2020 Hindsight: Meaningful Mentorship

I got some sad news near the end of the workday on 7/8/2020.  The 190th day of 2020 had already been a long one, filled with meetings, some of which hurt my head with the complexity of the topics.  And then I was shocked to reality to hear of the passing of one of my beloved mentors at Penn, Fran Walker.  Fran was amazing.  She single-handedly built the Office of Student Life into the comprehensive support system for Penn students that it is now (as the Office of Student Affairs).  Out of the OSL, many other campus support offices were developed, most notably the LGBT Center which is now a model for campuses country (and, dare I say world) wide.  She helped develop Penn's Leadership Weekend and much of the curriculum is still being used today to impact the lives and skills of student leaders (and leaders to be) at Penn.  And she cared.  SO MUCH.  About students, about Penn, about the colleagues with whom she worked.  They say football coaches have coaching trees as their legacy.  Well, Fran Walker has a Student Affairs Staff tree.  So many of us have grown into the advocates and advisors that we are because of the root and foundation provided by Fran.  I will always remember the nights at Fellowship Farm, after all the events had ended, and the students were in their rooms sleeping or studying, she would gather the Leadership Weekend Staff in her suite and we would just talk.  About Penn, about higher education, about politics, about life, about gossip, whatever.  These were some great talks.  Fran gave me some great advice about work and making sure I always knew that family came first ("Penn won't keep you warm at night, Adam") and, although I did not always heed her sage words, in the later years of my career they have rung true and helped me have a much better work-life relationship (I would not say balance, but....)  Fran is someone who I will never forget.  Fran is someone who made me who I am.  A true mentor, friend, confidant, teacher, advisor, and advocate.  She has gone, physically, from this Earth, but she lives on in hundreds of student affairs administrators and advisors in institutions far and wide.  We are all better people for having known and worked with Fran.  My 2020 Hindsight is Meaningful Mentorship.  I certainly got it from Fran, and I hope I can be half of the support to people with whom I interact that she was.  She has been missed on campus since her retirement, and, tonight, I miss her even more.