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