for info.  When I retired a few years ago I was cleaning out my books and found my notebooks from Dr. Iversen’s courses.  What great memories.

Probably her greatest influence was her women studies program.  This was in its early stage during my college career. Dr. Iversen challenged women to look at the world differently and not to accept the status quo.

Thank you Dr. Iversen for being my inspiration. Though during my 30-year teaching career not all my male high school students appreciated it!

~ cassandra finnis-palen

Gavin Masterson shares how he first learned of Elizabeth Cady Stanton from his courses with Dr. Iversen. Stanton (seated) is pictured here with Susan B. Anthony.

I graduated from Oneonta in 1975, admittedly, quite a while ago. Many memories have become hazy, or simply forgotten. One set of memories that remains vivid is my time spent in Dr. Iversen’s classes. These classes weren’t mere lectures, dictating the facts of the United States post WWII or whatever course you happened to be in, but amazing stories told with tremendous passion, and even more so, great insight. No one missed her classes, they were like a one-woman show! She could work a room like no teacher I ever had, smoking her cigarette with more flair than Bette Davis only wished she could. The best part was that she made each class and era of history fascinating— the day she told us the events of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, I remember calling my parents that night grilling them on their opinions and recall of that time. I was a French major, but remember less French than I do of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who I never heard of till then! Plus, Dr. Iversen had a great sense of humor, and was accessible and didn’t diminish our opinions, though she made us back them up, often expanding our visions and showing us things we hadn’t thought about.

Hands down, the best teacher I ever had. In the years since, I often wished I could have heard her opinions on all the news events that occurred since I knew her; a luxury her family and friends had! We all owe her a great debt.

~ Gavin Masterson (1975)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

remember by jenny downing

It’s been over 30 years since I graduated from Oneonta, but the one teacher I will always remember fondly is Ms. Iversen. I was so fortunate to have an educator who was incredibly passionate about the subjects she taught and her enthusiasm permeated throughout each student. I become a history devotee after my “Iversen Classes.” In all of my years of schooling, it was one of the few courses I really looked forward to, was excited about and remember to this day. I honor and thank you Joan as my all time favorite teacher. You will be remembered forever in my heart.

~ Allan Infeld (1981)

Photo (remember) courtesy of jenny downing on Flickr