Nadia Medina, founder of the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and the Writing, Thinking, and Speaking Center, passed away yesterday morning at her home. She had been on medical leave from the University since December of 2004.
Medina created the Writing Fellows Program in fall 1999, lectured in the English Department and taught the first "Introduction to Women's Studies" ExCollege course before working as the director of the Academic Resource Center.
"She was a very innovative, dynamic, creative individual and her contribution to the ARC, to the Writing Fellows Program, to the teaching of teachers on campus is profound," said James Glaser, Dean of Undergraduate Education.
Glaser said that during his time as a professor of political science, Medina educated him and offered him new perspectives on education and curricula.
"I myself learned from Nadia," he said. "She ran a program for teaching oral communications...She reshaped the way I thought about my class, she helped me infuse public speaking opportunities into my syllabus and she helped connect me to other faculty who were doing the same."
Carmen Lowe took over for Medina as director of the Academic Resource Center when Medina went on leave. Lowe could not be reached for comment by press time.
According to an e-mail sent out by Lowe this morning to members of the Academic Resource Center community, plans are under way for the creation of a Nadia Medina Memorial Fund to recognize outstanding contributions by Tufts peer tutors and writing fellows.
The University is planning a memorial service for Medina next week, and the Tufts community will be informed when plans are finalized. Glaser hopes Tufts' Rabbi Jeffrey Summit will lead the service.
"Nadia was a very loved person on this campus. Many people will want to come and pay tribute to her," Glaser said. "I feel that this is a personal loss and a loss for Tufts.
