Maha, you are really one of the most generous educators I’ve ever met- including me on this list of amazing people is both humbling and day-making all at the same time.

I’d like to take a moment to expand on exactly what you and Rebecca have done with Virtually Connecting – you know, beyond the 1.5 lines up there :). Virtually Connecting is special for several reasons. The conceptualization of tech is fairly straightforward – you use video hangouts to allow distance participation in the context of academic conferences. However, despite the straightforwardness of application, the impact of VC is profound. First, you are increasing access to people who would not otherwise be able to join the conference. This benefits the person at a distance, but it also benefits the conference-goer, because it provides us with another perspective. Sometimes conferences can get so intense that you forget to think about the work in the context of the outside world. Participation in VC brings that connection right back. Furthermore, it challenges the proprietary boundaries of the conference and the knowledge constructed therein. VC makes for amplified and more rapid transmission of conference-based knowledge. It also generates formative feedback that folds seamlessly back into the conference. Finally, the straightforwardness of the tech involved is actually a good thing (the most simple designs are often the most elegant!) VC may represent a sustainable (maybe even scalable) model. What you have here is a beautiful example of “open.” Your tireless commitment to the project, which I know keeps you up at all hours of the night, is inspiring. Thank you.