In Response to: Do-it-yourself scholars

Merrell Noden’s piece on “Do-it-yourself scholars” made me think immediately of my mother-in-law, Vera Basch Moreen ’72, a scholar of Judeo-Persian and Islamic studies. After receiving her Ph.D. from Harvard, she devoted time to her family, and has since been without academic affiliation. Nonetheless, she has published widely, speaks frequently at conferences, and currently is editing an encyclopedic work in her field. Despite these accomplishments, she has always felt herself to be on the fringes of academia. Your article gives her and others like her recognition for pursuing alternative academic careers.

Tzivia Moreen ’02