Jere Brophy
Scholar, Teacher, Friend
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This is what was bequeathed us:
This earth the beloved left
And, leaving,
Left to us.
No other world
But this one:
Willows and the river
And the factory
With its black smokestacks.
No other shore, only this bank
On which the living gather.
No meaning but what we find here.
No purpose but what we make.
That, and the beloved’s clear instructions:
Turn me into song; sing me awake.
– Gregory Orr
Punya- I never had the opportunity to officially meet Dr. Brophy but I was looking forward to taking a class with him next spring. I had heard so many wonderful things about him through Aroutis Foster and was really looking forward to learning from him. My condolences to his family, friends, students, and colleagues.
Punya – I never knew Jere but only heard wonderful things about him. I am so sorry for your loss. Melissa
I am so heartbroken right now. My heart goes out to Jere’s family. His grandson was involved in my dissertation and Jere was on my committee.
He played an integral role in my development as a graduate student. His work has inspired my interest in motivation. My very first publication on games and motivation to learn was as a result of course I had taken with him. I developed my manuscript for that publication in class and he pushed me to publish it. He edited the manuscript and spoke to me about what the reviewers would look for in the paper. His influence and his work continue to play a central role in my work.
He had a keen interest graduate students and their work. I would sit in his office to brainstorm ideas about motivation and he would help me to make the connections to my work. I will miss him so much because of all he has done to help shape my work and interests. He was a giant in Education and a world renown expert and researcher on Motivation. I met numerous people through him during my attendance to AERA conferences and he was always willing to introduce me to other giants in the field.
I remember my last meeting with him in July 2009 and we made plans to develop a paper on motivation from my dissertation. He wished me good luck with my new job and says that I will do well. Now all I have to do is work hard to be successful and not to fail him and my other great mentors at Michigan State University.
Thank you Aroutis. I know you speak for generations of scholars who have been mentored by Jere over the years.