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Honored

President Michele Myers and Chairman of the Board Robert Riggs (with Joan Marks '51), alumna Barbara Walters, (below, left) and Dr. Irving Weissman (below, right with Joan Marks) of Stanford University helped to celebrate the naming of the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics during early April festivities. Photo - see preceding caption Photos of honorees 'It's very rare to find leadership that can change things in the way Joan's leadership changed this whole field of counseling and human genetics.' - Dr. Irving Weissman of Stanford University, keyword speaker

honoredn April 4 the human genetics graduate program became the first course of study at Sarah Lawrence to be named in honor of an individual. The new Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics pays tribute to Joan Marks's 26 years as director of the program (1972-1998) and to her continuing leadership and advocacy in the field of genetic counseling. During her tenure, the Sarah Lawrence program trained half of the genetic counselors now in practice.

"I am really the one to thank Sarah Lawrence, and all my professional colleagues and, above all, the incredible, motivated and talented students for this opportunity I have had-truly the opportunity of a lifetime," said Marks.

The afternoon ceremony in the Donnelley Lecture Hall/Film Theatre also featured a keynote address by Dr. Irving Weissman of Stanford University, leader of groundbreaking research into stem cells.