If you can’t read the scanned image above, I’ve pasted the text below . . .

A Student Tribute to Dr. Alfred L. Edwards

By Patrice Harduar, MBA/MPP 2007

Several summers ago I was at the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management annual Orientation Program prior to starting my first year at Michigan. I found myself surrounded by incoming MBA students interested in pursuing more traditional career paths. My reasons for wanting an MBA were to work with non-profit organizations addressing community development and poverty issues in urban environments. I noticed there were not too many other like-minded individuals. I began to wonder if choosing to go to Michigan had really been the right decision for me.

At this event, Dr. Alfred L. Edwards was honored for his work over the years with the Consortium and for truly making an impact on increasing diversity at Michigan. As I read his biography, I decided that this man would understand my aspirations for pursuing an MBA and perhaps help keep me grounded in my dreams over the next few years. And so my quest began to find and talk to Dr. Edwards. Finally towards the end of the week, I saw Dr. Edwards sitting by himself, and I took the opportunity to approach him and introduce myself. I was not really sure what to say except that I was really excited to meet him, I had read about many of the amazing things he had done in his life, and I shared with him my dreams regarding acquiring an MBA from Michigan. I told him that I was not sure yet how it was all going to work out, but I was feeling as though perhaps my goals were not the best. Perhaps I should be thinking about a career in consulting or finance instead?  But Dr. Edwards’ words calmed my fears and concerns. He simply told me that what I wanted to do was wonderful. He said that there are so many opportunities out there for me to make a difference and have an impact. And then he told me to come by his office in the fall, and we could talk about it further.

Just a few simple sentences, but I suddenly felt like my goals had been validated as having a significant purpose. Through my time at Michigan, I have held on to those words that Dr. Edwards spoke to me. They have served to keep me grounded particularly as I’ve sought to determine what type of job to pursue after graduation. I did follow up on Dr. Edwards’ invitation to stop by his office, and I found myself getting to know an extremely inspiring individual who led an extraordinary life. Initially I stopped by to talk about potential opportunities that would fit with my career goals. Dr. Edwards was very open about providing ideas or connecting me with individuals who might have additional career thoughts for me. However, as time went on, I found myself stopping by his office just to say hi, take a break from the hectic MBA life and perhaps hear an interesting life story or two (Dr. Edwards had so many of those). He was a person who had traveled around the world, had so many different interesting jobs and experiences, but had a real sense of humility about him. He was genuinely interested in my life, in how classes were going, how my friends and family were, or how things were progressing regarding my summer internship. Anything and Everything. Just when I decided it was time to get back to schoolwork or run to a meeting, Dr. Edwards would begin another interesting tale from his life, and I knew that the schoolwork and the meetings could all wait just a little bit longer.

Dr. Edwards was the definition of a great man. Anyone can read his official biography and see the significant contributions he made to Michigan and to the world. But nowhere will it say the contributions he made to my life. Nowhere will it say anything about the way he encouraged my dreams and goals. And perhaps this small thing is not really that important. However, I know that there are countless numbers of people that could tell similar stories. That’s why I know that Dr. Edwards’ genuine compassion and concern for students is one of his greatest contributions.

Dr. Edwards, your legacy inspires me to lead a humble life that aspires not for the ordinary, but rather for the extraordinary. I thank you for the difference you made in the world. Even more, I thank you for the difference you made in my life. You are missed.