Rogers
Ida Long Rogers, a professor of higher education and director of
student affairs at George Peabody College for Teachers who helped shape
that institution’s future in the days before its merger with
Vanderbilt, died Sunday, Sept. 26.
Rogers, 83, an accomplished national and international expert on higher
education, retired in 1985 after a 30-year career at Peabody that
included service on the Select Committee on Peabody’s Second Century –
a three-member committee charged in 1974 by then president John
Dunworth with conducting a self-study of the college and making
recommendations for its future.
The committee’s report, Design for the Future, played an integral role in building the framework for the present-day college.
Charles Smith, former Tennessee state Commissioner of Education and
former chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, said Rogers was
his major professor in doctoral studies at Peabody in the 1970s and had
been a close friend ever since.
“Without question, she was the best teacher I ever had anywhere,” Smith
said. “She epitomized what a caring teacher was all about.” He recalled
that he was working when going to college. Many times she would invite
him to her home on Sunday to discuss his doctoral thesis because he
could not come during the week. “She went well beyond the norm for any
teacher.”
Smith also pointed out that she was the major professor for many future
chancellors and presidents of colleges and universities including Rich
Rhoda, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission
and former Austin Peay State University President Sal Rinella.
“When I first went to Peabody, I had no idea how good she was and how
respected, but it suddenly dawns on you that you are dealing with an
exceptional teacher. I realized this was a person who was distinguished
yet unassuming. She was very generous with her knowledge,” Rhoda said.
“Those of us who were her students continue to feel her influence all these years later,” Rhoda added.
In addition to her work at Vanderbilt, Rogers used her higher education
expertise as a consultant for Meharry Medical College, Oklahoma City
University, O’More School of Design, Vanderbilt’s Divinity School,
Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba in Brazil, and Yonsei University
and Duksung Women’s College in Seoul, Korea.
Rogers earned a bachelor’s degree in 1941 at Wesleyan College where she
majored in English and social studies. Following graduation, she worked
as a field secretary with the Girl Scouts of America and as a secretary
with Capitol Airlines in Norfolk, Va. She began her career in education
when she became registrar at William and Mary at Norfolk (now Old
Dominion University) before earning her master’s degree in education
from Peabody College in 1951.
Following her studies at Peabody, she served as dean of women at
Georgia’s Teachers College (now Georgia Southern College) in
Statesboro, Ga. After her stint in Georgia, she returned in 1954 to
Peabody where she served as director of student affairs for eight years.
Rogers continued her education at the University of Michigan where she
earned a doctorate degree in higher education in 1964 and served as
departmental assistant with the university’s Center for Study of Higher
Education. She returned to Peabody College as faculty member after
earning her doctorate.
Rogers is survived by her brother, Richard Wade Rogers III of Biloxi,
Miss.; niece, Elizabeth Childress of Marietta, Ga. (George Childress);
nephew, Richard Wade Rogers IV of Gulfport, Miss. (Patricia O. Rogers);
and nieces and nephews Zachary Childress, Alex Childress, Sarah Roy,
and Richard Wade Rogers V.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Oct. 1, at 4 p.m. at Belmont
United Methodist Church, 2007 Acklen Ave. A reception will be held at
the church following the service.
The family requests that memorial gifts be made to: The Ida Long Rogers
Scholarship Fund at Peabody University, Gift Records Office, Vanderbilt
University, Station B 357727, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, Tenn.,
37235-7703; or Belmont United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 120098,
Nashville, Tenn., 37212.
Posted 9/28/04
