By: Brian Redmond, PhD
It’s a little early for International Women’s Day today, but thankfully it’s Women’s History Month!
And to celebrate, I’m going to focus on a female leader from my life. There actually are many I could write about as I’ve been lucky to have quite a few in my life. But the one I’ve chosen to write about today is one in my thoughts a lot lately as the anniversary of her passing of pancreatic cancer is approaching.
Before she passed, a few colleagues and I went to visit her. Quite literally on her deathbed and having been basically unresponsive for 24 hours, she sat up and smiled with her eyes at our presence. She may be the strongest woman I’ve ever known, physically, but in many other more important things as well.
Amy Dietz did everything big in life. She threw big office parties, she went all out in physical fitness, etc. The thing that most impacted me was her tremendous love of life, especially in her caring for others. Amy was a part of my current department for over 20 years. She always was concerned for others, particularly students. Which I think a lot of people are, Amy was just more so and on a scale I can’t even describe. It truly was inspiring. Amy brought this concern for others to our online program leadership team meetings every week with her infectious attitude. Her level of concern for others really helped us think about how we can serve others better as leaders.
She never did this out of self-gain either, she did this because she truly authentically cared. She was so humble; she didn’t really think she influenced anyone. She did though, many, many people. Everyone I talk to has stories about her and how she made them a better person or gave them something that made their life better.
I think that is how you recognize greatness in a leader; they want to genuinely help others and as a result their impact lasts well beyond their physical presence.
And Amy’s impact definitely will be felt for a long time.
