As director of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, Dr. Phelps challenged the Catholic Church to better understand itself through the voices and experiences of Black Catholics and those on the margins.
Dr. Champagne served as dean of the Duke University School of Nursing from 1991 to 2004. During her tenure, she reintroduced an accelerated bachelor's degree program in nursing, established a Ph.D. program in nursing, and championed online education.
At the time of her passing, Dr. Ho was the John L. Weinberg Professor of Economics and Business Policy at Princeton University. As a scholar, she focused on industrial organization and healthcare economics, particularly how markets and policymaking impact patients.
Dr. Trimberger was a longtime professor of sociology and coordinator of the women's studies program at Sonoma State University in California. While there, she also conducted research with Institute for the Study of Social Issues at the University of California, Berkeley.
Lucinda Lavelli worked in arts education for over two decades, ultimately serving as dean of the College of the Arts at the University of Florida for 12 years. In this role, she led several initiatives focused on integrating the arts into scientific research and innovation.
Professor Vaughn taught creative writing and literature at Cornell University for 39 years. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she spent several years as director of the creative writing and co-director of a summer writing program in Rome.
A native of Algeria, Dr. Smith moved to the United States in the 1950s and taught French at Scripps College and Claremont McKenna College in California. She later taught French and literature at the California Institute of Technology for over two decades.
A leading expert on breastfeeding science, Dr. Lawrence was a physician and faculty member with the University of Rochester School of Medicine for seven decades. During her tenure, she founded the university's Poison Control and Drug Information Center, as well as its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - both among the first programs of their kind in the United States.
Dr. Scott was the first Black woman dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing. Originally set to retire in June 2026, she moved up her retirement date for health reasons, ultimately passing less than a week after stepping down from her role.
In 1992, Dr. Hatton became the first woman president of South Carolina State University. Later in her career, she served as president of Knoxville College in Tennessee.
Professor Keller taught art history and studio art at the University of St. Joseph in Connecticut for 55 years. As a scholar, she was interested in archaeology, leading to extensive fieldwork throughout the Middle East and Africa.
