Monthly Archives: January 2015

From Clay Schwenn

When I was first learning about how to advise, support, and nurture students at the University of Washington, Lindsay, you were a person that I frequently turned to for explicit and implicit guidance. You were always so welcoming, honest, and open to my questions and were so kind to me as a very green professional. One of the things that has stuck with me (still, 22 years later . . .) is how important it is to share yourself with your students, to give them an understanding of who you are as a person, and what your values are. Your office had artifacts from your life that spoke about who you are as a person, and communicated a set of priorities. I’ve taken that lesson with me over the years and I know that our students are better off and the UW is a better place because of your guidance and mentorship over the years. Thank you so much! You are fantastic!

from Mira Dontcheva

Dear Lindsay,

Congratulations on your retirement! I hope you have a lot of fun adventures planned for the coming years.

When I think back on my grad school years, you are someone I think of often. You were there to help me navigate courses, learn to do research, switch advisors, teach a course myself, and finally set off into the great unknown. You were always willing to share your time, office, and m&ms, and I really appreciated all of your thoughtful feedback and candid advice. Thank you!

I am sure CSE will miss you. I sure did when I left.

I hope we cross paths again soon!

Mira

From Srini

Dear Lindsay,

Its heartbreaking to know that you’re going away. I can remember troubling you on sooo many occasions (visit day scheduling, admission deferral, I-20 transfer, course waivers, to mention a few) and you were so patient with me and always dealt with my issues with enthusiasm. You always had a great win-win solution to every problem and I still wonder how you reply to emails so fast 🙂 !

I remember asking a friend about UW just before the visit day, and he told me that he doesn’t remember much about UW, but that he remembers an awesome person called Lindsay who helped him immensely. That is so true. You definitely leave an impression on all the students.

We <3 you and CSE won’t be the same without you.

Link

Video to Lindsay’s Song here.

A musical number dedicated to Lindsay, especially all of the new students that she has welcomed to the department and all of the old grads that she has listened to at Friday breakfast.

– From the CSE Grads

From Edward Wu

Dear Lindsay,

I am extremely grateful for all the help you have given me in the past year. If it wasn’t for you, I would probably be stuck in a very bad position for a very long time. You are compassionate, calm and so easy to talk to, that I could explain my situation and tell you what I was thinking, without feeling nervous or being judged. Every time I walked out of your office, I felt 10x better and had renewed faith in myself that I could do better. I also learned tremendously from our conversations about what to do in grad school, and working in industry. Thank you so much again for believing in me and all the help you had give me. Wish you the best in your retirement and hope all your dreams come true.

Sincerely,

Edward

From Supasorn Suwajanakorn

Hey Lindsay! I wish I joined UW maybe in 2009 as opposed to 2011, so we would be “graduating” at the same time. I feel the same as everyone else that CSE won’t be the same when you’re gone and you really are a role model for advising students and my role model as a super-kind person who genuinely cares about others. You and your office have been a happy machine to us all! Thank you Lindsay! I hope your new chapter will be full of joy and happiness 🙂

From Megan Dahl McConnell

Goodness, Lindsay, HAPPY RETIREMENT!!! if I’d known sooner I would have driven over the pass to be there with you today!!! Meeting you and Beret changed the course of my life and I am eternally grateful to you!

I met you in the summer of 1997 when I joined the Undergraduate Advising Center for a part-time gig while in grad school. I was close to finishing that Ph.D. but my heart wasn’t really in it. I kept going because it’s what was expected, and I wasn’t really sure what I’d do with myself if I didn’t.

When we did Dependable Strengths together that summer, I learned of your journey, the academic pathway in Romance Lit/Film left behind for greener pastures, and it opened my eyes. You were the example I needed to see, the super duper smart person who said, “yeah, that was interesting, but I’m not becoming a faculty member.” I decided to listen to what was in my heart rather than just what was in my intellect.

I’ve now been an academic counselor for nearly 20 years, and I still love what I do. I honestly thank you for helping me see the light. But of course I have much more to thank you for–you have always been a helpful sounding board, an inimitable gardening resource, such a caring friend. Whenever anyone asks me who my mentors were, you are one of the people I mention.

All the best in your retirement. If you’re ever over my way, PLEASE let me know and stop in to see me. I have no azaleas or rhodies, but my lilacs are amazing in May. And there are some plants that need identifying . . . 🙂

With gratitude and joy,

Megan

From Safiye Celik

To Lindsay, to the person who made my day with her smiling and caring voice on the phone even before I came to CSE, when I was 6000 miles away in Istanbul.. It was not hard to understand that she was a human-looking angel, even while she was asking to create my CSE username and password 🙂 . I cannot forget her spending half an hour of her busy day to take tens of pictures of me until I was satisfied and said “That’s the one I want!”. Every time I stop by her office to say hi, she was always there sincerely asking about how I was doing. She never minded listening to me, and sharing advice on anything. I will deeply miss you, Lindsay, and I wish you the most wonderful of everything in your post-CSE life..

from Dan Halperin

Lindsay,

Thank you for being a friend and counselor for us all. You are inextricably linked with nearly every memory from grad school: we met at visit days, you sent me my first email @cs.washington.edu, you helped me plan all my courses and schedule all the milestones, you handed me my diploma (or its rolled-up substitute); and you let me wander into your office and waste your time most days in between and since.

The Allen Center will be a different place without you, and I pity the generations of grads who will not have you around for advice, comfort, and cheer. How are they going to find the lightsabers????!!

We love you!
Dan

From Elise Dorough

No one ever gets to train for a new job for over a year. Lindsay has spoiled me in that way. And yet, I feel like we have just cracked the surface. There are many things I have learned from her about this job, but the only thing you really need to know is that the students are the job. Lindsay’s dedication to supporting the students through anything and everything has been my inspiration. As our department grows, the ins and outs of this job are going to change. But the students, however many of them there are, are always at the heart of it. Sometimes people forget that, but thanks to Lindsay I know that I won’t.

Lindsay, we are sad to see you go. I already miss having your office next to mine. I’ve appreciated your support over my time in CSE; starting when I interviewed for the undergraduate advising job all the way through to our final meetings as you pass along your knowledge. The last few years have brought lots of changes for me. You’ve been a great mentor and friend, helping to make work not feel so much like “work”. CSE is a special place, and it won’t be the same without you. Although I know that you’ll still be lurking… at least for a little while. 🙂

Isla says, HAVE FUN! You deserve it!

From Beret Kischner (and Michael)

Indispensable? That’s a perception

That usually won’t stand inspection.

But, taken in toto,

That gal Michimoto

Might just be that one rare exception!

from Joseph Xu

Dear Lindsay,

Thank you so much for your trememdous help! I appreciate the helpful advice and suggestions I received from you during these past years. I will miss our random but inspiring chat at the #75 bus stop! I remember that you told me stories about your PhD life, and these stories still encourage me to work hard everyday. I wish that you will enjoy your retirement life.

Best,

Joseph

From: Arunkumar Byravan

Lindsay,

You have been a great source of inspiration for me. Your door was always open any time I felt I was struggling and I needed advice. I would just drop by your office and we would end up talking for close to an hour! In the end, I would always come out feeling motivated.

I am amazed by the care you show for each and every grad student in the department. In spite of your busy schedule, you always make time to meet with people. When my parents came to look around the department, you met and talked to them for quite some time. This made them really happy and they felt assured that the department cared deeply for their students. It is precisely this personal touch of yours that has made students feel welcome and happy in CSE.

Thanks a lot for everything! You will definitely be missed.

From Ben Ylvisaker

Congratulations Lindsay! I’m so thankful to have spent my graduate school years in the friendly environment you did so much to foster. I was really hoping to make it for your party, but the weather in Montana (ice everywhere) made that impossible. Good luck on whatever you have planned next!

Ben

From Marco Tulio Ribeiro

It is impressive how Lindsay already knows everyone’s name by the end of the first week of the Fall quarter. It goes to show how personally she cared for each student. Her door was always open, and there was always chocolate around too. Throughout my time here, whenever I had a problem I would just email Lindsay and it would be solved really quickly. Actually, this was the case even before I arrived in the U.S!

Thank you for being so helpful and nice Lindsay, we will miss you =].

From Katie Kuksenok

Dear Lindsay,

You made such a difference in my entire grad school endeavor! You generously advised me and Michael over the phone while we were still in undergrad, in a school without any special weight to UW, and you were kind and thoughtful and gave us so much encouragement and actionable feedback. You’re the reason I applied for NSF GRFP that year (which I didn’t get, but it was good practice), and you’re the reason that I didn’t lose a tremendous amount of money on a visa thing just this past summer. You listened very patiently to each of my existential crises. By extending amazing generosity and goodwill towards each student, from beginning to end, you’ve made a really tough journey a lot more fun, and we are all so thankful for all the time you’re invested in us.

From Raj Rao

Dear Lindsay, Thank you so much for your amazing contribution to the department over all these years. You were instrumental in my own development as a grad advisor – you were always there to provide guidance not only to our grad students but also to faculty wishing to hear students’ perspectives on various issues. We will miss you tremendously!

Enjoy your retirement! (but do stop by to say “hi” from time to time)

Raj

From Doug Downey

Lindsay,

Can I get Oren’s faculty code? Thanks in advance. 😉

Seriously — during my PhD I came to your office with questions often. I’d leave with a smile, because you were so kind, and you always knew the answers. Thanks so much for your service to UW CSE.

Best Wishes,
doug

From Valentin Razmov

It is said that a person’s life can be measured by the impact that person has made on others.
Lindsay, your impact is immeasurable, because you have touched every one of us on so many levels, including as a trusted friend.

It is also said that in the end we forget what someone has done to/for us, but always remember how they have made us feel.
To enumerate all that you have done would be an arduous task even for a person with strong memory. To recall how you have made each of us feel is simple and sweet — always as someone special, someone who deserves your full attention, and who is treated with understanding and compassion.

My deepest gratitude to you!
May you be blessed on your journey ahead!

Valentin

From Laurel Orr

Lindsay,

I was so nervous at the beginning of prospective student days. I felt bad that I had specifically asked you if my Dad could share the hotel room with me during prospective students days so that he could go visit my brother and nephew while I was with the department and then have my Dad cancel at the last minute. I thought when I met you, you would either not remember me or give me a stern look. You, of course, did neither. The minute I walked out of the elevators that morning, you greeted me warmly and made me feel welcome. You remembered me and reassured me that my Dad canceling was no problem. After that first interaction, I remember thinking how much I liked you.

Although I have only been here a little over a year, you have truly made me feel a part of this department and that my presence matters. I see how hard you work to keep things running and am so thankful you have been here to make this department better. I also love the m&ms you put out.

I will miss you.

-Laurel Orr

From Noah Snavely

We love you, Lindsay! I want to thank you for all of the help and support you gave me while I was at UW. It meant so much to me. The times I visited UW after graduating I always had a smile on my face walking down the hall to your office — fond memories of your kindness and the fun in store when catching up with you. The department and the university won’t be the same without you.

Love and best wishes,
Noah

From Luheng He

I still remember the first day I came to CSE, when you took photographs of us new students and let us put a pin on the world map. There are so many times I smile at your e-mails for your humor between the lines. And there are difficult times when you helped me to get through with your patience and empathy. You have always been so dependable and helpful. Like many have said, I simply couldn’t imagine studying here without you!

Thank you Lindsay! I wish you all the best after your retirement!

From Qiao Zhang

I don’t remember how many times I’ve told my friends whenever they are in trouble with “Just ask Lindsay! She knows it all!!!” Looking back at my emails, I found that you’ve helped me with so many things — from starting grad school early in the summer, “managing” my advisors, to handling all my issues with visa applications. You’ve really made navigating the first year of grad school so much easier for me! I really want to say a big thank you! I will miss you and hope you will come visit us often!

Qiao

From Kate Everitt

Lindsay –

Thank you so much for everything you have done for CSE and all of the grad students! You were always the one to guide us through any question or challenge, and always seemed to have the answers. I can’t imagine CSE without you. Best of luck in your new adventures!

From Charlie Reis

Lindsay! You’ve been such a core part of everything at CSE that it’s hard to imagine it without you. You helped all of us through arcane university requirements, crazy scheduling challenges, and countless other questions. Beyond that more-than-fulltime job, you also helped run things like the massively successful visit days (a major reason many of us chose to come) and admissions committees, and still always had time for Friday breakfast!

You always had thoughtful advice, you were incredibly knowledgeable about any grad school topic, and most importantly, you clearly cared about us as individuals (as well as the CSE culture). Thank you so much for making CSE a great home for so many of us, and enjoy whatever you choose next!

Much love, Charlie

From Ben Lerner

Lindsay, you’ve been a part of my CSE experience from before my first day of class through years after my graduation. You welcomed us all on visit days with a ready smile and steady guidance, and have been an advocate, a mentor, a friend, an aide, and a highlight of my visits back to CSE. You always would take time out of your day to chat with us and see how we were doing (especially for Friday breakfasts!), and somehow were uncannily on top of every one of the minutia of everyone’s grad school trajectories. I don’t know how you managed it, but that amazing attention to detail was always a wonderful, reliable presence in my time at UW.

Thank you, Lindsay, for your humor, your warmth, all your help and everything you’ve done for me and all the other grad students you’ve nurtured in your career. Best of luck and happiness to you as your embark on your retirement!

Love,

Ben

From: Matt Richardson

Lindsay, I feel lucky to have been at UW CSE during your time there. You are a warm, caring, friendly, and open person; I always felt at ease dropping by to get help or to ask even basic questions. You were always there for me when I needed it! You helped create a nurturing culture in the department, one where I always felt like I was at home. I dug through some old emails from you, and was reminded again and again of your care for every student, including making sure no student was ever feeling isolated. I am deeply thankful to you for the large part you played in making the department such a joy to be a part of!

From Carol Matsumoto

Dear Lindsay,

As I sit here collecting my thoughts on what to convey, it’s very obvious that you’ve inspired and touched the lives of many in CSE and beyond. You’ve been like a big sister to me, listening attentively and giving advice when needed. The respect I have for you overwhelms me at times. I consider myself extremely lucky to have crossed paths with you… I thank CSE for that. It’s been a great pleasure to have worked with you, Lindsay, and I look forward to our continued friendship for many years to come.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best on the start of your new venture.

A hui hou,
Carol

From Stephanie Shull

Oh, Lindsay! If Pike Place Market only knew how much you helped me get my business off the ground during the early years of Pike Place Pigs, Market staff would be throwing you a party too!

I started at CSE mere months after you, and we learned the ins & outs of the department together. I spent the next 6 years working with/for you. You were, in short, the best boss I ever had. I sincerely thank you for your support & mentorship, and for your friendship.

I wish you all the best in retirement! I hope your hours are filled with delight & fulfillment. And now that you’ll have a more flexible schedule, I also hope that we’ll see each other more often.

Deepali Aneja

Hey Lindsay!

You are simply amazing!! You really helped me make the decision of starting school here and every time I doubted myself, your smile (and MnM’s) made me feel so much better. Thanks for having faith in me (and all of us). You will be missed.

Take good care. Stay in touch 🙂

Deepali

From: Greg Nelson

Lindsay, your knowledge and practical contributions in the operations of the department are only outmatched by the empathy, care, and wisdom that you’ve shared with your students and everyone else who has called CSE home. You make doing it look easy, but I’m sure it has been hard. I hope you find even more joy and fulfillment in your life as it changes.

Nacho Cano

Lindsay,

I am so thankful for the time you took to help me get started here! And not just me, but my wife and daughter, your help has been invaluable. I hope you fully enjoy your well-deserved retirement, you will be dearly missed!

magdalena – laura – nacho

From Kelli Jayn Nichols

Dear Lindsay,

I’ve had two mentors in my life, one in my graduate program, and the other in my early years as an academic counselor. That second wonderful mentor is you. Your kindness, intelligence, and collegiality were everything to me as a made a trying transition from student to educator, and your friendship was and has remained a much treasured part of my life. I’ve always considered you the best adviser on campus and the model for doing things right–and one of my favorite people to talk with.

We go back to 1988. I hope we’ll go forward for many more years. Blessings to you in your long-delayed and richly-deserved “next act.”

With love and esteem,

Kelli Jayn

From: Brandon Myers

Lindsay, thank you for making me feel individually important from the first day I got here in 2010 and onward. That made a real difference for me and I think most grad students at CSE. That’s a huge accomplishment when there are so many students.

Have fun in your upcoming adventures!

From Jiwon Kim

Dear Lindsay,

I simply can’t thank you enough for all the heartfelt support and care you have provided me throughout my time at UW CSE. You were *the* person to go to, in case any school related issue or trouble arises, be it however small or large. I would also never forget the warm advices you have given me when I was having a hard time getting myself motivated to continue with my graduate studies.

2 years back when I was in Portland to attend a conference, I had dropped by UW CSE just to say hello to you, but unfortunately it was your day off. Too bad I won’t be able to do that again next time I come to Seattle, but it’s good to know that you will be enjoying your well deserved retirement at home. 🙂

Thank you again, and I wish you all the best in the future!

From Craig Prince

Congratulations on your retirement.

I want to thank you for everything that you have done for me and for the department over the years. Whether it was orientation, the pit party, the holiday party, graduate applications, visit days, to name a few; you always had everything perfectly organized and running smooth. A large part of the department culture was thanks to your tireless efforts.

For us graduate students you have always been the person who had all the answers — what classes do I need to take? what forms do I need to fill out? And you always showed real compassion and concern for us no matter what troubles we had. You are amazing!

Thank you for everything.

From Seth Bridges

Lindsay, thank you for everything you’ve done for both me personally and the department during the last 15 years. From building moves to last-minute GSRs and all of the details in between, you were a constant source of reassurance and solutions. Finding your door open during times of uncertainty or (perceived) crisis was always a welcome relief. I feel very fortunate to have had your assistance and guidance during my graduate career, and I wish you a great retirement!

Cheers to you!

From Carl

Wow, Lindsay, it’s hard to believe that you won’t be there next time I walk by your door. Your office was always an oasis of calm and dropping by for a chat was something I looked forward to. Thank you so much for all you did for all of us!

But how’s this for an alignment of the stars: It turns out that you are retiring the day I turn 65. I’ll take that as a sign!

Love, Carl

From Jen Worrell

Dear (dear!) Lindsay,
There are many things I am grateful for in the CSE Community, and you are one of my favorites. Over the years you have provided professional advice, moral support, and inspiration, not just to me but to countless numbers of students, staff, and faculty. You are part of the heart of this department and we will feel your absence.

Megan pointed out in her post that you are a lifelong learner and that is something I love about you, too. I want to echo the sentiment that you make the person you are talking to feel like they are the fascinating topic you are learning about. When I read that, I thought, “Yes! That’s exactly how I feel when talking to Lindsay!” You are genuinely interested in knowing people better and that makes each of us feel special.

I am excited about watching you embark on this new stage of your journey. I can only imagine what interesting and creative endeavors you might come up with, and I can’t wait to hear about them!

I am honored to be counted among your friends. Thank you for the many hours of conversation – I know there are many more awaiting us.

From Umar Javed

Lindsay,

Thank you for everything you have done for CSE over the years, and me personally. You were one of the very of the few people who I confided in fully when a severe crisis in confidence hit me this past spring, and I’m so glad I did! I’ll always remember and be grateful for your sympathetic ear and unwavering support in my time of need. You should be very proud of your service. I always found you with a smile on your face and in a mood to chat. You always made me feel that you were on my side, and I’m sure every student that passed through CSE felt that way.

I’m sad I won’t be at your retirement party, but I’d love to see you the next time I’m in Seattle.

I wish you all the best with your future plans. You truly are a hard act to follow.

cheers,

Umar

From Thierry Moreau

Lindsay,

You will be missed! Having you as an advisor and more importantly as a friend has been a blessing. The first couple years of a Ph.D. can sometimes be a bumpy ride, and you’ve been incredibly supportive and encouraging in the most difficult times. I’ve sought advice from you many times, from administrative issues regarding scholarships all the way to personal hardships, and you’ve always been attentive, compassionate, and willing to help. I admire your dedication and hard work in making this entire department function so seamlessly as a cohesive community. Lindsay, thank you, thank you for always being there for us. You are a role model and an inspiration to many of us and above all an amazing human being.

I wish you the best in this exciting new chapter in you life.

Thierry

From Megan R.

The best word I can use to describe Lindsay: Amazing. She is easily one of the most interesting people I’ve ever known. I first met her 15 years ago when she became the graduate advisor at CSE. I was the graduate advising assistant then; at the time, I had no idea how influential she would be in my life. I have learned a tremendous amount from her professionally, of course, but also in just how to be human.

Lindsay has an outstanding work ethic. She is conscientious, detail-oriented, and thorough. Most importantly, though, she is always 100% interested and engaged with her students. She possesses the rare quality of being a genuine Listener. When you sit down to talk with her, she is completely there, listening intently and asking thoughtful questions to gain better understanding. Many of you probably know that Lindsay is a true lifelong learner in a bunch of different topics (film, jazz, art, opera, gardening, literature, history, etc.). In her presence, she makes you feel like YOU are the fascinating topic she is learning about. I always think the CSE graduate students are incredibly lucky to have such a great advisor. She’s one of a kind, as I learned from my own (non-CSE) graduate school experience when I ended up running to her countless times for advice.

In my world, Lindsay isn’t just a mentor, she is a close friend, a great dinner companion, a fun travel buddy (two trips to Paris!), and an excellent wedding guest (plus official wedding photographer with her partner Jim). I deeply admire her intelligence and the way she makes learning central to her life. She grabs opportunities to expand her knowledge, and it’s fun to get to share in that with her. She is always a caring and loyal friend who has consistently given me tremendous support in my personal, professional, and educational pursuits. For lack of better words, I know she’s always got my back. I’m so happy that she is part of my life, and I hope to one day be a fraction of the person that she is.

My dear friend, it is an incredible honor to be present for the beginning of this new chapter in your life. I wish you a very happy retirement. Kudos to you on a wonderful career, and here’s to everything that comes next!

From Ben Wood

Lindsay,

Your powers of grad student recall repeatedly astonished me, from visit days through post-graduation. Yet “recall” completely fails to capture the warmth, enthusiasm, support, and friendliness that comes along when you take us under your wing. Somehow you knew us all deeply as if we numbered only a half dozen. Many thanks for your sage advice and unwavering encouragement (and magic!) in everything from long hikes to the liberal arts college job search. I always left your office with more confidence than when I entered. (I only regret I did not stop by more often!) I will be happy if I can emulate a small fraction of your support interacting with my own students.

As I hear you are retiring, I must pass on a recommendation a certain unnamed graduate advisor gave me on several occasions (until I finally acted on it with her help): there’s a beautiful little path that runs through your “backyard,” called the PCT. Perhaps it’s time to check out a few pieces…

Best wishes,

Ben Wood

From Johnny Yan

Hi Lindsay,

You don’t know how important you are in my life. No, you won’t know, because it simply can’t be expressed by words. You’re the one helped me in AND out of this great department, You’re the one gave me a hug, when I was crying like a little boy experiencing the very hard time personally. You’re the one answering countless questions from a “trouble maker”. You’re the one always leave the door open physically and mentally to me and to my fellow CSE grads. You’re the one I will always appreciate and never forget in my life.

Although the time comes so sudden that we will say goodbye in a few days, that means you could take some break after many many years of hard work. I sincerely wish you all the best and enjoy your retired life. You will be missed! Take care!

From Vikash Kumar

Hi Lindsay,

You are the reason I’m here. You are the reason I am a grad student. I have never though of being one, ever in my life. It was a prompt decision. I was and will probably be the worst applicant in CSE history who made it through. I don’t know if you remember any of these – I applied weeks after the deadline, I had no clue how grad applications worked, had probably asked you a zillion stupid question, woke you up in middle of night (India is PST+12 hours). You were patient and my only hope. I don’t think I have told this to you before – for quite some time, while I was conversing with you over emails from India, I though you were a guy 🙂

You are a mother figure to me/us(I know I am speaking on behalf of many) in this alien land – introduced me/us to the CSE family, made space for me/us in this family, decorated our rooms in the home we call CSE and most importantly – you made me/us feel welcomed. On the other hand, I was (and still am) the spoiled brat running around the house, picking food and stealing candy from your MnM bowls 😉

Thank your for everything you have done to keep this family together, functional and productive. Many of us wont be here if it wasn’t for you. The first thing you told me when I came to see you in your office was – “Your batch will probably be the last one I’ll fully advise”. I don’t know if you moved on earlier or we got delayed. The point is – we still need you. I’m still going to come to you for advise. Promise us that we will see you on all department gatherings and parties. We can use a hug or two every now and then 🙂

You’re the best <PERIOD>

From Jennifer Ortiz

Lindsay,

Thank you so much for everything! I felt incredibly lucky to have you these past couple of years. When I first arrived to CSE for the Visit Days or even during Orientation, I felt incredibly welcome thanks to you. I also appreciate you helping me and encouraging me throughout throughout my rough first year. I will never forget that. We will all miss you!!

From Nell O’Rourke

Dear Lindsay,

It’s hard to find the words to express how much your support has meant to me over the course of my graduate career. I don’t think I would have made it to this point in the program without you, and I cannot thank you enough for being there to help me find my place in the department. I have such fond memories of our long chats in your office! Thank you for investing so much in me and in our community. It’s hard to imagine CSE without you! I wish you all the best with your new adventures in your well-deserved retirement. We will miss you so much!!!

Much Love

Nell

From Julie Letchner

Hi Lindsay!

Congratulations on your retirement! CSE won’t be the same without you.

You (and your M&M’s!) are as responsible for my getting a PhD as my advisors. I remember when I was considering quitting, you helped me work through my advisor change. Not once did I ever stop by your office to be turned away. You always had time to talk, and you always laid out options clearly without pushing one way or another. I know you were busy, and that time was much appreciated. Without your help I’m not sure I would have ended up with a PhD. Thank you.

I know you provided the same support for many others in my cohort, too, so I can only imagine the number of grad students that you’ve made such a difference to over your tenure in CSE. When I was there, you were our stable core and the heart of the program. I wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose to do next, and I hope CSE can find someone even half as supportive and dedicated as you to fill your place.

All the best,

Julie

From Nicki Dell

Dear Lindsay,

Thank-you so much for all the love and support that you have given us over the years. Your encouragement and attention to detail (even though I was a weird student from Africa) are the reason that I chose to come to UW CSE, which is a decision that I now consider to be one of the best I have ever made. You have impacted my life in so many ways and have really helped to make my PhD experience a wonderful one. Thank-you for always being there no matter what I needed to talk about. I will miss your smiling face in the department, but wish you lots of rest, happiness, and new adventures in your retirement. WE LOVE YOU!!!

Lots of love

Nicki

From Franzi Roesner

Dear Lindsay,

It’s so hard to imagine CSE without you! Thank you so much for all of your support and help and countless answers throughout my — and everyone’s — CSE journey. As others have mentioned, you’re also featured in the acknowledgements of my dissertation. I’ve never known a person who is as universally loved and raved about as you! We’ll have to adapt our recruiting strategy now that we can’t brag about you anymore. 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful and well-deserved retirement. We’ll miss you!

Franzi