My hero!

We tell our students to be confident and network, right? So taking some of this advice, I got up the nerve to go up and introduce myself the Dr. Maathai. She was most gracious as I told her about how much I admire what she has done. I got a personal invitation to a presentation she is doing later in the week and then hugs and kisses.

Since it is totally unlike me to be a starry-eyed fan, if you read a bit about her, you will see why I am thrilled to have this encounter on my first day here:

http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/wangari-maathai
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/wangarimaathai/p/wangari_maathai.htm