It is with immense sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Elizabeth “Beth” Freeman at the age of 58. Freeman was Professor of English, the Needham Endowed Chair in English Literature, and (until her retirement in January) Associate Dean of Faculty in Humanities, Arts & Cultural Studies in the College of Letters & Science. She was a luminary in the fields of American literary studies and queer and feminist theory and was the author of three acclaimed monographs as well as a raft of field-defining articles and essays. Her list of honors and awards is prodigious and includes a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship, an ACLS Fellowship, a UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellowship, and a UC Davis Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award. 

To the administrators and staff in the Letters & Science Dean’s Office, Professor Freeman was a cherished colleague known for her passionate commitment to the College and especially to the units under her purview. Dean Atekwana describes her as “a fierce advocate for the HArCS departments and faculty” and remembers her for the “genuine touch of warmth” she brought to her work. Freeman described the Associate Dean role as one of the highlights of her career, and we are grateful for the time she spent working with us. We are also painfully aware of how short that time was.

Our hearts go out to Professor Freeman’s colleagues, friends, and family, and especially to her partner, Candace Moore, and her son, Felix. The English Department is planning a memorial event for fall quarter.