Wellesley influenced me regarding: gender equity, empowerment, leadership, and independent thinking. Wellesley’s view that women have the ability/right to be whoever one chooses, and its respect for critical and creative thinking, the liberal arts, and social action, have shaped my choices. Some professional examples are: my effort to establish research in neuro-aesthetics, and my founding a pioneering college program for the twice exceptional student. A personal example was my becoming a single mom.