The Power of Perception

When it's Judge Sullivan's turn at the podium, she challenges the graduates to interpret an image projected onto a screen that can be viewed as either a young woman or an old woman.

"History abounds with chance discoveries," she comments, "important scientific achievements by researchers whose perception allowed them to see what others had not."

Sullivan—who is founder and chief executive officer of Private Judge, a firm in Del Mar that provides expertise in the resolution of business disputes, particularly in the life sciences and technology fields—has been chair of the Scripps Research Board of Trustees since February 2003.