Suzanne Gordon, trustee and alum,
tells students that persistence pays off

"People who succeed are persistent."

This was just one of many thoughts Board of Trustee member Suzanne Gordon shared Wednesday with a class of freshmen in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

The class, PAMS 100, introduces freshmen to the college and provides a resource for easing the transition from high school to college. This week, five alumni guests were invited to talk with the students about their education, careers, the flexibility of a PAMS education, and how to achieve success.

"We are finding ways to involve alumni with students, and this week was an opportunity to expose students to the multitude of career directions that are open to them," said Dean Dan Solomon. "We are so appreciative of the alumni who took the time to meet with our freshmen."

Gordon graduated in 1973 with bachelor degrees in mathematics and computer science, and earned her master's in statistics in 1980. She is chief information officer and vice president of the information systems division at SAS Institute.

"Suzanne spoke to the students as a former student, as a top executive with one of the leading companies in her field, and as a mother," Solomon said. "The students were very engaged by her multiple perspectives and anecdotes. She spoke about flexibility, the importance of communication skills, being willing to fail and learn from it, forcing yourself out of your comfort zone - all concepts that students can put into practical use, no matter their major."

Gordon has been a long-time supporter of the college, and has participated in many college events and initiatives. She was recipient of the college's 1999 Distinguished Alumna Award, and is a member of the college's campaign committee. She will be featured, along with other woman students, faculty and alumni, on the cover of the spring issue of Scope, the college's alumni magazine.

Other alumni speakers this week included Boyd Dimmock (M '73 Mathematics), a senior software engineer at IBM; Dr. Jan B. Wooten (BS '73 Chemistry), a research scientist with Philip Morris Research Center; Dr. John Matthews ( Ph.D. '2000 Mathematics), a research associate with the Duke University Department of Mathematics; and Dr. Graham Gash (BS '69 Chemistry), a lab manager with the UNC Department of Computer Science.

Posted November 20, 2003

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