|
Kappa Omicron Nu
FORUM
Turning Points
Carol B. Meeks
Dr. Meeks is Dean, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames.
I think most of the inspiration for me to become a leader related to people. I will highlight a few of these below. I have selected one or two individuals from each institution in which I have been employed.
Carolyn Ater, a fellow graduate student, inspired me in graduate school at The Ohio State University to complete a Ph.D.
Marjorie Merchant at the University of Massachusetts proved to be a role model of professionalism. Marjorie was always on the forefront of consumer issues. She integrated the real world and the academic world.
Dr. Gwen Bymers at Cornell University helped me see beyond work activities to the importance of politics and networks in getting one’s job accomplished. Dr. Jennifer Gerner, also at Cornell, proved to be the sounding board for many ideas and thoughts related to research, outreach, and university issues.
Drs. Francille Firebaugh and Ruth Deacon guided me through my graduate program and into the real world and have remained colleagues. They started my interest in international work.
Dr. Thomas Hady at the U. S. Department of Agriculture taught me to seek solutions outside the box. I learned that most rules could be overcome if one was creative enough.
Dr. Roger Swagler and Dr. Sharon Nickols at the University of Georgia helped me become more interested in administration and provided insights into approaches to use in addressing issues.
In sum, the contacts throughout life can all make a contribution to the person we become if we learn from and value those inputs. Each of these people helped me reach beyond what I thought I could do. They also taught me to expand my views of my job and my life.
|
