Great Teachers & Mentors |
POST-DOCTORAL
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Dr. Mark S. Cohen - When they created the word, "brilliant," this is who they were talking about, academically, spiritually, socially, scientifically and artiscally. Like Dr. Pert, Dr. Cohen is brave enough to stand up to the establishisment and take a risk on the outlier and the unusual student. Like all of my mentors you are remarkable, and really too good, but so necessary for this world. |
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Dr. C. A. (Tony) Buffington, Chair of Doctoral Committee. Other than being from Ohio State, I am hard-pressed to find any truly objectionable about this man. If I could be half as good of a teacher as he was, I would have some truly lucky Students, and while there were many people who made it possible to travel the road of "Doctoral Destiny." Without some of those gracious contributions to my effort, I may have not been successfut. but without the Dr. Buffington and his unwavering support, tenacity, compassion and just basic human decency I would definitely NOT have succeeded. So if you get annoyed because I insist that you call me Dr. Gordon. This man is largely to blame. You can go to his link at Ohio State and send him a nasty email... although I would advise approaching him with caution because, clinically speaking, he has "Negro Tendencies." Trust me I know... and the last thing you want to do is find yourself in the Biomedical Library sobbing profusely, with him holding a box of tissues in his left hand and looking up journal articles on PUBMED for you to read with his right. |
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Dr.Candace Pert, - I was the last student to have the distinction and honor of having you serve on their doctoral committee... which was something you really didn't need to do, or have the time to do...but you made the time and you did it. Thank you for your Book, "Molecules of Emotion," one of the hottest books ever !!! Thank you for Peptide T and your many, many contributions to science. Thank you having the courage to be you.. thank you for the many times that you said, "you're a brilliant man," it gave me shelter from the harsh scrutiny a large black man seeking a terminal degree in basic science is subjected to |
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Dr. Peter Fenner, Although, your peaceful non-type A personality approach to life is way "too Santa Fe... Carpe Manana... for my taste..and Type A personality. I learned the values of caution, diligence and focus. Thanks to your preparation, my defense was a walk in the park. Now getting to the park... a whole different story...for another place and time. Salute! |
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Dr. James Elias: Without you'd I'd still be on the wrong side of my master's degree. You are one of the greatest teachers I have ever known.Like everything in this world that is truly great, you are extremely misunderstood and grossly underappreciated. And there are two reasons Rhodes Scholars from around the world, Stanford and Michigan Grads, who matriculated with distinction like myself, would go to Cal-State Northride: 1) to study with the great Dr. James Elias, and 2) A rose is still a rose, no matter where it is planted and where it grows. |
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Dr. Sandra Cole: Without you and your diligence, there would be no "Dr. Billy Gordon," I learned so much from you, in terms of what to do, and what not to do. And the final lesson, perhaps the greatest, certainly the most costly. So now you're gone, but not forgotten, and not without the bittersweet mixture of remorse and gratitude for helping me be all that I can be. I love you so. |
POST BACCALAUREATE |
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Dominic Little: There are probably only a few men in this world that could make me understand the worth of statistics, because only a few people in this world understand statistics as well as you. You're the best kind of teacher because you can be as erudite or as heathen as need be to deliver the subject matter. |
BACCALAUREATE |
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James W. Toy-College Counselor If only I could care for and teach myself as consistently and as well as you have for nearly 3 decades.. oh what a wise man I would be. Thank you, for helping me Circumnavigate the University of Michigan and for giving me a litmus to hold against myself and my aspirations in terms of the kind of man, I truly hope to someday be. Thank you for your gentle and steady guidance, your tender verve, your tenacity. Thank you on behalf of the hundreds of Stevens, Tonys, Shawns, Scottys, Johns and Kims that were wounded and lost like me, that found shelter, healing and direction in your professional and personal excellence. You are undeniably one of the University of Michigan's greatest assets. |
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