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In Memoriam: Professor Deborah Lynn Steinberg

The University is deeply saddened by the news of the death of Professor Deborah Lynn Steinberg from the Department of Sociology.

Professor Matt Nudds, Chair of the Faculty of Social Sciences, said:

Professor Deborah Lynn Steinberg joined the Graduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences in October 2010, becoming its Chair in October 2013; a role she retained, with reduced scope from October 2016, until January 2017. During her time with GFSS, Professor Steinberg represented the Faculty on a number of University working groups; she had also been a long standing member of the University Board of Graduate Studies. Professor Steinberg had been a vociferous advocate of the postgraduate provision at the University and contributed actively towards its enhancement at all levels. Her immense contribution to the Faculty of Social Sciences and the wider University will remain a lasting reminder of her work and we will continue to develop the projects she initiated to further improve postgraduate provision within the Faculty."

Professor Nickie Charles said:

Professor Deborah Lynn Steinberg joined the Department of Sociology in 1994 and, throughout that time, was an active and committed member of the Centre for the Study of Women and Gender. She co-directed the Centre between 2004 and 2005 and welcomed Centre members to her lovely home in Birmingham. Her teaching in her specialist area, Feminist Cultural Studies, was extremely well-received by students and her courses were always in demand. Deborah will be remembered as a hugely talented, scholarly and inspirational supervisor by her doctoral students, some of whom she was actively supervising until a few weeks before her death. She also continued to work on her writing and research for as long as she was able. This commitment meant that she was involved in collaborative research grant applications and writing projects until very recently. In the past few years she had published papers investigating cultural representations of ‘good’ cancer patients and, in her last few months, wrote a blog charting her own experiences. Professor Deborah Lynn Steinberg was a brilliant scholar and valued colleague who will be sorely missed by all of us in Sociology."

Professor Steinberg's funeral is being held in the US. A memorial service will take place on Thursday 2 March at 2:30 at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, 1 Roseland Way, Birmingham B15 1HD. If you have any queries, please email Helen Reynolds.

A book of condolence will soon be available in Room E0.05, Department of Sociology.

If you are affected by this news, there is a range of University support available to you. The Wellbeing Support Services website gives more details about support available, or you can contact the team on 024 76 575570, ext. 75570.

Professor Deborah Lynn Steinberg