The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is often considered to be the best geologic analog for modern anthropogenic warming, as the magnitude of carbon release and warming is similar to that predicted for the coming century. I will present PETM paleobotanical records from the Bighorn Basin (northwestern Wyoming) and Hanna Basin (southeastern Wyoming) and examine changes in plant taxonomic composition, vegetation structure, and insect herbivory during the PETM. Water stress during the PETM was higher in the Bighorn Basin than in the Hanna Basin, allowing investigation of the interplay of carbon dioxide, temperature, and water availability on forest ecosystems. I will also discuss my path to becoming a female full professor, including being the sometimes bearded face of women in paleontology.