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Beyond the lectures and the fellowships, this appointment represents a cultural milestone. It challenges the traditional hierarchy of academia, which has long prioritized theoretical knowledge over experiential truth. By naming Michael J. Fox a professor, Columbia is making a bold statement: the most profound lessons in resilience cannot be found in a textbook; they are found in the lives of those who have navigated the dark and returned with a light for others. Fox’s office hours, which he joked would involve “laughing at bad jokes and plotting against destiny,” will likely become a pilgrimage site for students seeking more than just a degree—they will be seeking a way to be human in a difficult world.
