Dear SFBT International Community:

I am dedicating this issue of JSFP, my final as editor-in-chief, to my mentor and friend Jan Bavelas. For those of you that don’t know Jan and her connection to SFBT, here’s a brief backstory. Jan, Insoo, and Steve all studied at the MRI and shared the same mentor, John Weakland. All three shared the value that language, and how one communicates it, is so important.

In 2006, I introduced myself to Jan and asked if I could visit her in Victoria, B.C. Jan graciously and enthusiastically agreed. In January of 2007, I arrived in Victoria one week after Insoo suddenly passed away. During my visit, Jan told me that she had made a promise to Insoo. She had promised to spend the rest of her career using microanalysis, Jan’s methodology to study face-to-face dialogue, on SFBT. At the end of my visit, Jan extended me an invitation to begin a project together. I had no idea this trip would change my life, both personally and professionally, shaping my career as an academic.

At first, I was nervous to work with Jan. She was a co-author of Pragmatics of Human Communication, a revolutionary text on communication. She worked with founders in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. She was the inventor of microanalysis. She was brilliant. I couldn’t believe she was interested in devoting hours of her week training me to learn her approach. As the weeks, months, and years went by, I learned that Jan was more interested and curious about my research questions than focusing on her past accomplishments.

As the months and years went by, we maintained a two hour a week video call. We worked year-round, analyzing, writing, and preparing presentations with our team. When one project wrapped up another one began. Her commitment to working with me was never taken for granted. I would look forward to seeing her at conferences and seeing her in-person. One of our biggest projects was a special issue on microanalysis. The process was more complicated than expected and we wrote and rewrote the same paper many times. Nevertheless, we never gave up!

As I went through the tenure process, I would ask her for advice and direction. Jan was always supportive, always helpful, always cheering me on, and always present. She always had just the right story to share with me about her experiences in academia to guide me. Jan taught me so much more than microanalysis. She taught me the hard lessons of being a woman in academia. I learned so much from her experiences as a female in a male dominated institution. She taught me to speak up when I faced gender adversity. She taught me to find the strength in my voice and experience. She was my hero and confidante, personally and professionally.

In 2017, I spent my sabbatical in Victoria with Jan. While I had visited other times before, this was a special trip. I was able to spend days with her learning and listening to her ideas as she worked on her new book Face-to-Face Dialogue (published in spring of 2022). We spent hours talking about communication research, doing microanalysis together, and spending time with my family.

I will miss her story telling. Her stories always amazed me because with each new story I learned something new and extraordinary about her past. Jan led the most incredible life yet was so humble. Despite her incredible journey, she was always more focused on the future than the past, which makes her interest and commitment to SFBT so clear.

As I step down as editor, my next chapter will be influenced by Jan. I will take her advice, “I’m the boss of me”. I will be curious with students, pursue a lifelong love of learning, and be generous with care and concern for those I work alongside.

Life happens in detail – Jan Bavelas (1940-2022)

And the details of her life will never be forgotten!

Sara Smock Jordan