UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #846
COE, CHRISTOPHER

COE, Christopher (1951- )
Professor, Department of Psychology; Director, Harlow Primate Laboratory
At UW: 1985-

Interviewed: 2007	
Interviewer: Robert Lange
Length: 04:35:55

Chris Coe talks about his family and background, his early education, the City College of New York, and his graduate studies at Downstate Medical Center and Stanford Medical School. He talks about his research on the immune system, his recruitment to UW Primate Laboratory, teaching, and his students. He discusses the Department of psychology, his directorship of Harlow Primate Lab, the utility of his research, his work on the concept of stress, and on the biology of aging. He talks about the animal rights movement and how it affected his research. He talks about his research on HIV and flu, and a student's work on post-traumatic stress disorder. He discusses the culture of the department, the physical facilities, and his graduate student instruction. He talks about his time on the Animal Care and Use Committee and trends in the animal rights movement. He talks about his involvement with the Health Emotions Research Institute and other research centers and programs. He talks about the changes in UW administration, the relationship of UW with state legislature and the population, the UW student body. He ends by discussing significant concerns about the UW administration and the future of the Harlow lab.

NOTE: THIS INTERVIEW WAS RESTRICTED UNTIL 3/27/2012

First Interview Session (February 14, 2007): Tapes 1-2

Tape 1/Side 1

00:00:22	Question: If you would let us know when and where you were born, and tell us a bit about who your parents were and your early growing up years and what the first decade of school was like? Answer: Christopher Coe was born in New York City in 1951.  His parents were first-generation Americans and they placed strong emphasis on their children’s education.

00:02:01	Question: What did your father do? Answer: His father had earned a master’s degree in psychology before working in the Department of Labor for the state of New York.  His mother worked part-time in addition to running the household.

00:02:43	Question: It was clear to you and your brother early on that education was particularly important? Answer: CC discusses his education in the New York public schools.  He completed high school at age 16. He discusses growing up in New York City.

00:13:16	Question: How did you pick City College of New York? Answer: He attended City College of New York and discusses factors that led to his choosing to attend there. He discusses the environment and his experiences at the school during the Vietnam era.

00:19:31	Question: You were an anthropology major and a biology minor, how did you come to those selections? Answer: CC majored in anthropology and minored in biology. He discusses how he came to be interested in these topics.

00:24:05	Question: You graduate with honors from city college in 1971, what were you going to do, did you know you were going on to graduate school? Answer: After graduating in 1971 he began graduate study at the Downstate Medical Center of SUNY in Brooklyn.

00:29:48	End of side.

Tape 1/Side 2

00:29:57	Question: It seems like you were clearly trapped for a career in research then, by entering this program? Answer: Christopher Coe continues to discuss his graduate education.  He describes some influential professors.

00:36:04	No question: One of his mentors, Leonard Rosenblum, had been a graduate student under Harry Harlow at UW.

00:38:21	Question: Was [the field of monkey research] growing exponentially at this point or was it still a relatively new field? Answer: CC talks about the field of research utilizing monkeys.

00:40:13	Question: What is your PhD dissertation? Answer: His dissertation focused on the relationship between environmental factors and social dominance and aggression in monkeys.

00:45:13	Question: What else is going on intellectually while you're working on your PhD? Answer: He went as a postdoc to Stanford Medical School to learn more about physiology and the endocrine system.  CC studied stress under Seymour Levine.

00:50:53	Question: What happened in that year as a postdoc? Answer: CC remained at Stanford on the scientist track for nine years.

00:57:29	End of side.  End of tape.

Tape 2/Side 1

00:57:40	Question: Tell us about the development and evolution of your research career at Stanford. Answer: Christopher Coe discusses his research at Stanford.

00:58:47	No question: He talks about his interest in the immune system.

01:05:57	Question: How many years are you doing this at Stanford? Answer: CC was recruited to direct the Primate Lab at UW.

01:10:05	Question: One of the issues you had to deal with later in your career here were the animal rights activist people. Was that an issue at Stanford? Answer: He discusses the animal rights movement.

01:13:17	Question: What's it like when you get [to Madison]? Answer: CC was told that the lab was running a deficit; he was given one year to turn it around. 

01:15:08	No question: He talks about the relationship between the lab and the psychology department.

01:17:50	No question: CC talks about his research budget.

01:19:32	No question: He discusses his teaching, including a course on animal behavior in primates.

01:24:39	Question: When you started encountering undergraduate students here, did they compare favorably or unfavorably to your experience at Stanford? Answer: CC compares and contrasts students in New York, Stanford, and Wisconsin.

01:27:30	End of side.

Tape 2/Side 2

01:27:38	Question: What was the department like? Answer: Christopher Coe discusses the department of psychology.

01:32:59	Question: When you came to the department in the 80's... what was it like? Answer: He characterizes the culture of the department and how it has changed.

01:35:19	Question: How did you turn [the lab] around financially? Answer: CC restored sound finance at the Harlow Primate Lab.

01:36:43	Question: But you had self interest, you had to make the lab succeed? Answer: He thinks that upon his retirement the Harlow Primate Lab will merge with the Regional Primate Center.

01:38:05	End of side. End of tape.

Second Interview Session (February 28, 2007): Tapes 2-3
Tape 2/Side 2, continued

00:00:10	Question: Could you review your research from [the time of your arrival] to today? Answer: When CC first arrived at the Primate Lab, his research focused on how psychological factors influence immune responses, especially in developing infants.

00:04:42	Question: How do you correct for genetic predisposition? Answer: He talks about genetic predisposition.  

00:06:37	Question: How have you managed to find a practical use for your research during your career? Answer: CC discusses his role as an applied researcher and his attempts to explain the utility of his research to the public.

00:10:34	Question: In the late 80's when you're starting this research, have you secured major federal support at this point? Answer: He describes the sources of funding for his research and for the lab.

00:13:03	No question: CC talks about the intellectual community at UW.

00:17:36	Question: Is stress your fundamental interest? Answer: He discusses the concept of stress and its popularization.

00:20:24	End of side.  End of tape.

Tape 3/Side 1

00:20:31	Question: Does it distress you to hear a concept so misunderstood? Answer: Christopher Coe continues to discuss the popularization of the concept of stress.

00:22:34	Question: At what point do you expand your parameters and move beyond stress? Answer: He talks about his research on immune senescence and the biology of aging.  

00:24:18	No question: CC  oversees the biological measures in the MIDUS (Midlife in the United States) project.

00:26:20	Question: Has the animal rights presence become problematic? Answer: He thinks the animal rights movement has been beneficial in making researchers more aware of ethical concerns and in developing regulatory oversight for use of animals in research. Nevertheless CC is still vilified by certain animal rights activists.

00:29:58	Question: Did that protest cause you stress? Answer: He discusses how animal rights influence his decision-making and research.

00:34:02	Question: Over the years has the university administration been a consistent supporter of yours and the Harlow Lab? Answer: The University has strongly supported the use of animals in research on campus, although administrators have been cautious in supporting potentially controversial research programs.

00:36:27	Question: Do you feel like your research program is more carefully scrutinized than others? Answer: Several campus Animal Use Committees oversee his research.

00:38:26	Question: At this point in your career is it fair to say that you are content and secure with your ability to continue to work with animals as you need to? Answer: The Harlow Lab entirely depends on NIH grant support and outside contracts.

00:40:30	Question: Given the current anti-intellectual climate in America, how concerned are you about the future of federal funding? Answer: CC discusses the prospects for continued federal funding for his research.

00:42:50	Question: You also did some work on HIV? Answer: He talks about his research on HIV.

00:45:33	Question: When did you pick up flu, then? Answer: He describes his research on flu.

00:49:11	End of side.

Tape 3/Side 2

00:49:16	Question: When did that flu work begin? Answer: Christopher Coe continues to discuss his research on flu.

00:49:50	Question: One of the projects that you worked on concerned the crush at Camp Randall... what was that? Answer: He describes a post-traumatic stress disorder study of students involved in the crowd crush at Camp Randall in 1994.

00:55:40	Question: How did you integrate your research into your teaching? Answer: He talks about teaching his course on animal behavior.

01:04:12	Question: What else do you teach? Answer: CC describes his course on the psycho-biology of stress and coping.

01:06:15	Question: Could you make some observations about the department, issues, significant colleagues? Answer: He discusses the culture of the psychology department.

01:16:12	Question: Who are some of the significant younger faculty? Answer: CC describes some of the new faculty in the department.

01:17:20	Question: What about the physical space for the department? Answer: He talks about physical facilities for the department.

01:20:12	End of side. End of tape.

Tape 4/Side 1

Third Interview Session (March 27, 2007): Tapes 4-5

00:00:13	Question: Could you talk about your work with graduate students? Answer: Coe discusses some of the graduate students that he taught during his career.  He talks about the role of the advisor.  He mentions several individual students who became successful scientists.

00:04:50	No question: He talks about the fact that none of his students have chosen to continue working in the field of primate research.  He talks about the challenges in the future of primate research centers. Post doctoral research positions in the field.

00:07:30	Question: Are you still having PhD students today? Answer: He currently has two graduate students and a research staff.

00:08:16	Question: You were the chair of the Letters and Science Animal Care and Use Committee, when was that? Answer: CC outlines his service on the Letters and Science Animal Care and Use Committee, federal regulation of animal research and welfare and increasing formalization of oversight.

00:10:22	No question: He talks about the formation of the committee and the early evolution of the committee structure on campus.  He discusses the operations of the Committee and relations with the USDA.

00:16:29	Question: Are you still on the L&S committee? Answer: He explains why he no longer serves on the committee.  He talks about the stricter oversight of animal research mandated by the USDA.

00:19:10	Question: With the change in committee structure and regulations... has this materially affected your ability to do research? Answer: He discusses changes in the perception of the use of animals in research.  He discusses whether or not the increased regulation is detrimental to research.  He explains how increased regulation has improved the public image of animal research and increasing use of pain medication in animal research.

00:23:57	Question: When you were chair of the committee did you work pretty closely with whoever was dean of the college? Answer: He talks about the UW Graduate School and its relationship with the Animal Care and Use Committee as well as other animal research programs across campus.

00:26:21	Question: It doesn't seem like the animal rights activists have as high a profile as they used to. Answer: Coe discusses recent trends in the animal rights movement.  He feels that the movement has a lower public profile than it did in years past.  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other groups have recently shifted focus away from academic research to agribusiness and commercial use of animals.  The Primate Freedom Tour in Madison.  Animal Liberation Week.  Trends toward increased vegetarianism.

00:30:18	End of Side.

Tape 4/Side 2

00:30:22	Question: Could you talk about your role in Health Emotions Research Institute? Answer: Christopher Coe discusses his involvement with the Health Emotions Research Institute.  He talks about the impact of emotions on physical health, interdisciplinary research, and the Mind-Body Center.

00:33:16	No question: He talks about his research on fibromyalgia and Richard Davidson as well as grant funding for postdoctoral researchers.

00:37:26	Question: Can you elaborate on the potential for collaboration that has been appealing? Answer: CC talks about the strength of the research program at UW.  He talks about the opportunity for, and value of, collaborative research.  The variety of excellent researchers on the UW campus.

00:39:02	Question: The interviewer comments on how you wouldn't expect world-class collaborators to be found in Wisconsin. Answer: Coe talks about the value of the UW for the state of Wisconsin.  Relations with the state legislature.  He discusses Donna Shalala’s strength as a promoter of UW.  John Wiley.

00:43:16	No question: He talks about the significant building projects on the UW campus and fund raising efforts. Negative public opinion about UW.

00:44:53	Question: Could you comment on the Institute on Aging? Answer: CC discusses his service on the steering committee on the Institute on Aging.  Research on aging.

00:49:15	Question: It seems to me with the aging population in America, this work is probably very important? Answer: He talks about the growing importance of aging research as the population of the US gets older.  Demographic changes.

00:51:00	Question: There is one more area of service, the General Clinical Research Center. Answer: CC talks about the General Clinical Research Center at the UW Hospital.  

00:52:48	No question: Coe talks about the infrastructure necessary to enable and promote major university research.  Federal funding of academic research.  Evaluation of faculty based on grants and publications.

00:57:07	End of Side.  End of Tape.

Tape 5/Side 1

00:57:20	Question: What do you think about the student body at UW? Answer: Coe talks about the UW student body over the years of his career.  He feels that they are not dramatically different as students in the classroom.  Changing attitudes about technology. Expectation of convenience. 

00:59:22	No question: He feels students today are more anxious about grades and career paths.  

01:02:04	Question: You've had enough good undergraduate students to keep it interesting for you? Answer: He talks about teaching large lecture classes. The grade distribution has remained relatively constant over the years.

01:03:56	Question: Are the graduate students coming in as well prepared as ever? Answer: He discusses the quality of the graduate students who chose to enter the psychology program.  He feels that they are not on average as good as they used to be.  The best students are increasingly likely to enter other fields. There is also a gender shift, with a dramatic increase in the number of female students and faculty in the field.

01:05:59	Question: Could you reflect on the university itself and your experience with the leadership? Answer: He talks about the significant support that he has received from the University.  He discusses the relationship between the Harlow Lab and the Dean’s office.  He feels the relationship is quite negative and “destructive.”  He worries about the future of the lab. He talks about restructuring in the Dean’s office.

01:10:10	No question: He talks about some of the new administrators in the Dean’s office and the decline of faculty governance.  He foresees an impending conflict that might lead to the end of the lab because of a new organizational plan.

01:15:09	No question: He says that if he were at an earlier point in his career, he would look to leave the UW because of the administration and the situation with the lab. 

01:16:32	No question: He talks about the possibility that he will withdraw grants or end research projects. The consequences of ending the Harlow lab program. He compares the recent deans to some figures from the past.  He talks about the department’s lack of support from the administration.  

01:28:24	End of Side.

Tape 5/Side 2

01:28:27	No question: Coe continues to discuss his belief that the Harlow lab will be dismantled during the reorganization of animal research at UW.  The problem of “top-down” management from the Dean’s office.

01:30:38	Question: So it really is pretty clear that the change is going to happen unless there's a major battle? Answer: Coe talks about his efforts to rally support for the continuation of the lab.  He explains the history of the lab’s independence and position in L&S.

01:34:47	Question: To me, the most distressing aspect of this is that you have not been welcomed to make a formal presentation to the deans. Answer: He discusses other research and options he might pursue if the lab is dismantled.

01:37:38	End of Side.  End of Tape.  End of Interview.

END of Oral History #846