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Personal Mentors

Dr. Margaret (Schwartz) - was my biology teacher at Lexington High School in Massachusetts. Dr. Schwartz challenged me in her Advanced Placement Biology Course. Working with a college level text book, I remember many late night study sessions and long hours preparing for her rigorous class. I've always tried to give Dr. Schwartz the credit I feel she deserves for seeing something worthwhile in a kid interested in bugs and wildlife and taking the time to introduce him the critical tools of rigorous biological science. Dr. Schwartz, if you're reading this: thank you.

 

Dr. Robert Kaplan, He's not an Insect Systematist, but rather a population biologist; and worse yet: a herpetologist.... Bob's charisma and mentoring nearly converted me into a frog population biologist! Even though I eventually headed towards systematics and insects, I owe much to Bob Kaplan. He introduced me to the art of striking a balance between field, laboratory and library research and kept me focussed on the importance of viewing the current literature with a critical eye. Bob is an outstanding teacher, both in the classroom and the field - and I try to emulate his lectures and teaching style in my own courses today. I don't think I'd be able to forget the late nights I spent in the Reed College Biology building measuring tadpoles and working on my dissertation. I and my office mates lived there - literally. We even had a mattress, fridge and toaster oven so we could collect data late into the night AND make early morning lectures on time! I am fortunate that Bob is just a stone's throw north of me today, even though I'm definitely guilty of not visiting Reed as often as I should. Bob, somehow I know you understand - thanks.

 

Dr. David Furth - Do you remember when you first hit upon what would become your future career? I can. I remember riding the old cage elevator in Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) up to the Insect Floor, and hunting for David Furth. I'd been told he could help me identify the contents of a box of insect specimens I carried under my arm. I found David - and nervously asked for help. Unwavering, David walked me down a dark corridor of the MCZ into a huge room that reeked of moth balls - he sat me down an ancient wooden desk that I would later learn had belonged to Phil Darlington, a legendary Coleopterist, and let me use the MCZ's collection to identify my material.

As simple as that experience might sound, it changed my life. After that day, I knew that whatever turns my career took, they would lead towards a position at a major natural history museum. Dave's style of museum management which balanced the needs to provide access and protection to the specimens influenced me profoundly - and whenever a young student shows up in OSAC today, I do my best to treat him/her as I was treated: with respect, generosity and a sincere desire to help. Perhaps this is just my own form of Karma?, but more likely, I think I'm just trying to repay the debt I owe to Dave Furth for setting me on my way so may years ago. Dave, Thanks.

 

Dr. James Liebherr - Jim Liebherr took me on as a graduate student at Cornell and I don't think he realized what he was signing up for! Jim gets the award for balancing 'patience' and 'tough love' - something necessary for being an outstanding PhD advisor. I was intially attracted to Jim's blend of species-level and higher-level research but my respect for him grew as I began to be influenced by his knoweldge of a field I knew absolutely nothing about: Biogeography. Jim guided me and taught me about cladistic methodology, biogeography and always fought to get me competitive funding and attractive teaching assistantships at Cornell. He helped me write my first successful research grant proposals and was a role model in how to balance a personal and professional life - something I've always struggled with. I try hard to live up to the image of the systematists/biogeographer that I think would make Jim proud - Jim, thanks.

 

Dr. Quentin Wheeler - Quentin has taught me a great deal. At a fundamental level, he has showed me that idealism need not die as your career takes off. Whether in the form of a written article or a conversation over a bottle (or two) of wine - Quentin's unwavering ability to tackle difficult issues and respectfully listen, debate and engage - is truly exceptional. He actually listens to everyone (a rare trait), and ultimately makes up his own mind, in a 'take-no-hostages', 'unapologetic' approach. I think it's this approach to debate that instills respect in even those who disagree profoundly with his views. Either that, or it's simply Quentin's sense of humor and infectious laugh. I miss spending hours discussing/debating his bizzarre and indefensible species concept (lol), views of homology, why the Phylocode is ridiculous or coming up with new ways to justify why DNA is only a tool to address truly interesting evolutionary questions that are largely defined by morphology! Quentin, thank you.