One of the reasons I choose to go to Temple University for my Ph.D. program was because of Dr. Robert Wright. I had been advised that Dr. Wright understood the challenges of students who were employed full time in a religious institution and that he would be the right person to guide me through the Ph.D. program. For me Dr. Wright not only understood what it was like to be a pastor of a church while going to school, Dr. Wright was also ordained in the same denomination I was, the United Church of Christ. While working my way through the program, we were able to share how some of the things I was learning and working on would be able to be used in the church, as well as share the things going on in our denomination and the colleagues in the church system we both knew.

The one thing I chuckle about is I can clearly remember when I interviewed at Temple, I told Dr. Wright, as much as I was interested in learning about the Psalms of Solomon, it was not something I wanted to do my dissertation on. Seven years later, after successfully juggling all of the requirements of the program around the life of my church, I completed my dissertation, "A City-Lament Genre in the Psalms of Solomon," and graduated with my Ph.D. degree.

Thank you, Robert, for all the guidance you have given me through the program at Temple University as well as the support and guidance I have received as I continue to pastor my church and in my position as affiliate professor of biblical studies at Palmer Theological Seminary. I look forward to continuing our friendship in the coming years as you enjoy your retirement.

Sincerely,
The Rev. Dr. Deborah J. Spink

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