When I think of a true leader—someone who leads with empathy, clarity, and purpose—Val immediately comes to mind. As the Director of Postdoctoral Training at Hopkins, she embodies what it means to genuinely care for every student and trainee—and to recognize the importance of their role in academia.

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I first met Val during my very first week at Hopkins, at a monthly postdoc meeting in my department. I was new and unfamiliar with everyone in the room, but she walked right up to me, introduced herself, and asked who I was—simply because she hadn’t seen me before. From that moment on, I became more involved in the postdoctoral community. I started by volunteering to organize postdoc meetings, then took on the role of Chair of the Professional Development Committee, and eventually became Co-President of the Johns Hopkins Postdoctoral Association. All of this gave me many opportunities to connect with Val.

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I used to have stage fright and struggled in group discussions. But Val had this remarkable way of making people feel safe and heard. In every committee meeting, she would go around the table, asking everyone for their input—not just for the sake of inclusion, but to genuinely understand our perspectives. That kind of leadership builds trust. It makes you feel like your voice matters—and it helped train me to become a more confident speaker.

Incidentally, Val was the first person I invited to give a talk on grant writing for the postdoc community. Her encouragement helped me gain confidence, and her mentorship taught me what it means to lead with purpose.

Val generously made time to review my research proposals and helped me practice my chalk talk during my faculty interviews. Every time I spoke with her, I walked away with constructive feedback and a little more belief in myself.

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Val didn’t just mentor me—she empowered me. And that, I believe, is the mark of a true leader.

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