When Michael Crabtree, Ph.D. ’69 arrived at Hiram College, he wasn’t entirely sure where his professional journey would lead. Like many college students, he was still discovering his interests and considering the possibilities ahead. What he found at Hiram was more than an academic direction. He found a community of faculty, mentors, and classmates who would influence the course of his life.

Although Hiram’s liberal arts curriculum introduced him to a broad range of disciplines, it was the College’s psychology faculty who had the greatest impact on his future. Their commitment to teaching, mentorship, and undergraduate research helped him develop not only the academic skills necessary for professional success, but also the values and perspectives that would guide him throughout his career.

Among his most meaningful experiences was the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research. During one summer on campus, Dr. Crabtree served as a research assistant on a National Institutes of Health-funded project developed by then recent Hiram graduate Sam Moot and sponsored by psychology professor Ralph Cebulla. The project examined ulcer formation in animals and provided an early introduction to the research process. Dr. Crabtree also had the opportunity to serve as a co-author on a research project that was eventually published in one of the field’s most prestigious journals.

Yet, looking back, he believes the most important lessons extended beyond the research itself. “Even more important than the research itself were the values, perspectives, and worldview shared by the Psychology faculty,” Dr. Crabtree shared. “They helped establish the intellectual and personal foundation upon which I have built my career.”

That foundation was strengthened by the personal connections that defined his undergraduate experience. He particularly remembers the senior psychology seminar, held in the old Hurd House. Each week, the College’s senior psychology majors gathered with three faculty members to discuss contemporary issues and their connections to psychology. What made those conversations especially meaningful was the willingness of faculty members to participate alongside their students, sharing their time, expertise, and perspectives in an intimate academic setting.

“The senior psychology seminar was a rich and rewarding experience for all of us,” Dr. Crabtree said. “What amazed me most was that each of the faculty members took the time to participate regularly in these discussions.”

Dr. Crabtree also recalls being invited to the home of a religion professor, Dr. Watson, for an evening of conversation. For him, the experience captured something distinctive about Hiram: an environment where learning was not confined to classrooms or scheduled times, but continued through personal relationships and shared experiences across the campus community.

Of course, not every memorable experience was academic. As a student, Dr. Crabtree held several campus jobs, including serving as an animal caretaker for the psychology department, a relief switchboard operator, a college driver, and a dining hall employee. Those positions helped support his education while offering opportunities to develop practical skills and relationships across campus. He also spent two summers at Hiram, balancing research responsibilities with work on the grounds crew and afternoons at Sugar Bush Golf Club.

He recalls an unforgettable afternoon at the newly established Barrow Field Station with psychology professor Walter Rae Knight. The pair attempted to establish a colony of ground squirrels on a small island in the Field Station’s pond. The squirrels, however, had other plans. As soon as they were released, the animals jumped into the water and began swimming toward the shore. The afternoon quickly turned into an impromptu rescue operation, with Dr. Crabtree using his penny loafers to scoop up the escaping squirrels and return them to their cages. Needless to say, the experiment did not go as planned.

Although decades have passed since his graduation, Dr. Crabtree’s appreciation for the College and the people who shaped his education has only grown. That gratitude eventually inspired him and his wife to establish an endowed fund honoring the psychology faculty members who had such a profound influence on his life. Through their generosity, they hope to help future generations of students experience the same meaningful mentorship and educational opportunities that made his own Hiram experience so valuable.

Throughout his professional life, Dr. Crabtree worked alongside other alumni, including Michael Grzesiak ’90, who went on to serve at Oberlin College, and Elizabeth MacLeod Walls ’96, president of Washington & Jefferson College, under whose leadership he spent the final two years of his career. Those professional connections reinforced his appreciation for the lasting value of a Hiram education and the success of graduates across a variety of fields.

Today, Dr. Crabtree’s advice to current students emphasizes the importance of taking advantage of opportunities beyond the classroom. For students pursuing graduate study, he encourages strong academic performance complemented by research experience. For those preparing to enter the workforce, he emphasizes the value of internships and other opportunities to apply their education in professional settings.