Amazing how one pointed comment can get through, isn't it, and it's easy to say to just ignore it but that won't happen. Learn from it and learn from your reaction to it, which seems very healthy so far. Frankly, she sounds like a person with some pretty serious self-esteem issues.

You know you look good, and professional, with your beard, and you know it's boosting your own self-esteem, so go to that conference with that in mind. No one who's really interested in your work will give a hoot about your beard. Besides, beards are all over academia these days, though perhaps less so in Arizona.

By the way, what are you studying? P-chemist here.

Cheers!
Tom


Some helpful links:
Library Central of Beard Growing


Taming the Wild Mustache
Tips for eating and drinking with a big mustache

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. ~ W. Somerset Maugham
A jerk with a beard is just a bearded jerk, but a bearded gentleman is awesomeness personified. ~ Triibeard
Last Edited By: Tom E Jun 12 15 9:49 AM. Edited 1 times.