The Last Word

A quick questionnaire with Jennifer Richeson

1. Three words someone else would use to describe me are focused, sincere and quick-witted.

2. My greatest professional influence is there have been too many to just name one: my mother, Claude Steele, Nalini Ambady, Fayneese Miller, Ms. Louise Simms (my high-school English teacher)!

3. My fondest memory is the day that I received my Ph.D. from Harvard. My family was so happy and proud to witness the ceremony during which I became the first person in my family to obtain a Ph.D.

4. The last book I read was Flight by Sherman Alexie.

5. If I could have dinner with anyone living or dead it would be Nelson Mandela.

6. Three things I can't live without are family bbq’s/holidays, good friends, gospel music.

7. The most pressing issue facing the world is economic inequality/injustice.

8. The most important lesson I ever learned was when others treat you poorly, treat them the way you wish they had treated you, rather than responding in kind.

9. My advice for those just starting out in this profession is pursue ideas that you feel passionate about rather than those that are currently en vogue (although these may not be mutually exclusive).

10. My motto is “Excellence is not an act, but a habit.” (attributed to Aristotle)

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