Kirsten Olson - On Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot

The speaker shares their admiration for Dr. Sara Lawrence Lightfoot, the first woman of color to hold an endowed chair at Harvard University. They describe their first encounter with her during a famous course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Lightfoot's teaching style, which emphasizes beauty, creativity, and the paradoxes of human learning, stands out in contrast to other courses. Her approach made a significant impact on the speaker, helping them find their place in graduate school and their professional life.

Who is the narrator's favorite teacher and what notable achievement does she hold?

• Dr. Mary Brown, first female astronaut

• Dr. Emily Johnson, Nobel Prize winner in Literature

• Dr. Jane Smith, first female dean at Yale

• Dr. Sara Lawrence Lightfoot, first woman of color with an endowed chair at Harvard

What was the narrator's impression of Dr. Lightfoot's entrance on the first day of class?

• It was like a regular professor entering the room

• It was as if a famous celebrity had arrived

• It was like the Goddess Hara had arrived

• It was a quiet and unremarkable entrance

How did Dr. Lightfoot's teaching style differ from other courses the narrator was taking?

• It focused solely on political analysis

• It emphasized beauty, creativity, and human paradoxes

• It was centered around mathematical theories

• It was purely procedural and analytical

What mysterious quality does Dr. Lightfoot's work describe according to the narrator?

• The mysterious quality of learning

• The simplicity of scientific laws

• The complexity of political systems

• The intricacies of economic theories

What impact did Dr. Lightfoot have on the narrator's professional life?

• She advised them to change their field of study

• She had no impact on their career

• She made room for them to grow professionally

• She discouraged them from pursuing education