Do professors ever befriend former students? A couple semesters ago I had a professor that had a pretty big impact on my academic career as well as my personal life. Through a series of events the professor came to know this and also come to know a lot about me and I her. We have a lot of common interests despite a shared interest in her subject matter, and we get along in a friendly way with no weird undertones. I'm wondering how common it is for professors to befriend students and in what circumstances they happen under.
It would be lovely to have a professor I could talk to and look up to as I move through grad school.
First, if you are ever again going to be in one of this professor's classes, then such a friendship is unlikely, at least until you are out of school.
If there's no chance that you will ever again be in a student / professor relationship, talk to her.  Say what you wrote: &quot;It would be lovely to have a professor I could talk to and look up to as I move through grad school.&quot;