The following excerpts are from letters written by past students about my mentoring. I am deeply honored by what these students wrote about me, and these excerpts inspire me to continue developing my skills as a mentor.

"Throughout my education I have been privileged to be advised by many exceptional mentors, but Joseph Mikels singularly stands out as one who has supported and helped me to shape my academic goals. I had the immense good fortune to work with Joe as both his research assistant and honors student during my undergraduate career at Stanford University.”

"His enthusiasm is absolutely contagious: When Joe is excited – about an idea for a study, a new result, a talk given at a conference, a journal article – it is as though the whole room catches fire and those of us lucky enough to be there cannot help but be caught up in the flames."

“In the two years of my graduate training, I cannot think of a more hard-working, knowledgeable, or intellectually driven individual who I have encountered. Indeed, Dr. Mikels has accomplished the rare task of not only being an extraordinarily dedicated and clever researcher, but also a knowledgeable and helpful advisor.”

“Joe has an ever-present willingness to lend intellectual help. Indeed, on numerous occasions, Joe has been available – day or night – to refine research designs, listen to a practice talk, or simply provide general encouragement. He is the most intellectually motivated, hard-working, and dedicated researcher who I have encountered in my years in academia, both in college and in graduate school. When thinking about research problems with Joe, no detail of any study goes unexamined, and no possible avenue of discussion goes unexplored.”