I graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1982, where I had the privilege of working under the mentorship of Tom Walsh. My time there was both formative and a challenging experience shaped not only by rigorous academic and technical demands, but also by the dynamics of a predominantly male environment.

At that time, the department was very much an all-boys club. Tom, with his characteristic blend of candor and humor, often remarked, “This is where all the macho students are…and she’s the most macho of them all.” It was his way of acknowledging the grit it took to thrive in a space that wasn’t always welcoming or equitable. They called my studio the “tea-room” I think because I was a bit more orderly, still am, a trait I may have also developed from Tom.

While camaraderie among the students was common, there were moments that highlighted the subtle divides. I distinctly remember instances- like when it came time to load the sand muller-where my peers seemed to conveniently vanish. Yet, I managed. I muscled, I persevered, and I completed the task. I advocate to my students that sculpture is a group sport! Those moments, though difficult at the time, were some of the most important. They taught me not only technical and conceptual skills but, also, the value of resilience, independence, and self-belief. In many ways, navigating that environment prepared me far beyond the studio practice. Thanks Walsh.