Kathryn E. Kuhn, Ph.D.: 1963-2022
07/15/2022
Kathryn E. Kuhn, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology and anthropology, died Sunday, July 10, 2022. She was 59.
Kuhn was born on April 22, 1963, in Washington, D.C. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Virginia Tech and her doctorate in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin.
She joined the faculty at Saint Louis University in 1990. Over the years she taught a number of classes on gender studies and gender.
“Kathryn was a longtime member of the Department of Sociology, where her work focused on issues of gender, immigration, crime, and social theory,” said Donna J. LaVoie, Ph.D. Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences. “A longtime and passionate advocate for faculty rights and shared governance, Kathryn served as a Faculty Senator and was a recurring officer and past President of the college's Faculty Council. Kathryn was also an avid amateur photographer, with her photos of both urban and rural settings not only capturing the beauty inherent in both settings but also evoking untold narratives waiting to be told. She was a good colleague and friend to many and will be greatly missed.”
In addition to her work in the classroom, Kuhn was involved in faculty senate. Joel Jennings, Ph.D., chair of the department of Sociology & Anthropology, called Kuhn a strong advocate for faculty governance.
“She was always willing to step up and serve the college and the department when needed,” he said. “She was particularly impactful through her service and she touched many people on the faculty through that work.”
Jennings worked with Kuhn for 15 years and said her loss will be felt by him and others in the department.
“She was a warm and caring colleague who was committed to the University,” he said. "She served the college and the University in a wide range of capacities. She had a strategic mind and was always someone that I would call when I was thinking through a particularly challenging problem.”
Kuhn recently was a co-editor of the book “Power and Protest at an American University: No Confidence, No Fear” with other members of the SLU faculty.
Outside of SLU, Kuhn was current President of the Missouri State Conference of the American Association of University Professors.
She is survived by her mother, Kathryn Morrow Kuhn, brother James Steven Kuhn (Phyllis) and sister Robin Hillman (Don) along with nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be at a later date.