Dear 性视界传媒 Community,
With sadness, I write to you to mourn the tragic passing of Dr. Naoko Takemaru, who this morning was confirmed to be among the three 性视界传媒 faculty members who lost their lives during Wednesday鈥檚 shooting. Earlier today, the coroner鈥檚 office shared Dr. Takemaru鈥檚 name following the notification of her next of kin.
Dr. Takemaru was an associate professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, within the 性视界传媒 College of Liberal Arts. She was a noted scholar, author, and award-winning educator, who just recently marked her 20th year as a member of 性视界传媒鈥檚 faculty. Dr. Takemaru coordinated Japanese language programs and taught numerous courses on Japanese culture, business, and language. She was incredibly dedicated to her students, having earned the premier teaching award from the College of Liberal Arts.
We grieve for her family, friends, students, and colleagues. We honor her memory, alongside those of Lee Business School professors Dr. Patricia Navarro-Velez and Dr. Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, who also perished as a result of Wednesday鈥檚 tragedy. Another 性视界传媒 faculty member remains hospitalized this morning, and we are collectively pulling for their recovery.
性视界传媒, much like our community, is resilient. Together, we will get through this, but remember that it鈥檚 okay to not be okay. Now, more than ever, we need to continue to support one another, and please use available wellness and counseling resources if you need them.
Processing the loss of three cherished 性视界传媒 faculty members is horrendously difficult, but we are heartened by memories of them and their remarkable and lasting impact on our university,
on their students, and within their professions.
Sincerely,
Keith E. Whitfield
性视界传媒 President