I took my first class with chemistry & biochemistry professor Bob Cluss in my junior year. He's a wonderful teacher; he has a great mix of qualities. One reason I looked at Middlebury in the first place was because of the quality of the professors. He definitely worked his students hard and he made you put your best effort out there, but at the same time, he was a nice guy.

The door to his office was always open. You could go by anytime; you never felt intimidated. These professors, they really want to interact with students and help you out. It's completely different at bigger schools.

I did an independent senior project in Bob's lab. We both had a passion for the biochemistry of Lyme disease, which is what I worked on my senior year. I got to work in his lab. I had a desk and computer there, and he was right next door, really wanting to help me to understand the techniques of research, about how it all works.

We had a connection—and he has that kind of relationship with a lot of people. He was a lab partner, co-researcher, teacher, and friend.