Kimberly Geeslin, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese in the College of Arts and Sciences and the vice provost for faculty and academic affairs, died Wednesday night according to an email sent to faculty from IU Provost Rahul Shrivastav
“Kim was an incredibly talented and generous colleague, a welcome resource for faculty and staff, and a strong advocate for women and underrepresented populations at IU and in higher education,” Shrivastav said in the email.
After serving for five years as associate vice provost for IU Faculty and Academic Affairs, Geeslin started her role as vice provost for the same office in December 2022.
According to the email, Geeslin held multiple IU leadership positions, including six years as associate chair and interim chair in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and eight years as director of the program in Hispanic linguistics. Geeslin also served as the director of the Initiative for the Advancement of Women Faculty, a faculty resource, starting in 2021.
“She often spoke of kindness as a guiding principle in her life, and we all benefited from that perspective both in her professional and personal interactions,” Shrivastav said in the email. “Our thoughts and support are with Kim's family, friends, and community members impacted by this loss. She will be deeply missed.”
The email said those needing mental health support, can use resources provided for faculty and staff, available through the SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program. Students who need support can reach out to mental health professionals at Counseling and Psychological Services or submit a care referral for themselves or a peer in need of support.
The IDS is putting together an obituary for Kimberly Geeslin. If you have any memories or information about Geeslin that you would like to share, please contact us at news@idsnews.com.
