Full glass becomes mostly empty

Not long after my arrival at ERIM I’ve encountered a gentleman that caught my attention who was a professor that attended several seminars on psychology related topics. Later I found out that that gentleman was a professor in the marketing department and I attended a seminar given by him. 

A few weeks later I discover that this gentleman was the teacher for a methodology course that I was taking. Not long after the course started I discovered that this gentleman was a really good teacher and a very agreeable person. His course was, for me, the best given methodology course I had in 2 years at ERIM.

Close to the end of the course I asked this gentleman if he would take me as his research assistant. He accepted and was very diligent. I worked for him for five months and I can say that even if I had very little contact with him, the working relationship was very good.

I have asked him to give me some advice and a recommendation letter for my PhD applications. He was really helpful and diligent.

This gentleman’s name is Dirk Smeesters, who today was found to have messed up with some data for two of his publications. He resigned from the position at RSM.

I am very surprised, but it is not for me to judge what has happened. All I can say is that this gentleman will be remembered by myself (and most likely by many other students) as a great teacher and a very helpful and diligent person.