Dr. Adeline Bethany, a music professor for 39 years, is planning to retire at the end of this semester. Dr. Bethany is the professor for Cabrini College’s fine arts and music program. She is a fun-loving teacher who tries to bring out the best in her students.
“I love the students because they are great people,” Bethany said. “I love to see students come in very timid but blossom as time goes on.” Just like other faculty members, Bethany’s dream is to see all her students succeed.
Most students call her a dream come true any time they take her class. Bethany first joined the Cabrini faculty in 1975 and has seemingly played a major role in developing the fine arts and music program.
“I was first asked to teach creative arts in the elementary school,” Bethany said. “No music courses were offered around that time at the college so I offered to teach it and this later ended up becoming a program.”
Bethany conducts the college’s chorus and chorale. Her department works together with Cabrini College’s theatre and she is the coordinator of the fine arts department cultural events series.
“I became the chair of the fine arts department in 1979 after Sister Salesia LeDieu had retired because of a heart attack and resigned,” Bethany said. “The fine arts department formerly had a studio arts major and even though I was doing something that was not in my field, I learned a lot from that major.”
Bethany was the first to introduce the teachers teaching commercial arts which is now the graphic design program here at Cabrini College. “The graphic design program and the music program have truly developed,” Bethany said. “I would like to think that I have impacted a lot of students’ lives as I try to bring a lot of professionalism.”
She believes this will motivate the students to go out to concerts and be inspired to chase their dream.
Bethany has been passionate about music since the age of 13. She has always wanted to be a musician. “To me it has always been either music or becoming a veterinarian,” Bethany said.
She drives through the campus always willing and ready to see and teach her students. “There is a positive feeling here at Cabrini that motivates you anytime you drive through the campus,” Bethany said. “When I retire I plan to travel a lot and see places I have not seen yet and also spend time with family.”
While Bethany was offered a professorship at Neuman College she decided to teach at Cabrini instead.
“I chose Cabrini for a couple of reasons, mainly because Neumann University had all females at that time while Cabrini had both genders,” Bethany said. “Cabrini College also had more interesting courses at that time.” There is something about Cabrini that makes you feel at home. To many of the students and faculty, Cabrini College is home away from home.
“It is my understanding that I may not be replaced when I finally retire,” Bethany said. “I am concerned about it and my desire is to see the music program continue.” Since the college is a liberal arts school, music is essentially part of its curriculum. “I hope when I am gone they find a full time teacher to teach the program instead of an adjunct.”
