O'Leary admits she did not always possess such confidence. In almost 40 years at MIT, O'Leary has grown into this critical role for the department, and the department itself has evolved, moving into a brand-new building and away from previously standard practices like submerging equipment in acid for sterilization. On Sept. 7, 1987, Karen O'Leary joined the MIT community as a staff member for the first time. The 18-year-old was fresh from vocational high school, where she studied cosmetology but felt too shy to pursue that as a career. She was also nervous about joining a research institution. Too embarrassed to admit in her interview that she couldn't remember her brand-new home phone number, 'I just made one up.' Fortunately, this didn't prevent her from getting the job, where she worked under the mentorship of Thelma Watkins, who would retire in 1996 after 21 years at MIT. Watkins was critical for instilling a good work ethic and boosting O'Leary's confidence. Although washing...
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