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Irma Wyman, long-time CEW supporter and friend, talks about her commitment to CEW, at the retirement event of CEW Director, Carol Hollenshead.  

Photo to the right: Irma Wyman (center), long-time supporter of CEW, with former President Bill Clinton and UM President, Mary Sue Coleman.

I am Irma Wyman, a 1949 graduate of the College of Engineering of the U. of Michigan. I have been involved with CEW for many years, especially focusing on women in engineering, information technology and the hard sciences.

Here is a poem that reminds me of Carol:

She said, “come to the edge.”
They said, “we are afraid.”
She said, “come to the edge.”
They said, “we are afraid.”
She said, “please, come to the edge.”
And they came.
And she pushed them.
And they flew. (*)

Dynamic, dedicated, decisive – yes, all those words fit Carol, and without those attributes she would not have accomplished her outstanding contributions – but the characteristics that I see that set her apart are creativity, responsiveness, courage, and persistence. She is not so much “pushy”, as the opening poem said, as she is patient and encouraging and persevering. Her enthusiasm is contagious – and compelling. And she is grateful – “thank you” is always on her lips.  But the major characteristic for me has been her warmth and depth of  caring, without which all her other many attributes of leadership would not have brought about the difference she has made in so many lives, including mine and I suspect many others in this room.

I met Carol early in her work with CEW. I expected that she would ask me for a gift – and eventually she did. What I did not expect – and what amazes me still – are the gifts she has given me. She opened my eyes to see her vision, and she has been taking me along as that vision has expanded. She invited me into the work of CEW, first as reviewer, then as advisor, then as participant, then as investor. She called me into an investment I would never have envisioned on my own, or been able to implement if I had, and it has been the best investment I have ever made. She has been instrumental in the University’s decisions to honor me as an alumna. And along the way, a friendship developed that goes beyond director-and-supporter, and that I hope will go beyond this day into the future.

Here’s another poem:

This yellow striped green
Caterpillar, climbing up
The steep window screen,

Constantly (for lack
Of a full set of legs) keeps
Humping up her back.

It’s as if she sent
By a sort of semaphore
Dark omegas meant

To warn of Last Things.
Although she doesn’t know it,
She will soon have wings.

And we, too, don’t know
Toward what undreamt condition
Inch by inch we go.  (**)

Carol, as you try your new wings and fly off to the undreamt condition that is the next stage of your journey, I wish you and Bruce serendipity in your investments, health, and whatever for you is the good life.  I thank you for the wonderful, ongoing gifts you have given me. And I hope to continue to be blessed by your insights, openness, willingness to listen, and especially your smile.

Irma Wyman

 

(*)  by Guillame Apollinaire

(**) Measuring Worm, by Richard Wilbur

NOTE that I have re-gendered both poems (from “he” to “she”) for this talk.