Those exceptional and influential mentors, then and now
A younger Bob Timm working on his PhD project at UC Davis. Over time, the number of people you interact with grows and grows. Your brain registers these interactions. Superfluous or incidental interactions go into short-term memory (or don't register at all). Sometimes we remember snippets of conversations, a face, or a situation, but that's enough. On the opposite end, however, are interactions that have profound impacts on you. Although these impacts could be direct or indirect, and positive or negative, they shape you. They affect your future behavior. One form of positive interaction is the mentor. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a "mentor" as "an experienced and trusted person who gives another person advice and help, especially related to work or school, over a period of time." Another way of looking at a mentor is as "a trusted counselor or guide." I received notice last week that Professor Howard Wiegers was