Arlene was a mentor and advocate to not only the students but also the staff. For the 20 years I worked with her, Arlene was a trusted confidante and a sounding board for new ideas and challenges to be overcome. Generous and thoughtful, she celebrated all the holidays by lavishing the staff with bags of goodies, including sharing the most delightfully decorated cookies from her sister. She enhanced my life so much more than I could ever give back, no matter how hard I tried. But Arlene wasn’t just a kind, nurturing friend to all of us; she also had some hidden business talents that might come as a surprise. She was a fierce negotiator, effectively exposing people when she perceived they were giving her less value than expected or promised. So many times I observed the changing face of a person realizing that the sweet, small woman in front of them was a secret powerhouse. She also provided invaluable guidance about hiring, teaching me to sense “haki haki,” explaining that it was the spirit of ambition, power, and drive in a person, but in a more positive sense than the usual way we think about it. Somebody would leave an interview and she’d look at me and say, “Not haki haki,” or “Haki haki!” It was the gold standard of staff hiring. Now, as Arlene’s presence leaves my physical spaces I think to myself, “Yes. Haki haki.”