Mikki Hebl '91 was a four-year member of the Smith College softball team from 1988 - 1991. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Dartmouth College in 1997 and now works at Rice University. Among the many talented and innovative faculty members at Rice, Dr. Michelle "Mikki" Hebl is recognized for her exceptional work and scholarship on workplace discrimination and the barriers many face in social interactions, business and medical settings, and in the hiring process.
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What are you up to these days?
I am a full professor of psychology at Rice University in Houston, Texas. In terms of sport/athleticism, I run marathons. In 2012, I comppleted my quest to run a marathon in every U.S. state. It ook me 15 years to do it and it was just a wonderful experience. This year, I finished my quest to complete one on every continent.Â
Please share a few of your favorite memories from your time at Smith. What are you up to these days?
I guess that would be laughing and hanging out with my friends on the softball team. The goofing around — shadow tag with Cassie Kral during active softball games, throwing teammates into the shower, traveling down south every year for Spring Break, van rides, dousing teammates (Missy Petcen) with buckets of water, silly inside jokes that were really just plain, clean fun. I also have great memories of my friend (Annie Gervasio) who made studying fun. I remember being up late at night working on calculus problems together or studying biology. And I think Polly Linden, Mary Lex, and Torey Browning have some of the best senses of humor around.
How did your Smith education prepare you for the world after graduation?
Smith is almost entirely responsible for influencing me to pursue studies and a career focusing on gender equality and other social parity issues.
What advice would you give to a first-year athlete entering Smith?
You are not the admissions mistake. Make a positive difference. Pursue things you love. Fight for equality. Pay gender equality forward. Be part of a sisterhood.
What advice would you give to a senior athlete for life after graduation from Smith?
Never forget the pioneering women (and men) who went before you and spent significant energy enabling you to have the gender rights you have. Pay it forward and make it better and better for the next generation of women, here in the U.S. and abroad.
What Smith coach, professor, administrator or classmate had the most influence on your time in Northampton?
Psychology Professor Phil Peake was the single most influential person during my time at Smith. He believed in me when I didn't believe in myself, he allowed me to do research (and a thesis) with him, and he continues to collaborate with me and be a wonderful colleague. Also, Kathy (former crew coach) and Chet (former groundskeeper) Saltis were and continue to be like family to me. They offered me friendship and support! Â Finally, I just loved Psychology Professor Beth Powell. I thought she was the ultimate role model - she was smart, productive, kind, and had the whole work/family balance thing going.
What lessons did you learn as an athlete that have benefited you as a professional? As a person?
You're rarely gonna be the best in life, and you're rarely gonna be the worst!
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