In Memoriam: Mary Frances McCoy HopKins

Mary Frances HopKins, professor emerita of communications at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, died at her home late last month.

Professor HopKins earned her Ph.D. in speech at Louisiana State University in 1968 and immediately joined the faculty as an assistant professor of oral interpretation and performance studies. She was the co-author of a leading textbook in the field Performance Literature: An Introduction.

Dr. HopKins served as chair of the department of communication studies for nine years and was assistant dean of the Graduate School from 1979 to 1982. From 1983 to 1986, Dr. HopKins was the editor of the journal Literature in Performance.

In 2002, the Black Box Theater at Louisiana State University was renamed in her honor.