The San Matean

Issue date: 5/27/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ricky Light German Professor Diane Musgrave, 63, has been teaching at CSM for over 41 years

German and ESL professor will be retiring after 41 years, but will still be returning for a three spring semester long post-retirement teaching contract.

Diane Musgrave, 63, began her career at CSM as a student teacher for German classes in 1967 while still finishing her degree at Stanford. Upon finishing her Masters Degree in German, she was hired by CSM as a German professor in 1970.

In 1984, Musgrave began teaching ESL and was granted permission to teach part time at while earning a second degree.

"The administration was very supportive and encouraged me to go back to school so that I could teach ESL and German," said Musgrave.

In 1989, she graduated from SFSU with a M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language.

"I really enjoy teaching ESL," said Musgrave. "I learned so much from my students and from my colleagues."

Over the years, Musgrave has been active in the campus community. She has been on the Committee of Instruction, the Scholarship Committee, was the chairman of the Library Committee, the co-Chair of the Accreditation Committee.

Most recently, she was part of the Writing Across the Curriculum program.

"We learn from students and they learn from us," said Musgrave. "We work as colleagues to help students improve their writing."

Upon retiring, she has plans to begin reading more, as well as playing the piano, which she plays at her church.

"I'd also like to try some gardening," said Musgrave. "I've never tried it and I would like to try to attract some bees because of the problem with the bees."

Musgrave has plans to start traveling. She wants to go the East Coast and Washington state to visit her family.

"I also would like to go to Germany during advent," said Musgrave. "I haven't been able to get to Germany yet during December."

"I feel as if it is time for me to try new things," said Musgrave. "But I have a lot of gratitude for my time here."

"She's contributed very much to the German and the English as a Second Language department," said Sandra Comerford, the dean of language arts. "She's an excellent instructor and I'm happy for her and she certainly deserves it. For the division I'm certainly not very happy because we're losing a valuable person."

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