In Memoriam: Susan Courtney, 1966-2024

Susan Courtney, professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, passed away suddenly on June 10. She was 57 years old.

Dr. Courtney joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins University in 1999. In addition to her primary appointment in the department of psychological and brain sciences, she held joint appointments in the department of neuroscience in the School of Medicine, as well as the F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Her academic work centered around working memory, attention, cognitive control, and how the brain’s structure is altered through aging and disease.

In addition to her teaching and research endeavors, Dr. Courtney held several leadership positions during her long tenure with Johns Hopkins University. She served as vice provost for faculty affairs for two years, and as chair of her department for four years.

Dr. Courtney was a graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts, where she majored in physics. She held a master’s degree and Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon receiving her doctorate, she completed postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health’s Laboratory of Brain and Cognition.