Abigail Green ’24 Salutes Faculty Member at Academic Convocation 2023

Good afternoon! I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the class of 2027.  

Today I am going to introduce a professor who illustrates what it means to be an educator. If you have had a single interaction with Dr. Tracy Rosebrock, then you will know exactly what I am talking about. Freshmen, I sincerely hope you will have the opportunity to experience her guidance, wisdom, and magic.  

Like many students, I struggled to separate my worth from my academic performance. Fortunately, I had Professor Rosebrock for Cell Bio my sophomore year. She makes her philosophy abundantly clear: we are not defined by how much information we can regurgitate onto a piece of paper in an allotted amount of time. This is what makes her an exemplary educator. She challenges us to reach our highest potential while providing unwavering support. My first exam in Cell Bio was… a little rough. I was so disappointed in myself, doubting my capability to succeed in my major. I sat down with Professor Rosebrock and we strategized how I could improve. The next exam… I got a 108. You see, she so passionately, wholeheartedly believes in her students that it is contagious. I knew I could succeed because she believed I could. I stand where I am today because she refused to let me give up.  

Her magic extends beyond the classroom. I strive to be a person like Professor Rosebrock. Her knowledge of biology and public health is immeasurable, but that is not what makes Professor Rosebrock an inspiration. She has molded the fundamentals of my healthcare career. No, that is not because I’ve memorized the stages of meiosis or Hill’s Criteria for Causation. It is because she opened my mind to the humility of medicine. She taught me to treat the person rather than the disease. To provide equitable healthcare. To understand how social determinants influence health. To be on the continuous pursuit of knowledge and understanding. For that, I am infinitely grateful.  

She started as my advisor, then she was my professor, and now she is my research advisor. Somewhere along this journey she also became my advocate, my cheerleader, my mentor. She is a person who will send you happy birthday emails and bake cookies for her class. Because of her, I am a better student, a better healthcare worker, and a better person. It is my most genuine hope that you too will be impacted by Professor Rosebrock as profoundly as I have. It is my absolute privilege to introduce to you Dr. Tracy Rosebrock.