Letters to Lee

This site is dedicated to celebrating Dr. Lee F. Braithwaite upon his retirement after more than 40 years of service at BYU.

Dr. Braithwaite mentored many graduate students and had a positive impact on literally 1000s of students during his career.

You are invited to submit a congratulatory note, a story, an experience you had with LFB, pictures, or anything that lets Dr. B know that what he did mattered to you. Your submissions can be serious, humorous, whatever, but I know that he would love to see something from you.

The restrictions of this site do not allow open postings, so if you have something to share, please send them to me at holyoaka@byui.edu and I will post them for you.

Please include the following information with each submission: Your name, where and when you interacted with LFB, where you are now, and what you are currently doing.

I look forward to receiving and posting your notes, comments, memories, photos, etc.., and to seeing the number of postings on this site grow.

Monday, January 31, 2011

A Memorable Teacher (Jamie L. Jensen '02)

Dear Lee,

One of my student-researchers asked me the other day if I knew Dr. B.
Immediately, a very distinct and very fond memory came to mind.  So, I
shared it with him.  I was a student of yours back in probably 1997 or 1998.
I took a Zoology 204 course with you.  I will never forget the day of the
"Spider Mating Dance."  You dressed all in black with white gloves and put
on a strobing blacklight in the classroom.  You selected a female student
and sat her at the front of the room.  You then proceeded to dance around
the classroom doing a spider mating ritual where you eventually presented a
chair to the student at the front.  I have never laughed so hard!


Unfortunately, I do not remember a lot of specifics from that course, but I
do remember the spider mating rituals.  It is a story of legend in my house.
I now study education in the biology department and I find myself often
using your spider dance as an example of effective teaching strategy.  You
have definitely made a lasting and significant impression on me.  Way to be
memorable!

Jamie Jensen



(Jamie Jensen went on to earn a PhD and is now a member of the Biology Faculty at BYU, Provo, UT)

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