May 05, 2008
Steve Raymer
Owen V. Johnson
Greg Ruhland
Linda Long
Glenda Ketcham
Q&A with Bonnie Brownlee, associate dean for undergraduate studies
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| Photo by Jacob Kriese |
BB: There is no specific thing that I remember most about Grace. I will remember her spirit, the way that she looks at the world in such a positive way.
J200: What do you think was one of the biggest challenges that Grace faced at work?
BB: Anybody who sits out at the front desk has to have a positive attitude.
J200: How do you feel about Grace’s photo endeavors?
BB: I’ve looked at a few things. It started as a hobby. But it is so nice to see that she is passionate about something and able to make money from it, too.
J200: Grace plays darts and makes quilts. Have you witnessed her doing these hobbies?
BB: I have heard about her dart playing. And I have seen some of her quilts. She used to fix them for people in the office. She always had a variety of things behind her desk.
J200: Grace said that working at IU has been one of the biggest learning experiences in her life. Can you relate to this statement?
BB: I have been here a long time. I did my undergraduate work here. Then, I came back here for graduate school, and now I have a job here. It is one of the places where I have learned the most.
— by Lauren, Falk, Talia Cirangle and Alex Schultze, J200
Q&A with Steve Raymer, associate professor specializing in photojournalism
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| Photo by Grace Carpenter |
SR: I feel like I have known Grace for half of my adult life, but I can’t remember when I first met her. We became family very quickly. I think it was our common love of dogs. She took a shine to our now-deceased Golden Retriever, Samson. Since my wife and I both travel a lot, she became Samson’s guardian during our long travels. We would drag Samson over to her house, and she treated him just like one of her own animals. And some of these trips would be quite long. In the case of my sabbatical, I left Samson for up to six weeks.
J200: How have you related to Grace’s interest in photography?
SR: Actually, I think that Grace has a great natural eye for making a picture. When I see somebody who has this great innate ability, [I] want to give her some unsolicited or solicited advice, whatever the case may be. I have looked at Grace’s work and given her some feedback, and she sends photos to me. But the thing about Grace that always impresses me is that she always has her camera. She is out at unusual times, when the weather is interesting, when the light is interesting. She is never afraid to try something new. Grace gets a lot of really good pictures because she is out when it is rainy or when it is foggy. She sees the interesting light conditions. I bought Grace a book by Galen Rowell called Mountain Light, which is about learning to see and study light. I thought she would really appreciate it. She is very passionate.
J200: How have you been affected by knowing Grace?
SR: Grace has led a very tough life. She had had some real setbacks, and she has always bounced back. She is living proof that you have to pick yourself up and come back after adversity. Grace has adapted, and she’s improvised and survived. She talks about growing up in rural Indiana, being homeless. She has come back from that. She is a resilient person. By knowing Grace, you can certainly understand how resilience is part of what we all need to survive and prosper.
— by Jacob Kriese, J200
Interview with associate professor Owen Johnson, author many articles about World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle
J200: How has Grace most impacted your life?
OJ: She helped me type the letters of Ernie Pyle, and she maintained her enthusiasm throughout the long process.
J200: What will you most miss about having Grace around?
OJ: Her smile and her friendliness.
— by Maxx Rapaport, J200
Interview with Greg Ruhland, graduate student who worked with Carpenter as an assistant at the Weil Journalism Library
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| Photo by Grace Carpenter |
| This winter scene is one of Carpenter’s favorites. |
He thinks that one trait he shares with Grace is finding the beauty and significance in common things that others might overlook. Ruhland asserts that he and Grace enthusiastically express an “appreciation for the things we see.”
One quality that Ruhland appreciates in Grace is her willingness to help others. “She has a genuine interest in people,” he said.
Ruhland smiled when he recalled the time that Grace helped him sew a seam in his coat. Ruhland said that he would miss seeing Grace on a daily basis.
“She was always the first person to say hello to me in the morning,” said Ruhland.
Though Ruhland will miss Grace, he is not concerned about how she will spend her retirement.
“She’s just beginning. She’ll spend time working on her quilts, her photography. And she will continue bringing satisfaction to people.”
— by Jason Ellis, Elizabeth Herlihy and Andrew Tuke, J200
Interview with Linda Long, student services assistant at the School of Journalism
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| Photo by Jacob Kriese |
| Quilting requires attention to detail, especially when one is restoring damaged material. |
Linda Long, a student services assistant at Ernie Pyle, said that the past seven years working with Grace have been enjoyable.
“I admire her,” Long said. “She’s someone I look up to.”
After Long joined the journalism staff, she began to recognize Grace’s talents.
“She’s very resourceful,” Long said. “She can do almost anything.”
Long said that she admired Grace’s quilting and photography skills but that Grace’s most impressive talent is her eagerness to help people.
“People go to her for everything, and she is able to find them what they need,” Long said.
Long concluded that Grace is a “special lady” who will be missed by everyone at Ernie Pyle Hall. She pointed out said even though Grace will no longer be working at the School of Journalism, Grace will stay very busy with outside hobbies and activities.
“It’s going to be different without her,” Long said. “We all wish her well.”
— by Kristina Hunter, Alexandria Willhardt, Iesha Hill, J200
Interview with Glenda Ketcham, graduate admissions coordinator
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| Photo by Grace Carpenter |
| In retirement, Carpenter hopes to secure work as a photographer. Much of her work is of scenic campus scenes. |
“She always shares with me when she gets a new quilting or fabric catalogue, which in turn, may give me ideas for scrapping,” said Ketcham.
Ketcham foresees Carpenter’s retirement jam-packed with activities.
"She will finally have time for all those projects that have been floating around in her head for years," said Ketcham. Many enjoy retirement by doing a lot of nothing. Ketcham, however, believes Grace is an exception.
“She will be so busy that she will wonder how she ever had time to work here," said Ketcham.
— by Jason Ellis, J200
