University Libraries Promotion and Tenure Recognition

“Looking for Alaska,” written by my high school roommate, is set at a fictionalized version of my high school, and one of the main characters is based on my somewhat rebellious high school persona. I grew up in a poor family in Alabama. Through hard work and a bit of luck, I was awarded a scholarship to a prestigious Alabama boarding school that not only provided a marvelous education but also fostered the intellectual curiosity that has propelled my career and still inspires me today.