Dissertation Acknowledgments

Having looked at a lot of dissertations and research papers, the acknowledgment page is always an interesting one to look at. They can range from a laundry list of people and even pets to a fairly dry, academic list.

This semester is the first one for me at ASU when I have had a student in the final push to finish her DMA. In our most recent meeting on her paper I spoke with her about a number of things related to her project but one item touched me a bit, it was that she needed to start writing her page of acknowledgments, and I looked at mine as an example.

I wrote my dissertation during the time I was Third Horn in Nashville, and looking over the acknowledgments again was interesting. I meant every one and still feel thankful to everyone listed. The list includes my wife, my major professors at IU and Eastman, colleagues, libraries, and several friends who gave specific help that made a real impact. Thank you all again!

There is one other person I thank in my acknowledgments who would be a bit of a mystery as to exactly why I am thanking him, my young son. At the time I finished the project he was just one year old. Those who have had personal contact with me know but others would not, my son has Down Syndrome. Many hours were spent holding him while doing the final editing of a long dissertation (toward 300 pages). As I wrote then,

I finally wish to acknowledge the role of our young son James in the completion of this document. While sharing his room with the computer in the first year of his life, James watched many words being typed, and in his way inspired me to carry this project through to completion. His enthusiasm for life continues to be an inspiration to his parents.

As I wrote in my recent write up about ten years of Horn Articles Online James was then and continues to be an inspiration to his dad.