In Memoriam: Evan Foldes Travers, 1942-2019

Eva Foldes Travers, professor emerita of educational studies at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, passed away on July 13, 2019 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. She was 77 years old.

Dr. Travers joined the Swarthmore College faculty in 1975 as a supervisor for secondary school practice teachers. She was the first tenure-track faculty appointment in what is now the department of educational studies. In 1977, she went on to become director of the college’s program in education. From 1989 to 1992, Dr. Travers served as associate dean of students. Over the course of her academic career, she conducted research on urban education and educational policy. She retired from Swarthmore in 2005.

“Those of us who worked with Eva know that she would do anything for a student or a colleague,” said Lisa Smulyan, co-chair and Henry C. and Charlotte Turner Professor of Educational Studies at Swarthmore. “She was an amazing advocate for students, teachers, education, and social justice. She was a mentor for many of us and model for all of us.”

Dr. Travers was a graduate of Connecticut College where she majored in American history. She held a master’s degree in teaching and an educational doctorate both from Harvard University.