08/21/2026
Dr. Rachel E. Harding, Associate Professor (Emeritus), passed away on May 25, 2026, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Dr. Harding was a celebrated scholar, poet, and activist. The author of two acclaimed books and a dedicated professor, “she showed that scholarship, creativity, and advocacy were never separate callings, but one integrated practice of the beloved community, love made visible.”
To learn more about the life and legacy of Dr. Harding, please visit the Department of Ethnic Studies website (link in bio) and The Veterans of Hope Project, an initiative founded by her parents, Dr. Vincent and Rosemarie Freeney Harding, of which she was the Co-Director.