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!

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

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.

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

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 🙂

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

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..

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

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!

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

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.

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

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 =].

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.

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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

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!

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!

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.

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!

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

Lindsay,

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!!

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

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

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

Lindsay, I cannot think of a CSE without you. You’ve been a tremendous help and a much needed smiling face during countless painful PhD journeys. I feel lucky to know you as my grad advisor and I wish you the best through new adventures!

I am afraid that the day after you left, we will start seeing confused grads all around the building and an epidemic of M&M deprivation will break in a few weeks.

You will always be CSE’s Lindsay.

Lindsay,

It’s hard to put into words how much you have helped me over the past few years. Whenever I felt stressed/concerned about grad school or life in general (which happened more than I anticipated it would), a simple trip to your office would always make me feel infinitely better. When I went on leave this past quarter I will admit I was a bit worried to not be able to walk into your office should anything come up. I quickly learned this was foolish however, as our communication via both telephone and email provided me with exactly the same feeling afterwards.

I know it’s not just me. A simple mention of your name brings waves respect and appreciation from all other grad students.  All of them. The fact that you take the time to make all of us feel better about ourselves and our situations on top of all the other work you’ve put into CSE is simply amazing to me.

Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me and CSE overall. You will be missed. Hope you enjoy retirement!

PJ

Lindsay, thanks for being such a great advisor, and a great person as well. You made it so much easier for me to navigate my way through the program these past few years in order to find a project that I enjoy working on. I hope your life in retirement is awesome. Thank you so much!

Lindsay, thank you so much for what you have done for us!!! You were so incredibly helpful when I first arrived at UW. You were instrumental in helping me recruit new students, navigating CSE, and even helping the EE students navigate things. We will miss you!!

Lindsay,

I cannot imagine CSE without you. From the very beginning, you were central to my (wonderful) experience as a graduate student–so helpful, so kind, so patient, so giving of your time. You were a constant source of encouragement, wisdom, and friendliness. Your famous M&M’s–consistently tasty and well worth the walk down five flights of stairs–set the tone for your general openness and kind offerings of all sorts. I always left your office feeling better than when I entered (from your advice, not the sugar rush!). This alone is no insignificant feat!

In reading through the wonderful postings of all the student, faculty, and staff, I know I am not alone in my appreciation. You’ve touched many lives. I am inspired by Kate Deibel’s posting–she included a quote from her PhD thesis acknowledgement section. I thought I would do the same. This is, after all, the key way in which graduate students show their gratitude. 🙂

[Thanks to] Lindsay Michimoto for being the best graduate academic advisor one could ask for (and who has probably supported more PhDs than the NSF, emotionally at least).

I wish you all the best in your retirement.

Jon

PS As a professor now, I hope I can positively influence as many students’ lives as you have!

Hello Lindsay!

Thank you for helping us succeed in grad school while also keeping us sane, safe and happy!  You made a huge difference in my six years at UW. Have a wonderful retirement!

Krzysztof

As everyone knows CSE is a very special place and we have Ed to thank for that because he found Lindsay. I’ve often tried to explain to my friends at other grad schools what a “Lindsay” is, but never really got it quite right. Every time I think I’ve figured out all of the things that she does for us, something else pops up! I can honestly say that I would not have done a PhD if I had not discovered CSE and Lindsay.

Lindsay, thanks for all of your insightful words and I can only hope that I carry some of that advice-giving skill to my students someday.

Irene

It’s been great working with you.  I bet you won’t miss all those meetings on funding and working out budgets!  But we are going to miss you and your incredible knowledge of every funding situation.  Thanks for all the time you spent helping us with administrative issues.

Best wishes and congratulations on your retirement.

chris

There aren’t enough words to describe how much Lindsay has helped and made an impact on the PhD journeys of my own’s and many of my peers’. Lindsay made one of the first impressions of our department to (prospective) graduate students. She successfully delivered the unique CSE culture which was one of the reasons that I came here. Whenever I had questions or confusion, Lindsay was always there to help out. Lindsay has been a part of the definition of CSE culture. It is hard to imagine what CSE is like without Lindsay.

We have taken Lindsay for granted for years which is sadly going to an end. I’m truly grateful for what Lindsay has done for me and for all of us. Best of luck, Lindsay. We will always love and miss you!

Farewell, oh great advisor! I am grateful that I had the chance to experience Lindsay’s listening, laughter, and most of all, love. UW CSE will miss this remarkable advisor and friend. Best wishes for the next chapter of your life, Lindsay! No doubt, you will be surrounded by more laughter and more love.

Dear Lindsay,

It is impossible to imagine a better grad student advisor than you have been for all of us.  I think the most important attribute an advisor needs is empathy for the students that she advises, and you have that in spades!  I spent more time in your office talking about students who were struggling than those who were succeeding.  In every case, you already knew more about the student’s struggles than I did, and your concern and action were always greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much, Lindsay, for all you have done.  We certainly will miss you.

Martin.

Lindsay, it was always a true pleasure to have you around the department, and like many other grad students I benefitted greatly, both administratively and spiritually, from your presence.  Thanks so much.  (And I apologize if a tiny — tiny! — fraction of my seemingly legitimate visits were veiled excursions to get my M&M fix…)

It is difficult to imagine what CSE would be like without you, Lindsay. Thank you for everything you have done for me and CSE community. There were definitely many hard times during the course of the program and you were always there to figure out and comfort me and many, many friends in CSE. Thank you. It is deeply sad to hear you won’t be around, however, I truly hope for the best on your next journey.

Lindsay, you were the reason I chose UW!  You were so warm and welcoming, arranging a visit even before I’d applied.  You embodied the friendliness of the department and made coming to (very rainy) Seattle an easy choice.  And I loved my time at UW – people doing great research while having lots of fun.  Thanks for all your help and support over the years.  You will be greatly missed!

Lindsay, your willingness and ability to make every student feel valued and that their struggles were important but also surmountable has been invaluable to us all. You cared deeply and it was obvious. Your care and attention to detail is a major part of why CSE felt like a community, not just a results-driven work place. I will always be grateful for the support and advice you provided, while always finding time to make me (and I’m sure everyone else) feel like a priority, not just one of many. Thanks so much for everything.

Lindsay, you will be missed! I’m always amazed by how you can keep track of so many people so well. You helped me out a lot with getting started in the department, and when I switched advisors. Thanks for everything, and best of luck to you in the future!

Thanks Lindsay for the moral and practical support for me, my family, and the rest of the grad students during our years at CSE!  We couldn’t have made it without you!

Linsday – thank you for all of your help and support through grad school and the job search process. You made everything easier and better!

Brian Tjaden

Lindsay,

It was clear from the moment I met you in your interview that you were the right person for the job. I’m so glad you took the job! Both the department and I have benefited hugely from you.

You were a support to me when times were rough in graduate school (and who doesn’t have tough times in graduate school?) You’ve also been great to discuss improving both graduate school and diversity in CS, both while I was a graduate student and since.  But beyond that, you’ve been a good friend. It always brightened my day to see you, either by dropping by your office, or meeting you at Hopper, or meeting up in Paris!

So while you’re retiring and future students won’t have the pleasure of getting to know you, you’ve made a big impact in many people’s lives.  Thank you for your hard work… and, of course, we’ll always have Paris (sorry, I couldn’t help myself!)

Rachel

You take a hand, open a mind and touch a heart!

Lindsay, I really want to Thank You for all the helps you gave me when I came to CSE. I am really proud that I am a part of this this department. This is a department where Lindsay is always there to support us and keep us away from the possible burdens that we need to face.  I only stayed here for a year and I but have already received tremendous help from you, and I am truely grateful for that.

Please enjoy your time in retirement and we will miss you.

Tianqi

I think we can both agree that my getting my PhD was not always smooth sailing, but you were always a rock in the storm. I could write another dissertation on how awesome and great of a person you are, but I’ll just quote what I said in my acknowledgements:

To Lindsay Michimoto. As the department’s graduate advisor, you have been an ever present beacon of support, encouragement, and advice. Thank you for keeping your office door open and available for all the times when I needed it.

Thank you, Lindsay!

Hearts, Kate

As department chair back in 2000, I needed to find a new graduate advisor for Computer Science & Engineering. Louis Fox, who had been Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, said “There’s no choice – you need to try to recruit Lindsay Michimoto away from central advising.”

Was Louis ever right!

We’ve been blessed for 15 years with the best graduate advisor imaginable! Thanks so much for your incredible contributions to all of us in CSE, and especially to our students. They’re why we’re here, and having them in your wonderfully supportive hands has made a world of difference!

Don’t be a stranger!

xxx – Ed

(P.S. Thanks for all those M&Ms!)