My time at Duke is almost over. I turned in my thesis last Friday and spent the weekend packing up to move to New York next month. Like any school experience, mine has had its ups and downs, but overall, it has been amazing.
So many people and opportunities have taught me so much that I want to acknowledge just a few. First, I have never known such supportive and wonderful people as those at the Duke Women's Center. What other group would have let me practically move in while I wrote my thesis this past month? Without Shannon's mentoring, I certainly would not be the student leader I have become. Many thanks to Donna, Jessica, Jean, Claire, Crystal-Fair, Deborah and Sacha for their support and love. Thanks also to my amazing co-programmers, Sara and Amy, and everyone who spoke at or attended Graduate and Professional Women's Network events over the last five and a half years.
Similarly, the Graduate Student Affairs office was the place to go when I was stressed out and needed to talk to someone. Jackie is wonderful at mothering and mentoring, and I would never have stayed so calm through everything without Lana, Walter, Tomalei and Curt. I hope you know how appreciated you are.
I have met amazing mentors and friends throughout Duke's administration. Thanks to Allison for the thoughtful advice and Kristina and Nan for being leaders and role models as well as friends. Thanks to Nancy and Ben for fighting for equality and supporting my own interests in equity issues. George, you have been such a good friend and mentor. Thanks for the long walks and talks and for both giving and asking advice on so many issues. Jim, I so enjoy our meals together. You certainly know good food, and I loved the conversations. Thank you for confiding in and listening to me. Dick, you have been amazing to watch and listen to, and I only hope that I can someday be as effective and inspirational a leader as you.
Many thanks to the many administrators who joined the graduate student section for basketball games last year and agreed to have lunch with students this year. I have learned much more from you than you know. I also very much appreciate the fact that the graduate student voice was always taken seriously, from strategic planning to the Board of Trustees.
I wish that everyone at Duke had the opportunity to meet and work with our Trustees. I am going to miss you so much, especially Sally and Cookie, who each always took the time to ask me how I was doing and offer advice and support.
Thanks to Coach Falcone for teaching me to weight-lift and the weight-lifting partners who have kept me motivated over the years-Rob, Dave, Theresa, Bill and Ryan. Those workouts were always the stress relief and social outlet I needed.
Thanks to CAPS and John in particular for helping me handle the grad student/leader balancing act with weight-lifting advice, meditations, chocolate and hugs.
International House gave me an opportunity to meet and learn about people from around the world by inviting me to serve as an IHOP this year. I only wish I had done it every year I was at Duke.
Of course, thanks to the Graduate and Professional Student Council for allowing me the opportunity to do many of the things I wanted to do. Working with the amazing students who get involved at Duke has done more to shape my interests, skills, and values than any other opportunity.
Without The Chronicle, I would not have this chance to tell the Duke community how much my time here has meant. Thank you for asking me to write this year. I would never have thought about writing otherwise. I have learned so much, and I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts. Kelly is an outstanding editor, mentor and friend.
Last but certainly not least, I would not be here and I certainly would not be moving on to a terrific postdoc at NYU without the support of my advisor and mentor Michael Platt. He taught me everything I needed to know to succeed in graduate school and gave me the confidence to make use of that knowledge. I will forever be grateful. The Platt Lab has been a terrific place to work, and I have appreciated the advice and support I received from lab members along the way.
Many have been left out here, but not for lack of appreciation. I will miss everyone at Duke. Goodbye, and best wishes.
Heather Dean is a graduate student in neurobiology. This is her final column.
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