The Woodward Alumni Hall of Fame Association
Barbara Czyzewski Masten Inducted 2022 - Class of 1966
Barbara(Czyzewski) Masten is a 1966 graduate of Woodward High School. After graduation from Woodward Barbara continued her studies at the University of Toledo and earned a Bachelor’s of Education in Secondary Education, Social Sciences and English in 1970.
Barbara remembers a few favorite teachers at Woodward, notably: Jim Wilusz, Don Bahna, and especially, Eileen Hudgin. Mrs. Hudgin’s teaching theory and techniques impressed Barbara so much that she adopted them into her own teaching style.
After graduation from the University of Toledo Barbara was employed with the General Motors Powertrain plant in Toledo, Ohio serving in a variety of management posts. Barbara was honored as the first female salaried employee to obtain a master's degree through GM’s tuition refund program in 1979.
In 1982 Barbara started her teaching career that would eventually lead her to Lourdes University.
Barbara taught English at Lourdes College (now University) for 25 years. While a faculty member at Lourdes, Barbara created and directed many programs and received several awards for her work. Among the programs she developed were the Lourdes College Readiness Program from 2011-2014, and the Learning Resource Center. Through her hard work and determination Barbara became an Associate Professor and Chair of the English
Department at Lourdes.
Barbara has been heavily invested in her community and volunteerism. You could find Barbara volunteering on the St. Joseph Parish Festerama or working on the United Appeal while employed by General Motors.
While teaching at Lourdes she created and facilitated a project for schools in Tanzania, Africa. Barbara organized faculty, staff and the student body at Lourdes to collect supplies for grade schools. Through her efforts crayons, blackboard chalk, markers, pencils, puzzles, drawing supplies that children need for their education were collected.
Her husband of 46 years, Bill, passed away in 2018. Barbara has a son, Todd (Ann) and is a proud grandmother of two girls.