Naheed's dissertation work focuses on potential risk and protective factors that influence young adolescents' anxiety symptoms. Using a sophisticated longitudinal design, Naheed was able to study the role of peer-victimization and closeness of friendship, as well as that of social competence in the experience of anxiety in boys and girls in their early adolescence. In a very animated defence Naheed competently held her own with minimal display of anxiety. She showed that a very complex issue can be understood in ways that allow researchers to make very concrete recommendations. A special thank you goes to her external reader, Dr. Julie Bowker at SUNY, Buffalo. We wish Naheed all the best in her future career.