by Brandy Anderson
Queen Catherine #bae: this is the description that a student assigned to Catherine Innes-Parker. “If only I were trapped in a tower, weaving,” another student writes on Rate My Professor, “I would wish for Dr. Innes-Parker to ride up on her white horse and take me away from Lancelot, and all of those fools.”
I met Innes-Parker as a student nine years ago in one of her medieval text classes. I'll never forget my first introduction to her: we were all sitting in the classroom waiting for her to appear.
Five minutes after class was scheduled to begin, one student asked what the protocol was if the professor was absent.
A few minutes more ticked by, the discussion went on; fifteen minutes was the general consensus as to when students are supposed to walk if the prof is a no-show.
By now, we were hitting the ten-minute mark – and then the door opened. A rather bohemian looking woman rushed in, with a feather in her hair, her long skirt swooshed as she walked, she deposited a large bag on the table, and then she threw her hands in the air and muttered something akin to, “Oh, crap”, and then, without an explanation, she spun back around and left the room.
“Where did she go?” a student asked. I laughed. What a funny first encounter.
Another student pointed out that she had left her bag so she must be returning.
Another minute crept by, and she returned, large coffee cup in hand. She perched herself on the edge of the desk, took a long pull from her coffee, and then looked at us all.
“Sorry,” she said with a laugh, “I had forgotten my coffee. Okay, let's begin.”
And that was how I met her. I took numerous classes with her over the course of my undergrad. I hated to miss a class, but, as a single mom with a young son, there were a few times over the years that I couldn't help but miss some.
I will never forget standing in Catherine's office. I was worried she would be disappointed that I had missed two classes in a row.
Instead of chiding me, she gave me a hug and told me how impressed she was, she said being a student is always difficult, but being one whilst being a single parent and the sole provider, was something rather impressive.
She said she was proud of me. I wish I had told her how much that moment has always meant to me, but I hope, somehow, she felt it.
I could go on about more moments and fun remembrances, but I'll save those for later. For now, I want to let all of Catherine's family and friends know how very much she will always be missed by me (she's Catherine to me because she always seemed as if she had just stepped out of another time).
She championed me in my application to grad school, she connected me with her contacts, and she is one of my principle inspirations as I continue to pursue my PhD in literature.
There's one more student review that I think captures Catherine rather succinctly: “She may appear a bit too cheerful when it comes to Beowulf!”
