SEAWARD DEVOTES CAREER
TO MEDICINE, HELPING OTHERS

Mary Beth Seaward works in a lab at the Terre Haute Center for Medical Education at ISU.

She was raised in a small town in South Carolina and started on the road to her medical career by enrolling in Allen University, S.C., but her college years would quickly become complicated by the two burning issues of the late 60’s.

During this time, the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War captured America’s attention and Seaward was no exception.  She was busy working her way toward an undergraduate degree in life sciences when things got interesting overseas and at home.

“This was during the height of the Civil Rights demonstrations, and there was quite a lot of upheaval on campuses in South Carolina,” she said. As a student, Seaward kept a close eye on the Civil Rights Movement but wasn’t actively involved in the on-campus protests.

But during her sophomore year, she was pushed into the spotlight through the university’s random selection of room assignments. At that time, the university was an all-black institution. Seaward’s new roommate was white.

“She and I got along really well,” Seaward said, but many students on campus criticized Seaward for continuing to room with the white student.

“I was ostracized a few times and called a traitor,” she said.

The remarks shook Seaward, but she was able to get through it with support from her family. “For a while (the criticism) bothered me,” she confessed, but her father encouraged her to stay strong. “He kept telling me that we are all God’s creation and that I needed to keep my head up.”

Also during her sophomore year, two major events occurred that would change Seaward’s life — she would get married, and she would meet Cynthia Shepard Perry (ISU, BS, ‘68; MS, ‘72).

She married Robert Seward in December 1966. The honeymoon was short-lived, as less than two months after the wedding Robert would receive his draft notice.

As most young people during this time, Seaward was familiar with the consequences of the Vietnam War. “I graduated in ‘65 and most of my classmates that were young men were drafted,” she said. “Quite a few of them were killed in action.”

About that same time, Seaward met Indiana State student Cynthia Shepard Perry, who was at Allen helping to recruit students to participate in an exchange program between the two universities.

Seaward was drawn to Shepard Perry, a native of Terre Haute, who would later be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone. “She always showed a level of strength that I couldn’t put my finger on,” she said. “Her demeanor impressed me. It seemed like she had the attitude that she was going to move forward regardless of what forces were out there.”

Shepard Perry was always supportive of Seward. “She was always there to say ‘Mary Beth, you can do it,” and Seaward was among 15 Allen students who headed to Terre Haute in September of 1967 to begin attending classes.

After arriving in Terre Haute, she noticed the political climate at that time was quite different in Indiana.

“Most of the thrust behind the Civil Rights Movement seemed to be in the south,” she said. “By the time I got to Terre Haute, people were protesting more against the war in Vietnam than they were protesting for civil rights.”

Seaward became somewhat active in the anti-war movement at ISU. “We demonstrated by carrying signs and walking around the post office,” she said.

In December of 1967, Seaward would receive some frightening news. A Red Cross representative showed up at the door of Seaward’s biochemistry class looking for her.

“My heart sank and I instantly felt weak,” she said. “But there was nothing I could do but accept the news and pray for the best.”

The news wasn’t good — Robert had been seriously injured in action.

Robert — who now serves as pastor of the Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church — would eventually recover from his injuries, but he wouldn’t be coming home. Instead he was sent back into the fighting, where he was wounded in action a second time. He would eventually finish his duty in February of 1969, the same year Mary Beth finished her bachelor’s degree in life sciences. After arriving back in the states, Robert moved to Terre Haute to join his wife.

Seaward continued on at ISU to earn her master’s in life sciences in 1972. Immediately after earning her master’s, she began working at the Terre Haute Center for Medical Education.

Seaward has devoted more than 28 years to the Center. “I’ve been involved in research for the majority of the time that I’ve worked here,” said Seaward adding that she’s always enjoyed the challenge — and possibilities – that her job provides.

“It’s a good feeling to be on the ground floor of a field where a discovery could be found that would benefit life in general.”

During that time, Seaward has earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues.

“She is very professional in her demeanor,” said Roy Geib, director of the Center, “She’s a wonderful person to know and work with. She’s well-rounded and one of the most giving people I’ve ever met.”

During her time at THCME, she has worked as a lab assistant, research assistant and currently holds the title of research associate in the area of molecular virology.

She has also been appointed to the administration of the THCME pre-college outreach initiative, assistant to the statewide coordinator for the IU School of Medicine Howard Hughes Medical Institute Pre-college Science Education Initiative, and most recently as medical education specialist for the Center.

As a medical education specialist, Seaward provides assistance to medical students. “I work with them, trying to make sure their needs are met outside of the educational realm,” she said.

She also provides research mentoring in cell and molecular biology, and immunology and microbiology for the graduate students in the life sciences department.

She also mentors for undergraduate, high school, middle school and even elementary school students through the summer honors and other programs.

“I enjoy interacting with people and I’ve always seen myself as a people person,” she said. “I enjoy helping people understand where they are and where they can go,” she said. “I try to be the cement — to help them along by telling them ‘you can do this’.”

Geib said students of all ages are drawn to Seaward. “Over the years, all of the students have always loved being around Mary Beth.”

Mary Johnson, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology an immunology at the Center, said Seaward has her own special style when teaching. “(It’s enjoyable) to watch her interact with a group of kids.”

While always being kind-hearted, Seaward will let someone know if she thinks they could do better. Her teaching style can be summed up with four simple words — warm, enthusiastic, caring — and practical.

This caring attitude combined with her honesty earns the respect of the students says Johnson, “The students seem to not want to disappoint her. They want to make Mary Beth happy and proud of them.”

These qualities not only make Seaward a great role model for the students, but also for other faculty and staff.

“She’s a role model for me,” continues Johnson, adding that after receiving her Ph.D., she started working with students without any formal training in that area. Watching Mary Beth has helped her become better at working with students. “She just does that so well,” Johnson said. “She is a person that everyone looks up to.”

During her years at ISU, Seaward said that William Brett, emeritus professor of life sciences, had a major effect on her career. “I still consider him an instructor, an advisor and a friend.”

Seaward adds that the entire life sciences department has always been helpful. “I always felt that there was someone there (in the department) that I could rely on.”

February 19, 2001