PROF. LEONARD ZAICHOWSKY—1991
Boston University
As a member of Aureet Bar-Yam's doctoral dissertation committee I wish to make a few comments about my professional association with her. Aureet introduced her research topic to me and asked whether I might be interested in serving on her committee. Without hesitation I agreed. Not only was the topic of great interest to me but I knew I had a most competent doctoral candidate. It was only later that I discovered how competent she truly was...
For the proposal hearing I asked Aureet if she would comment on two points…In both cases her responses were thoughtful, accurate and articulate. At the bottom of the page of notes I had written "page 2--sources by Joyce et al and Edmonds et al need dates in ( ). To me it was remarkable that a 170 page doctoral dissertation proposal would be so complete that a reader would only spot one minor editorial correction.
Aureet's final defense was both a superb verbal accounting of what she had done and a celebration. It reflected what she had given me in finished written form several weeks earlier. It was a brilliant thesis. I had no editorial comments to make. All members of her committee were impressed with the scholarship she displayed in her dissertation. We encouraged her to publish it in many forms. We then celebrated this magnificent accomplishment with refreshments. After nearly two decades of reading dissertations at Boston University, I would say that Aureet's ranks as one of the top contributions. I feel privileged to have served as an advisor for her thesis, and privileged to have known such a wonderful person.
