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- Dr. Surrendra Singh
College of Education Faculty Oral Histories
Dr. Surrendra Singh
SS: That is correct simultaneously. We live in a country where the rule of law is considered as important ways to function. Some rules and laws may not be at their matured evolved stature and for them there are democratic mechanisms for instituting change. In higher education, shared governance rules were not well developed. Whatever rules were developed by professional organizations such as AAUP (American Association of University Professors) had no legal enforceability. Therefore, it became even more of import to establish legal enforceable contracts along with shared governance. We could have shared governance, but if you don’t have any legal rights what does that shared governance mean if it is tested?
LB: Now at some point in your career you took a leave of absence, or perhaps a sabbatical to go to, was it, Tufts University?
SS: Prior to that, I took a leave of absence and went to teach at the University of Hawaii as a visiting professor.
LB: Oh did you? I did not know about that part. Tell me what you did in Hawaii first.
SS: In 1974, I had completed a challenging federally funded project at USF when I received an offer to teach from the Department of Special Education at the University of Hawaii. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. We didn’t have union contract then and sabbaticals were difficult to obtain. I took a leave of absence for a year. I provided leadership in developing a special education program and taught two courses (Theories of Specific Learning Disabilities and Psychological and Educational Assessment of Exceptional Children). While I was there, I took on some leisure activities such as scuba diving. It was a great year of great experience both professionally and personally.
LB: O.K. That was the introduction to scuba diving. That’s natural.
SS: Yes, that’s right.
LB: And then was there some time in Boston.
SS: Yes. In 1976, I was awarded a national scholarship for a post doctoral training at the New England Medical Center in the Department of Neuropsychology to work with Drs. Homer and James Reed.
LB: With that you had a certification to do individual psychological evaluation. Was that a part of the outcome as well as teaching in that area?
SS: The experience at the NEMC enhanced my skills with latest available approaches in assessment. As part of training at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric School and Fernald’s Clinic School at UCLA, I had developed assessment skills in early ‘60s. As I have stated previously, I have an interdisciplinary training and experience that includes psychology, applied sociology, special education, neuropsychology, and Psychopharmacology FPPR Diplomate Status with PPR (Prescribing Psychologist Register).
LB: Great. Now as you arrived at USF did you see or could you have foreseen the tremendous growth of this University in terms of number of student, building, programs, research whatever that has occurred during your tenure here?