Psychology Instructor Marks 26 Years at Wiregrass

August 27, 2026 - 20:17

FITZGERALD - For 26 years, Sherry Carroll has walked into her classroom at Wiregrass with the same goal: to make psychology something students actually want to think about, not just memorize. Carroll, a longtime instructor at the college, recently reflected on her career and what keeps her going after more than two and a half decades of teaching.

Carroll says she never planned to stay this long. But the students, she explains, are what made the difference. "Every semester brings a new group of people with new questions and new ways of seeing the world," she said. "That keeps it fresh." Her approach has always been to connect the material to real life, using everyday examples to explain concepts like memory, motivation, and mental health. She believes that psychology is not just an academic subject but a tool for understanding yourself and others.

Over the years, Carroll has seen the college change, technology shift, and teaching methods evolve. But her core belief has stayed the same: a good instructor listens as much as they talk. Former students often come back to tell her that her class helped them in their careers or personal lives. That feedback, she says, is the real reward.

As she marks this milestone, Carroll shows no signs of slowing down. She still gets excited when a student has that moment where something clicks. For her, that moment is the whole point. After 26 years, she says, it still feels like the first time.